MELBA’S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1931, Page 6

MELBA’S DEATH

HIGH TRIBUTES. (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, February 23. I)< •scribing Dame Melba’s last visit to Covent Garden in the “Daily Telegraph,” “Peterborough” relates that, shortly before returning to Australia, she was talking purely business matters with Colonel Blois in his private office, when she paused suddenly and said:—“This place is full of ghosts of Harry Higgins, Gladys Ripon, Caruso, and Neil Forsyth. They are all gone, and I shall never be here again!” She then broke down, and wept inconsolably.”

THE FUNERAL. AT COUNTY CEMETERY. SYDNEY, February 24. Dame Melba’s body, upon arrival at .Melbourne to-morrow, will be conveyed to the Scot’s Church, where it will lie in state for one njglit. This is a church in which she sung as a girl in the choir. Her father, who built it, was a member of the choir for fifty years. The interment will lie a Lilvdale. Dame Melba some time ago expressed the wish that her body might be convoyed to flic village cemetery on a fanner’s cart. It is possible that her wish will be carried out. The Premier of Victoria, Mr Hogan, has-announced that the funeral will not lie a state one. A memorial service is being held af Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney, on Thursday, to synchronise with the funeral service which is being held in .Melbourne at 1 p.m.

Melba’s body lias been ernfialnied, and now lies in St. Vincent's Hospital If resembles an exquisite statute fash, iont'd in delicate marble. Her peaceful features are seen through the misty tracery of a delicate veil of white tulle, wifli pink rosebuds nestling on the shoulder. 'lbe Governor of New South Wales lias received a cabled message from flic King and Queen saying that they were deeply grieved to learn that Dame Melba had passed wav. adding:

“We have known her many years, and have appreciated her lieantttul voice, which has given pleasure in all parts of the world.” Mr John Lemmone (Melba’s manager), who is suffering from bronchitis at Sydney, will not attend the funeral. He remains here for medical attention.

ELOQUENT PRAISE. FROM NEW YORK PAPER. NFW YORK. February 23. r \ lie “Herald i ribune,*** m a leading article, stales:- "It, is startling to realise that Dame Melba, a great lady and a great artist was the last of those soprano empresses of song who made the glorious lyric history of the las! halt century. Those who recall the peculiarly radiant beauty of Dame .Melba’s voice from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House in the nineties possess a memory unique and to be treasured. Those who realise what is meant by the perfection of coloratura singing—what, is meant by a voice really ideally equipped for that perilous and most exacting art—may imagine as best they can the Melba of those days; but she gave us more than that. Her singing was touched with a greatness of style, with an imperial distinction of utterance, a patrician fineness of musical taste, and a sovereign mastery of beauty; and the means by which beauty may most excellently be achieved, which made such singing the tiling of rarity and the wonder that it was. Doubtless a I golden age of song will return, but no Melba will sing for us again.”

FRENCH PRESS EULOGY. PARIS, February 23. 1 lie French newspapers pay a tribute co Dame .Melba’s greate artistry and magnificent voice. They gratefully recall her concert in aid of the French wounded during the war. LONDON. February 23. - .ie "News-Chronicle” in a leading article says:—“Dame .Melba belonged in a very real sense to the British Empire. She was British born, and when it was our insular convention that only foreign-born singers could achieve greatness, she triumphed over convention and over the world. It was jn English songs that her God-given voice was heard at its loveliest, and it was to her British audiences that she made her most intimate appeal.” The "Standard” recalls it as strange that the Queen of Song (Melba) and the Queen of the Dance (Pavlova) should have passed within a few days of each other. It says:— Dame Melba fought death with the pluck with which she fought life. The paper, in describing .Melba’s wonderful nerve, tells bow, during one of her performances of "Lucia” in an American theatre. tlTe building caught fire. Amid screams and panic, Dame Melba stopped in the middle of a song to assure the audience that there was no clanger though there really was. The audience then quietened till the conductor started u> climb on to the stage shouting excitedly. Melba then leaned forward, and gave a resounding crack on the bead to tile conductor, who fell back senseless, and there was no more panic. The "Daily Telegraph” says:— “Dame Melba’s name, like Jenny Lind’s, will live as a legend and a romance, and. thanks to the gramo-

phono, generations will bo ;iblo to listen to her pure, portent music.” BODY SENT TO MELBOURNE. TOUCHING SCENES. (Received 11.30 a.in.) SYDNEY, Kobru|irv 20. In the touching of' the sunset. Da mo .Melba’s rose decked coffin was entrained for Melbourne. Only a small gathering of friends were present as it had been announced the departure would be private. There was a touching scene as the coffin left St. Vincent's Hospital, the Rev. Mother and Sisters of the institution forming a guard of honour from the porch to tin' hearse and through their divided ranks, bearers carried their beloved J burden. j The chief mourners were Dame I Melba's son and daughter-in-law and members of the Mitchell umiiy. ,