MADAME MELBA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 49, 25 February 1903, Page 3

MADAME MELBA.

Thi New Zaaland limes, referring to Madame Melbs's concert at the Opera Hons;, Wellington, says that every seat in the theatre had been sold, whilst crowds of people who had no hope, if they had the wish, of being present at the concert, assembled in the street outside with the idea, presumably, of catching a glimpse of Madams Melba. The audience, which included the Premier of the colony, is believed to have baea the largest seen in the Opera Housa, realising nearly .£I4OO, a sum which is believed to be a record for the colony. Madame Melba was greeted with demonstrative applause when ehe advanced to the plattorm commanding and self confident in department, her tall figure garbed in white, and ablaze with diamonds. It was soon realised that her voice has a remarkable carrying power; that its quality is pure and tilvery, and perfectly < quable throughout the register?, and that so far as technique is con--cerned her singing is absolutely flawless, in fact i*< represents the highest pitoh of perfection in art. No difficulties Bre"too formidable, no intricacies too exacting for a voice so faultlessly trained, every tone being sustained absalu'ely the next is attacked. One was almost lost in astonishment at the plenitude of her powers of vocalisation and her pesfeet articulation, and oharaied with the quality of her vo'ce. Each of Madame Melba's soogs evoke! loud applause from all pirts of tha building and the eothusiasm of the audience could not be satisfied even with the inevitable encore, and it w»s evideut th it ti»y would hive liked to hear more. The artistic harp-playing of Signorina Sassoli greatly pleased the audience and won her two recalls. The polished touch and delicate expression of Miss Lleweh Davies in her pianoforte solo also evoked a wall-deserved encore. Miss Natalie Dawson, aaother punish), was also most favourably received. Miss Elva Rogers, a contralto with a 6troDg voice, was accorded an encore for her ballad.tingiog, and Mr Walter Kirby greatly pleased the audience with his swert ter.or voice. Such is the brilliant Company that will appear at the Theatre Royal on Friday night, a&d here as at other centres ic is expactei there will be a record house. The box office opens this morniog at 1 9 o'clock at Mr McKinnon Bain's and it only remains to state that every possible care has been taken to secure the comfort of the seatholders.