Melba’s Latest Farewell

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 57, 18 February 1927, Page 8

Melba’s Latest Farewell

Adoring, Crowd Hears Famous Numbers

Dame Nellie Melba, who arrived at Perth, West Australia, this week, on a mission to sing at the opening of Canberra, the new Federal capital of the Commonwealth of Australia, gave her latest "farewell” concert in the "Old Vic." in aid of the fund to rescue the famous Saddler's Wells Theatre. DAME NELLIE MELBA bade London a last farewell at the Old Vic recently. Officially the curtain decended on her wonderful career in England at the Albert Hall and Covent Garden in June, and only the prima donna’s determination to fulfil her promise to sing in aid of th e Sadler's Wells Theatre fund brought her back for two brief, but glorious, hours. She stipulated for “a real Old Vic audience,” and she got it, for regular patrons had snapped up all the seats before the public knew of th e arrangements. People who seemed to think that luxurious motor-cars and welllined purses were passports to anywhere had to drive away from the theatre doors disappointed, and the number of folk who arrived at the box office with tales of having lost their tickets was amazing. The theatre was absolutely crowded

(out, hundreds standing. Many in(deed could not see the singer, but were content to listen to her golden .notes. Th e nurses of the Old Vic patrons do not run to bouquets, although there were a few, but they showed their appreciation In a unique floral manner. Everybody In the gallery seemed to have brought. on e flower with them, and at the close they showered their

single blooms down on the stage. For over a minute there were veritable snowstorms ot white and red blooms many of which Melba flung back among the audience. Melba appeared in what have be* come her regular good-bye rolesMlmi, from "La Boheme,” and Desdemona, from "Othello,” but It was neither Mfmf singing her life away in the Paris garret nor Desdemona In her passionate outburst to Emilia that the audience saw or heard, but Melba, Queen of Song, playing the greatest farewell ot all. At the close there was a tremendous scene of enthusiasm, the cheering lasting fully 10 minutes. Called on for a speech, Melba said, "I must thank you from the ‘-ottom of my heart for your wonderful reception tonight. I am proud to be here and very proud to have sung at the Old Vic. I only wish I had done It sooner. I hope you have enjoyed hearing me sing as much as I have enjoyed singing to you.” Then the curtain went up again, 'and among the mediaeval furniture with which the stage was set for the "Othello” scene appeared a modern piano. Everyone knew what it meant, and loud shouts for songs came from every quarter of the building. Melba called for silence, and said, “I’ll do the talking now." She sat down at the piano, and, as a final and exquisite good-bye, sang, "Home, Sweet Home.” It was a touching moment as the last notes died away and people tried to realise that this, for them, was the end of the golden voice. Melba brushed away her tears, and many in the audience did the same, and as the curtain came down for absolutely the last time men and women stood up and shouted above th e cheering “God bless you.” “Come back again/’ and “Wonderful!” The Sadler's Wells Theatre fund will benefit to the extent of over £3OO as a result of the entertainment.