New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-19
NINE. MELBA'S BREAKDOWN.
NOT LIKELY THAT SHE WILL SING AGAIN
THIS WINTER
Mr.. GRAU APPARENTLY WITHOUT HOPE THAT
SHE WILL APPEAR-ANOTHER DISAPPOINTED

MR. GRAU APPARENTLY WITHOUT HOPE THAT
SHE WILL. APPEAR-ANoTHER DISAPPOINTED
AUDIENCE AT THE OPERA LAST NIGHT.
There was another disappointed audience at
the Metropolitan Opera House last night. There
nave been several OF them lately. but II is not
likely that any other will be disappointed by
Nine Melba this season In short, there seems
to be a general impression that she will not
sing any more this winter Maurice Grau.
though he guarded in his statements about
IL last night. did not have any CON
nd"nce that She would be able to do
When Nine. Melba proved unequal to the task
OF singing the part Of Brnnhde in "Segfried.
snort time ago. 1t was not generally supposed
that any especial significance attached to the
fact, except that her voice was not suited TO the
music which the part required her to sing. At
the second performance OF "Siegfried' Nine.
Litvinne was substituted. and those who were
supposed to know said that it was simply be-
cause 1t was found that the quality OF her voice
did not suit the part. and 1t OF no for
her to try to sing IT, 1t now appears that this
was premonition Of general breakdown
Nine. Melba has sung a few times since then.
hut at a recent matinee. when La Traviata
was announced. she suddenly found that she
was unable to sing, and Nine. Clementine de
We're was put In her place. Last week 1t was
reported that her condition was 50 serious that
she would be unable to sing in Romeo and
Juliet on Saturday night But she did sing.
slight operation on her throat having been per-
formed that morning She announced
again to sing in La Traviata' last night and
exactly the same thing happened that hap
pened at the matinee just referred to. Nine.
De We're sang the part. Nine. Meba being una
BILE to come to the Opera House.
When Maurice Grau was seen by Tribune
porter last night he seemed To BE feeling in
hopeful mood about Nine Melba's condition. lie
would not say positively that she would not sing
any more at present. but he clearly had no faith
that she would. Her physician had sent him
certificate, he said. that Nine Melba was in no
condition to sing. and ne had afterward seen
the physician himself and had again been as
Sured 10 the effect. He expected to see
Nine Media to-day having been unable TO see
her yesterday. and then he expected to know
more He should not announce any more APP
rearances for her. he declared unless he received
some positive assurance that she would he able
to sing She is already announced to sing
the concert Of the Boston symphony Orchestra
on Thursday evening and at the opera matinee
on Saturday in "Rigoetto' and the mad scene
from "Luci di LammermoOr" and Mr. Grau
said that he thought that these announcements
would both he changed unless there seemed tn
be distinct prospect of a great improvement in
her condition. Mr. Grau did not hesitate to say
that he believed that Nine Melba had seriously
broken down.
1t was the general opinion last night that she
would not be heard here again this winter AMI
that she would soon return to Europe. Nine
Melba has been working especially hard for two
or three years. She has been singing in opera
here and in London and Paris. and she has given
numerous concerts. besides studying parts. Her
manager. c. A. Ellis. when asked about her last
night, was entirely non-commtal. He would not
say positively that she would not sing again. and
that she would return to Europe but neither did
he deny these statements.