MELBA AT COVENT GARDEN

Press, Volume L, Issue 14985, 4 June 1914, Page 3

MELBA AT COVENT GARDEN

ENTHUSIASTIC CRITICS

"THE JOY OF A GENERATION/

(From the London Correspondent, of the Melbourne ■'Argus.") LONDON, April 24. Madame Melba hag played many parts at Covent Garden, but, curiously enough, she had never been chosen to open the opera season until this year. On Monday evening the Victorian prima-donna appeared as Mimi in Puccini's "La Bohetne." and delighted a crowded house. "La Boheme" is King George's favourite opera, and Melba is his favourite singer. Though he was to leave for Paris on tho following morning, his Majesty did not deny himself the pleasure of hearing both again. Queen Alexandra, Princess Victoria, the Princess Royal, and Princess Mary were also present.

Seldom has there been such an enthusiastic audience. After the third act of "La Boheme" Madamo Melba was called again and again, until it soomed that the "curtains" would never cease. Thirteen tunes was the Australian soprano called and recalled, the applauso being mingled with "cooees" from Australians in tho gallery. The present is Melba's twenty-sixth season at Covent Garden, a record which is almost, if not quite, unprecedented, it is interesting to note what the London musical critics ha\*c tv say about a singer who has rendered such services to the operatic art. Mr Robin Legge, the musical critic of tho "Daily Telegraph," described Madame Melba's performance as a "triumph." In point of fact, it is safe to say that not for several years past has Madame Melba's voice sounded so fresh as last night, and that her keenly alert audience were prepared to offer her the warmest of welcomes was mado abundantly clear when Mimi appeared at the attic door of the Bohemian crow, seeking a light; for at that moment thero went up a great shout, I which, however, -was promptly supI pressed, only to be held in check till curtain-fall. Then it broke out anew, and many were the times that Madamo Melba and Mr Martinelli, tbo Rodolfo of the cast, had to come forward to bow their acknowledgments. The' "Morning Post" eaid that the place "La Boheme" holds in the esteem of the public is due largely, if not suiirely, to the efforts of Mdine. Melba in the part of Mimi. "It is clear that the passage of time makes no difference to her charming impersonation. Her efforts last night clearly showed her _o bo in better voice than for some time p-st, and able to give full measure of effect to tho music "To that of the srene of her reconciliation to Rodolfo sho h-iis rarely imparted so much beauty of vocal colour nnd poicrnani-y of feeling. Her beautiful bird-liku tone, with its note of pathos and despair, carried tlio house with it. and at the close the oudienco expressed it. approval by many recalls. But the pathetic «i_.e, if predominant, was not the only aspect thac was notable, for in the first scene she saner with tn-eot brilliance, and gave tho hisrb C at the t-lo=o with wonderful -on'v.ness and truth." Tho "D° :i v .Mail" critic pointed out that "La Boheme," as a work of musical art, is little more than a craceful excuse -or animated- scenes, solos, and duets. P'tfc. he confirmed. "Melba was Mimi. The wonderful woman, -who has bppn tho joy of a generation of Covent GnrrTen audiences, holds everyone's affection pt.fll, as choirs _,«<! the rcbiip at the end of the tbif . act showed. Who would dare nowaday, to d^ n ribe lipv siue.no-? The scribes of three continents -hive bean at if. for twe-nty yea** 1 * or so. and 1 one think of. thp lady's weariness at tho enitbets—.'.pure,' vn-.^ v _' j+ ,- s pt.ph.li that Madame Melba's Mitt.. l**t ni<?ht. not, perhaps, exactly 'Murder's Mimi. wos exaerlv t' ,D M ''ni her' pt~«cf,p,. nnd in. Hence thp cheers." The "D«ily X<«v„" rr't- ; c wa. -"• l-.es e-n+"~>'i«.n«tTc. He "-"id -that "V"'lftme Men.n'e- voice nil its fTPshnp.*-* to a nn ; te pT+rn ordinary <"«- f»rpf». oid her a.rt «eems to tmrw. She p<vfs»:nly .;.<£■* w-'tb an amount of t-en-fl-nrl otv-occJ-.t. -rrA'lVh pr>TT> . T°»N «rro 0-_P T-iY. Vr V-..."'-. Ttmrfl (.y~/*r-*'-A of £*he held t^- 3 - house breathless trVip-i sanff 'AfM'/v s-.njsa rancor' W ■H.O «"+.. and *>H tf"Tor..Tf. fie (wni"n<r we~rp •~">n.ont < " (*f f~trs>™**inorv !->«»nvi*v more .ban pow-dpi.-c~_+,e/. for fbp —<T.~o-n+c Vhcn the lapse of time left its traces."