HOW MELBA BECAME A VOCALIST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 71, 20 April 1909, Page 3

HOW MELBA BECAME A VOCALIST.

In the February number of the London Jlagnzinc, Agnes Murpliv continues the biography (if Jlndauic .M'elba. 'A FIRST AIH'EARAXCE. Helen IVnter Mitchell, the Madame Melba c.f to-day, made her linst appearnnee ai n school cum-vrt at the age of six. when she sang- -Shells of Ocean'' with isuch eh"ect that the audience asked for inure, and as an encore the child .sang "Comiii' Thro' the Rye." and created a still better impression by her ringing. In early girlhood she became an expert in the art of whistling, and the opinion lia.s been hazarded that hey juvenile Feats as a whistler may have helped in the. development of lier unrivalled breath-control. MARIUAOE. Jll ISiW her marriage with .Mr. C. X. F. Armstrong took place at Brisbane, ami Mr. Mitchell welcomed the event as the sure termination of hi? daughter's aspirations after a profcssbnal carevr. The marriage certainly made a considerahle break in the mimical studies, but Mrs. Armstrong continued her work ak l lie organ and the jiiano. At a musical soiree at liovenunent Mouse, Melbourne, Mi's. -Armstrong supplemented her pianoforte solos by a vocal selection, and the late Mareliioiu-s of Xormanby predicted that sui day she would give up the piano for singing, ami then become famous. Thii, lack's prediction altered the whole channel of Mrs. Armstrong ■; thoughts, and in 18S4 she made her Mrs! public appearance as a pupil of Signor IVcchi. Tliciirefi.nvuril her reputation as a vocalist grew in Australia, and throughout I,SS."i .she regularlv sail" at concerts.

"I HAVE l'Ol'.VU A STAR." In the spring of jstjil .Mrs. Armstrong, accompanied by her hn-band and babe and her father, sailed f.u- England. Mrs. Armstrong having ch-eided to become a student of grand opera. Sir Arthur Sullivan dhl not think her vocal attainments siiiiiciemly good to justify an engagement in the Savoy opera, anil Signor Albert Hamleggcr did not feel warranted in accepting her as u pupil. luil Mr. \yilhelni iianz gave lier !UI opportunity to sing at a concert. At last .she went to I'aris, and presented herself to Madame Mathilde Maichesi. After Mrs. Annstrong had sun;. 1,,,- first song. Madame Marrhesi hurried to the door of the apartment and called to her husband: "Nulvatore. Salvntore! At last 1 have found a star.'' Taking the Australian's hands in hers, she said: "Mm. Annstrong, are y.ni serious; If you are serious, and can si inly with me for one year, I will make something extraordinary of vou."