Miss Irene Ainsley

New Zealand Tablet, 22 October 1908, Page 19

Miss Irene Ainsley

Probably no musical event in our* history has so stirred the people of Duriedin as the forthcoming visit of Melba's great protegee, Miss Irene Ainsley. The great contralto, who claims New Zealand as her biithplace, and therefore also claims the affection of New Zealanders as her birthright, is due to -appear in His' Majesty's -Theatre next Monday and Tuesday. This musical event has local interest for some time now, and the reason is hot far to seek. The -contributing causes to Miss Ainsley's great popularity in New are as potent and forceful as they arc natural. In the first place she is a

native of New Zealand, and received her early musical tuition from the Sisters of Mercy, Auckland, and though it has delighted princes and people in distant ' lands to So .her honor, she still comes to the New Zealanders as a gifted daughter of our own country. Again it can be said with all the force of truth ? that Miss Irene Ainsley has not been spoiled or in any way detrimentally affected by her experiences in those upper realms of song and old-world circles, which might so easily have turned the head of a less-balanced and natural celebrity. Her naturalness and charm of grace are amongst her most valuable assets — valuable by the very reason of their naturalness. She is described as ' charming to meet, and a child of nature, both as regards her gift and her happy disposition.' All these phases tend to enhance the interest in her first apearance amongst us on Monday next. But in addition to these things is the consideration that she has not awaited the declension of her vocal powers before coming to us. Even if she felt any trepidation in coming back to sing to her own people, her great success during the past few weeks must have entirely dissipated all traces of misgiving. She has had splendid receptions, and has delighted her New Zealand audiences. Miss Ainsley has written a story on the records of New Zealand minstrelsy, and it is ' The glory of a great success.' The programme for her Dunedin season is a varied and excellent oni'. She is supported by the finest talent obtainable, including Mr. Hamilton Hodges. The box-plan for the local concert is open at the Dresden __ ,