Melba

Among the many wonderful features of life in the city of London, the great field of music and theatre must surely hold a leading place, with its wide variety of entertainment, backed by a multitude of talented artists and performers from every corner of the globe, to whom London is their Mecca.

Nor could there be any more popular branch of entertainment than the regular concerts held at the Royal Albert Hall, especially those given on Sundays.

This great circular hall, situated in Kensington opposite the Royal Albert Memorial, dedicated to the Prince Consort, was completed in the year 1871. It possesses one of the greatest organs in the world, with nearly 10,000 pipes, and has a seating capacity for at least 12,000 persons.

Little wonder that, during the grim days of the First World war, there was no more popular rendezvous than this among members of the Services on leave, who, no doubt, found, in the very pattern of the tiered architecture of its noble interior, rest and relaxation. apart even from the quality of its famous programmes.

And famous indeed was the programme of that Sunday afternoon of 15th June, 1919, when I found myself in London again, during a brief attachment to A. I. F. Headquarters for special instruction fore proceeding to Glasgow as officer-in-charge of an advance party. where to prepare a troopship, destined for Australia, for subsequent embarkation of troops at Devonport.

I was fortunate, too, in having as my companion throughout the my lovely Geraldine Kelway, a daughter of the Managing Director of Always Ltd. . the renowned Seed Merchants of Langport.

Geraldine, a few weeks earlier, had “come up from Somerset” to e a wartime ich in London, living with an elderly relative in of the city’s historical residential squares.

the programme on this occasion had a special Australian flavor. wow Nellie Moins being the chief attraction. the supporting artist to Huberman the famous Polish violinist, and rom Burke, a Brit; sor, a wantime discovery, who had stepped dato an instantane press in Grand Onera at Covent Garden, and was appearing on+ gramme with the permission of the Grand Opera Syndicate

which makes possible a complete recapitulation trong my souvenirs is a carefully-preserved programme of that wonderful concert,

of the items.

Huberman opened with “The First Part Of The Violin Concerto, Op. 35” by Tschaikowsky, and this was followed by two songs from Tom Burke – (a) “Comme un bel di di Maggio” from “Andre Chenier” by Giordano, and (b) Aria from “Werther” by Massenet.

Then came Melba, with a characteristic rendering of Verdi’s “Ave Maria”, Arthur Mason being at the organ.

Huberman then played “Two Hungarian Dances” by Brahms, after which Melba gave a bracket of four songs:

(a) “Les Temps des Lilas” by Chausson.

(b) “Chant Indoue” from the opera “Sadko” by Rimsky Korsakoff.

(a) “Les Anges Pleurent” by Bemberg.

Tom Burke again, with two delightful little songs which have remained fresh in my memory throughout the “forty years on”. These were (a) “My Lovely Celia” and (b) “Phillis Has Such Charming Graces”.

Melba came again with a familiar trio of English songs which, I recall, had a wonderful reception from the vast audience. These were (a) “Bonnie Mary Of Argyle”, (b) “John Anderson My Jo”, and (c) “Annie Laurie”.

Another violin solo by Huberman, “Carmen Fantasie” by Bizet, brought us to what was, no doubt, the highlight of the afternoon.

This was a duet by Melba as Mimi, and Tom Burke as Rudolf – the well-known “Lovely Maid In The Moonlight”, from Puccini’s opera “La Boheme”.

As could be imagined, this item was received with tumultuous applause, and was a fitting climax to a choice collection, not forgetting the numerous encores.

The printing in the programme of the words of every song, with, several cases, English translations, greatly enhanced their enjoy- ment.

The Australian interest in the programme was enthusiastically monstrated by the hundreds of Diggers, who almost filled an entire gallery.

very Indeed, Geraldine did not hesitate to draw my attention to the

apparent “one-eyed” attitude of the Aussies, who applauded Melba con great fervour, whilst accepting Huberman and Tom Burke with complete calm – albeit with appreciation.

Que ,but our afternoon’s enjoyment was not without some excitement _ on to a dramens incident towards the end of the concert, following one of Melba’s items.

The capacity attendance on the ground floor made it necessary to accommodate several rows of people on the stage.

Melba had just finished a triumphant number, and had turned to leave the stage, when a young woman seated in the front row of the overflow section, rose quickly and approached her with an autograph album and fountain pen.

Melba, who was obviously annoyed, severely rebuffed the young woman, who hurriedly retreated under a cloud of embarrassment.

The incident was followed by a great buzz of excited muttering throughout the vast audience, and, from comments of people in our vicinity, it was clear that there was no sympathy for the optimistic go-getter.

The passage of the years has not dimmed the memory of that wonderful afternoon – so long ago.