Australia's "Little Melba"

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 20, 30 November 1934, Page 11

Australia's "Little Melba"

Steila Power Engaged For Tour of Australian StationsChampion Band of Australia and New Zealand to Broadcast from 3LO

QEVERAL notable Australians have ’ been encouraged by the Australian Lroadcasting Commission in its policy of fostering Australian talent, but none more popular or so worthy of appreciative reception as Stella. Power, protege, pupil and successor of the late Dame Nellie Melba, who endowed | ler with the sobriquet of "HLittle Melba," content to know that the dva’s mantle would, in the course of time, be nobly worn by her. Miss Power bas just been engaged for a comprehensive broadcasting tour of ithe Commonwealth, and will be heara through all National stations towards the end of next month. Born in Richmond, the birthplace of her illustrious patron, Miss Power made her debut before Londou cvitics and music lovers under the most favourable circumstances, with Melba guaranteeing her ertistry and staking her great reputation upon her pupil’s ebility to win fame and fortune for herself. Miss Power attributes all she ias achieved to Melba, but she is perhaps unduly modest; others with greater chances have done far less. Sbe was trained at the Albert Street (East Melbourne) Conservatorium by Melba, and appeared for the first time in public at the Auditorium under the Tait management. She sang with laarked success at other Melbourne eencerts, and with Henri Verbrugghen. end the New South Wales State Orchestra. In 1917 she toured the United States with Melba and sang to enthusiastic audiences in Boston © and Philadelphia. On November 23, 1930, she made her debut in London at the Albert Hall with the Landon Ronald orchestra, when every critic hailed another Australian star in the ascendant. She had grasped the mystery of Melba’s evenness of voice, the liquid purity of ingh notes, the smoothness of phrasing énd the control of breathing. H AVING prevailed against all com- ‘ petitors in the recent Ballarat contests, the Hawthorn City "A" Grade Gand, now holds the proud title of Centenary Champions of Australia and New Zealand. They will broadeast an excellent programme in the National relay through 8LO from 8.45 p.m. on December 2, in which the supporting artists will be Greta Callow, sopranv. ° Raymond Beatty, basso, and Adrian ° Bendall, harpist. ORMED 24 years ago, the band was originally composed of the Christ Church (West Hawthorn) Boys’ Ban1, together with the nucleus. of the only mounted band ever known in Victoria. It used to practise in a stable belonging to a local miikman and its first conductor was W, Dickson, who, until recently, led the Oakleigh Band. It Was largely due to the late Mr. George Swinbourne, a State Minister, Blectricity Commisisoner, and noted bene-

factor, that the band was eventual'y constituted in its present form. M1. Swinbourne was its first president. Its bandmaster is Alf Paxton, who bas Leen leading it since 1923, and to whom is attributed much of the success in the championship event. ON E of the most amazing phenonema in Australian natural history is the yearly arrival of the Sooty Petrels, commonly known as Mutton Birds, at their breeding ground on Phillip Island off the southern coast of Victoria. So punctual is this seasonal hegira that the birds have been booked for an item in the National programme of 3LO from 10.30 p.m. on December 2, Mr. Cecil Le Souet, a well-known ornithologist, and member of a family whose hume has long been associated with zoological management in Australia, has been engaged to give a graphic description of the arrival of the mutton birds at rookeries near Cowes, Phillip Island. The advance guard of the countless thousands of birds will have arrived a few days before, and on the due date the evening sky will be blackened by the army of "Mother Carey’s Chickens" re-visiting the scene of their former nurseries. The birds have many interesting habits during their annual nesting season, and Mr. Le Souef’s description should be very interesting. OLLOWING his broadcast of recitals in Sydney and Tasmania, Percy Grainger, the famous Australian com-poser-pianist, will begin his series of 12 leetures on music in Melbourne, in the National programme of 8LO ow December 4 from 11.15 p.m. These lectures

are arousing widespread interest in Australian musical circles, not only on aceount of the eminence of the lectuter, but through the original manner of their presentation and the wealth of research which they Inuy be expected to reveal. Modern musical research is a subject studied by Mr. Grainger and in his lectures he will discuss the fas cinuting development of lusical science, while to ilustrate phases of his research he will have the assistance of vocalists, stringed instruments, and as many as 20. performers on keyboard and percussion instruments. Dealing principally with. oriental, printitive, hybridised and ultra-modern music, Mr. Grainger will discuss musie as a uniart. N addition to the descriptions, results and re-creations of Saturday und Wednesday race meetings, 2UW is in future to give at 8.55 nightly cricket, tennis and golf scores, Then, commencing on Saturday December 8, descriptions will be given of the Speedwuy Royal Motor Cycle races. In connection with these events, Mr. Oscar Lind will give short talks each Friday night and Will bring to the 2UW microphone various speedway personalities.