MELBA'S TRIUMPH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 200, 13 August 1908, Page 3

MELBA'S TRIUMPH.

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION AT OPERA I-lOI'NK. .t'sooo FUK CHARITY. A despatch. dated Park .I\un- 11th, says:—The gala performance of "Kigoletto,'' which was given to-night at the Ojieia, in aid of the French Dramatic Authors' Society, was in every sense a veritable triumph. Never liel'ore, surely, have Parisians lmd the opportunity of listening oil the same evening to three such stars of the musical world as Melba, Caruso, and Remind. When the curtain rose on the opening scene there j was not a spare seat in the vast audi-

torium. In the matter of receipts, n record for French charitable performances was established, over £SOOO being cleared. It was a foregone conclusion that Madame Melba would receive a great ovation on her re-appearance, but. the reality surpassed all expectations, for she was recalled again and again. It was, curiously enough,'in "Rigoletto" that the diva made her debut in Brussels 20 years ago, and to-night she sang Gilda s love song probably as no one

has ever sung it before. . It was a wonderful scene, in which she trilled the filial B in alt as she mounted the stairs. The effect was electrical, and the enthusiasm of the enthralled audience had lost none of its fervour when, in the last act, Gilda offers herself to the assassin's knife to save the man she loves. Caruso as the wicked duke, Renaad in the name part, and Mine. Petrenko, the Russian contralto, as Madeleine, all received great applause from the critical and delighted audience. But undoubtedly it was Melba—incomparable Melba—wlio captivated all hearts. The gathering was a very distinguished one, £nd was representative of the wealth and beauty of the French capital. Among those present were Mme. and M, Fallieres, M. Doumergue (Minister f Public Instruction), Prince Radolin (the German Ambassador), Mr. Henry White

(Amerioan Ambassador), and many other notables.