MADAME ALBANI.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1261, 17 October 1911, Page 5

MADAME ALBANI.

A FAREWELL PERFORMANCE. By Teleerapu—Press Association—Copyright London, October 15. There were 6000 people preseut at the Albert Hall when Madame Albani made her final iarewell appearance before a London audience. Madame Albani wns given a tvemondmis ovation. Tho enthusiasm was heightened when Madame sang Tosti's "Ciood-13ye." Madame Patti, Madame Ada Croreley, and Sir Charles Bautlcy contributed to the programme.

Madame Albani (Marie Lonifo Emma Cecile Albani-Gye) was, in h»r day, one. of the finest operatic and oratorical sopranos that has been associated with the British stage and platform during the past quarter of a century. She was born at Chambly, near Montreal, in 1852, and was the'eldest daughter of Joseph Lajeunesfc, a musician, which earned for her the familiar sobriquet of La ,T«unosse. She afterwards removed to Albany (Canada), from which town she takes her professional name. Madame was educated at tho Convent of tho Sacred Heart at Montreal, and was prepared for tho stage by Gilbert Louis Duprey, mid M. Bcnoist in Paris and Lamperti in Milan. She made her operatic debut in the Opera House, Messina (Sicily) in 1891 as tho prima donna in Bellini's "La Sonambuk"; sang at tho Koyal Italian Opera in London the following year with khooess, and has sinco ranked amonc tlio foremost singfrs of the world." Slio achieved special distinction in oratorio, and for a number of years no big musical festival was complete without tho presence of Albani. Her favourite operatic works were "Lucia di Lanimermoor," "Lohpnsrin," and 'Taust." In 1878 she married an operatic impressnrin, Jfr. Ernest Gyc. During her travels ifadamo lias visited nil pans of tho world, and has received hospitality and lionour at the hands of Cnntincnla) nnd Knglish Royalty, bring an especial favourite of tho lato Queen Victoria. Sho first visited. Australia in tho M's, nnd wan in the Commonwealth ond Now Zealand in 1907.