GRAND OPERA

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1048, 10 February 1911, Page 6

GRAND OPERA

I PERSONNEL OF MELBA'S "COMPANY. . Arrangements havo. boon practically completed for flic-Mclba grand opera season in Australia towards tholcnd of this year., Mr, John, Lemmoue, w|io has been assisting; Madame Melba- apd Mv. J. C. Williamson in securing n company of firstclass, artists,, returned lo Melbourne, by tho ft.M.S. Orontes recently. - "When I left Mndimo Melba in Paris," ho said to:o;Mclbourno interviewer, "she was. in. excellent health, in splendid voice, and" full of tho greatest enthusiasm over tho forthcoming season in Australia! For four months Madame, Mr. Williamson, and I journeyed all over Europe to seo tho artists personally, in order that all might bo clear, straight sailing. Wo visited St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Paris, Milan, Venice,. Bologna, and othorVcent'res.j"Onb.'6f. oiir greatest difficulties was to get "tho" ortists to leavo Europe for so long, in view of their Continental; London, and American engagements. That wo succeeded is;duo largely to tho kindness of Mr. Andreas Dippel, manager for tho Metropolitan Opera House, New York and Chicago, and to tho management.,of Covcnt Garden/London. : Thoy had' contracts with somo of the artists whoso service* wo'sought, but consented to vary them so as to allow of tho Australian tour." ' Tho Melba season will open at Melbourne or! Sydney on, September 2 next. Tho principal artists, in addition to Mndamo-Melba, who havo been engaged are:—>, •::•:' r. .. '■ ' ; . • ; Madame Jeanne Wnyda (dramatic soprano), who is a native of Poland, and hns been prima donna assoluta at Covcnt Garden (London), Warsaw,-Lemberg, Cracow, St. Petersburg, Moscow,-Berlin, Lisbon, Padua', Venice and elsewhere. Sho created tho pnrt of Ulonn-in.Paderewski's opera "Manru," in Warsaw, having been chosen by tho .composer for tho part, Sho is now-6inging with.' tho Metropolitan Opera' Company in. New York and ChU cago. -'- ■ '■■'..'.

,- Mdlle. Mario Axarine (lyric soprano), a nativo.of St.. Petersburg,, known in her own country'as""tho Kussian Pattu" Sho is making her debut in Paris this season. Mr. Lemmono describes her voico as of beautiful qunlity and rcniarkablo compass. -Madamo Elconora de Cisncros (contralto)) who has sung at Coveut Garden, La Scala (Milan), Manhattan (Now York); Metropolitan'(Now Y*ork)i and tho Auditorium (Chicago). She created tho part of Olytemnastra in Strauss's opera "Elektra," produced at La Scala.' She is now with tho Metropolitan Opera Cpmpany, Now York. . ■ ... .

Mdllo. Maria Voluntas lianzenbcrg (contralto), who. has a fino reputation in Germany, Kussia, I'olaud, and Now York. At present she is appearing at tho Imperial Opera House, Warsaw. Air. John .M'Cormack (lyric tonor). Mr. M'CormackJs. a-uatiyo of Ireland, and a pupil of Sabbafini (Milan). He is ono of tho'lending tenors of tho day, and last season sang at Covent Garden ottenerthnn any other tenor. " Ho is now with tho Metropolitan Opera'Company,'New York and' Chicago, and will appear at Covent Garden. boforo ' his departuro for Australia. '.""'' I Signor Francesco Zeni'(dramatic tonor), a. pupil of Sabbalini. Holms sung iu, tho principal'cities of Italy under Campanini, Marinuzzi, and Toscanini. Ho is engaged for .tho vholo of the present season -at the, Iraperial, Opera, House, Warsaw'

• Air. Albert uuosnoi tiyric tenor), a pujm of Jeande' 'licske,- who -has sung wiNi much success in' North and South America and • on- tho Continent. ' 110 accompanied Madamo Melba oh a concert tour through tho United States and Canada, and proved a groat favourite. .'".'• ; Signor Ahgolo Scandinni. (principal baritone), who has sung in all tho principal opera-houses of tho world. 110 was a pupil, of Professor Pintorno,. of■ tho ConMilan: /Duriug'this-season ho scored an enormous success in "Tlio •pamnatioh 1 of I'auft." Ho'is now appearing .at La Scala, Milan. Signor • Giulio Chirstiani ~ (baritone), most of whoso singing. has been done in : South' : mt i, '""■* - ,J "' !?"' Siguof'Vito °'Daniriiacco''"(basso profuhdo), who, though still very young, has achioved a splendid rcputatiou In Italy, Where'-'.he 1 ' fang under Canipanini :aud. Toscariim t .;;'';He' is >n6w at ililan:'.;'.!'"..':'.•':..','i''V':> '•:,*., _ ' Mr.. Alfred, Kaufmnnn (basso), pupil.of Sabbatini; , Through the whoto of tho recent season he has been singing with tho Beocham. Opera Company,'!' London. 'Ho has appeared Italy and other countries. The principal conductor willjbo Signor Giuseppe' Angelini, a musician of • tho widest''experience in New Yofft, Boston, and other American'■ cities,', .flo is at present with Rabbinoff, in' Mexico City. !• Tho operas tobe produced will include those with, which' Madame Molba's namo has "been particularly, •associated, so that Australians may- 6e© her •in her greatest roles. Particular .novelties to Australia will, be "Samson and Delilah" (Saint Sacns) and -"La.- Tosca"- (Puccini). Other productions will include ".La heipeo' .jn'Otello, m .'Aida,-".)- Lucia, "Butterfly," '"Carmen,'! and "Lohengrin'.'' .■•..-. ■• .■ •. .• - "Wo. v;ill play only in Melbourne and Sydney," said Mr. Lemuionc, in reply to further questions. "About two months in each city, concluding nbout Christmas. ••• It-willibe impossible ttf'6tngo tho operas in other cities, for • the o expenses for . tho Melbourne and Sydney season are; estimated at. not less, than .£50,000. That means; of course, that prices- must be on a commensurate scale:" ' ■■<