MELBA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 495, 30 April 1909, Page 5

MELBA.

:": SECOND' CONCERT, : v; ;/; •"'Melba: is truly a groat' singer. . There, art famous 'singers,, distinguished singers, magni- : ■. ficent singers, but. there arc few really.great v „ , singers,-for tlie simple: reason that'a singlti < ■ attribute, alone- does.not count for greatness, Molba is famous;.distinguisihed, magnificent! . her superb voice has brought her fame j hei . personality' lias mado her; great, and therein ::' lies,the secret' of her power in the world of ■ - music. Her: influeuoe as an 1 individual_ is ../.. almost aspmyefful as her ronown as aa'artist, v:, One realises all these things when.'Melba comes on' to the : concert platform, and -~. stands! perfectly still, while the opening bars V': of the. accompaniment,;to' the melody ~are .. , played. 'There is an indefinable, sonso'; of.,, ,'■■'■■ powor, of personal greatness couveyod in;the■".-.; dignified pose of tho body, the proud poiso , , of tho, head, and the., strong face. - One : , realises too that .had; Melba; never; been _ a .•;■.:■ singer she would still' havo boon a distin-, ■;' : guisued woman. Last evening, in the lownV Hall,- she held a vast jiudionoo spoil-bound , in admiration of hor glorious voioo.' Whether .-.'. in tho. wild flights of the "Mad Scono" ur "Hainlot" or the fervid abandon of TostrV passionate "Good-bye." or fcho simplo Scotch •■;- ballad "Comin ; TIW tho Rye," it was.'alL: .-.•!■ tho same, laid sho reached ■ her listeners. -. hearts, too. .Tosti's VGlood-byo," •, "place- enough: when... given. ; by i uumtol.igont': singers, .was a ditforont ..composition •: as : , ~ she sang .it. 'Th« . tliemo' of tho song acquired ,a deopor; meauingj a' keener - pathos, 'a .'. passion. .■ Sir,. Henry ....•; Bishop's fine, song, " Lo, Hero tho. Gentle .; Lark," was: a triumph of another kind, .tl»o<.;> :■ sentiment of a bird's song to the morning,. ~;. a gay. carol of joy. 'Of course, Madamo.nad q . to. sing again and again.: Her encore. nuna- i; ;. bore were Landon Ronald's ■?' Down in the; ■it,. Forest," Verdi's "Ave Marin," "Coram' i Thib' the Rye,'! and,, to her own nccompanir ~'' mont, Tosti's'tuneful "Matinatta." .;•'.• .; ' Madamb was assisted by Miss' Una Bourn© (pianist), Mr. Frederick Ranalow • (ban- .-_ tone), Mr. John Lemmono (flautist), ~ . and Mr. Frederick Whittld (accompanist). ._ Missßourno playod' a Chopin bracket- '.. '! Etude, op. 25," and the " Grand Valsc, in A Flat"—a "Mimict' 1 (ZanollaL and-Vo- r , grich's " Staccato Caprice." adding Soind-'.•;... ing's "Marcho./ Grotesque" as an encoro; number. Her playing was excellent. .Mr. John Leranioiin contributed a charming idyll,' ■ " By the Brook." 1 , (Weteger), and; a 1 grace-, .'ft ful dance of his own,' and also playod the.||,., ohbligato for Madame's song, ".Lo, Hcro.tlio.,:jl/ Gentle Lark." ■ Miv Lemmono's mastcryH'v over his instrument is something for local ' flautists to ponder over. Mr. Frederick Ranalow was iii very fino voice, and sang his numbers most artistically. His first number was Jack Thompson's "An Emblem," bracketed with , Übarlotto Chammade's "L'Amour Captif," tho latter being sung ir excellent French. Ho was in his bast form, howevciyin'Squire's vigorous and inspiriting song, "A Sergeant of tho Lino," winch he sang with.very fine'effect. "Tho Sands o' Deo "■ (Frederick Clny) was another good , song. Mr. Ranalow also sang, as encoro numbers, "Vulcan's Song", (Gounod) and D'Hardelot's. now popular song, " Because-.'' The acoompaniniontß were playod by Mr. Harold Whittle ; Madame Melba. the public Will bo pleased to learn, wilt give a popular concert on Tuesday; next.' ,'