OPERATIC.

Evening Star, Issue 3815, 17 May 1875, Page 2

OPERATIC.

In the current number of the * Australian Sketoher ’ appears a very interesting sketch of the career of three ladies who at present enjoy leading positions on the lyrico-dramatic stage of the Colonies. Of Miss Alice May, we read that:—“ She is a native of Yorkshire, and was musically disposed from her infancy. When quite a girl, she was sent to study the elocution of the lyric art under Mrs Wood, whom the musical world perhaps knows better as Miss Paton, the original Agatha of “ t)er Frieschutz*” During this course of instruction Miss May frequently sang en amateur at concerts. She then placed herself under the tuition of Mr {Allen, and her aelations with her tutor, as all the Australian worliijknows, eventually became of another She was beginning to take & a proiminent position in public estimation at Home, when her medical attendant, for tha relief of an affection in the throat, counselled a visit to Australia. Mr and Mrs Allen accordingly accepted this advice, and arrived in Melbourne in 1870.” The lady’s career on the operatic stage since is so well known as not to require repetition; and every one who has heard her will endorse the words of the writer, that _ “Miss < May is the very type of vivacity, liveliness, and jauntiness. Her figure is petite, plump, and wnat a sailor would call * taut. ’ Her face expresses a contented pleasantness, which always communicates itself to her audience. She sings as if it made her happy to sing; and her acting always conveys the notion of cheerfulness and brightness. From all this it seems certain that her success is of an enduring and assured kind, and that her highest triumphs have not yet been reached.” Of Miss Jennie Winston, who divides with Thompson the approval of the Melbourne critics:, and gets by far the lion’s share of popular applause, we learn that her proper name Is Bruce, that she is of Scotch parentage, and was bom in Liverpool during her parents* visit to> that city. Her first appearance on the stage was made when she was nine years old, on the occasion of the opening of the Albert Hall in Aberdeen by the late Prince Consort, before whom she sang a solo, and by whom she was presented with a volume of music, as “an expression of the pleasure” she then afforded him. In 1867 she emigrated to Dunedin, where she had friends residing. We can recollect her first appearance on the Dunedin stage in 1868 as an unimportant member of Mr Stnart O’Brien’s company, when that gentleman was manager of the Princess’s. Afterwardii finding her vocal qualifications in demand, alie sang in Dunedin in some of the suburbs and then went to Melbourne and there placed herself under the tuition of s Mr David Mirandi. _ Commencing as one of the during the Barrati season, she came into notice by her performance of Ann Chute in “ The Lily of KiUarney,” and gradually improved her position, until at Christmas last her abilities and powers, then sufficiently tested in extravaganza, opera bouffe, comedy, melodrama, and. farce, placed her in the front rank. We are further told that “no actress has ever made such rapid,and at the same time genuine progress .w Miss Winstoae has made on the Melbourne boards; so that at this moment it is not easy to say to what line of business she is not equal. Her vocal powers are of a very superior order. Her after career may be looked forward te with great confidence.” '