The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-10-01
MELBA's COMING.

MELBA'S COMING.
In recent years Grand Forks has
astonished the state by the stupendous
things it has undertaken and accom-
plished. 1t has offered to the public
artists and entertainments equal to
those offered in the larger cities. In
fact. SO great have been these under
takings that the public outside the
city could hardly bring itself to be-
lieve they were true. 1t is only
necessary to refer to the May Music
festival and Hoxsey. the aviator to H.
lustrate this fact.
And the wheel of progress never
turns backward in Grand Forks. 1t
is always reaching out for something
better. Certainly its greatest under
taking has been the bringing of the
great world artist, the queen of the
operate kingdom. Madame Melba, to
the city. 1t Is not our purpose to
discuss at this time the wonderful
voice Of this woman who has sang
before crowned heads and swayed
the most critical audiences in the
homes of music itself. Her biography
would require volumes and an analy-
sis of her wonderful voice would
command the most careful! attention
Of great master. We are only con-
cerned in showing the splendid op-
portunity the people Of the state have
to hear singer whose name is a
household word in every artistic
centre.
Wesley college. under whose au-
spices she appears in this city. is not
seeking financial returns for Its eff
fort. 1t is seeking. through its con-
servatory. to make Grand Forks the
musical centre Of the northwest. 1t
is offering to the people of the state
all opportunity to cultivate-rather to
enjoy-that which is best in music.
The college management, of course.
expects to realize something out of
the proceeds. But at the same time,
should the expenses be greater than
the income Wesley college is fnan-
cially responsible for the difference.
On the other hand, the college will
divide whatever profit there is in the
engagement with the Oratorio soci-
ETY., to be used in paying for the COM
pletion of the splendid auditorium,
which is now the finest in the north
west and the only place in the state
In which such great artists and at
fractions as are now being offered in
this city can appear. 1t will, there
fore. be seen that there is no mercen-
airy motives nthe matter and that
the moving spirit is mainly the desire
to give the very best in the music
world to the people of the state.
Her native city of Melbourne greet
ed her with triumphant arches and
gorgeous parades on the occasion of
her return eight years ago, while the
conservatory presented her with an
address of welcome She was honor
ed as though she were. queen all
because of her great ability as sing
er. When she was appearing in Brus-
sells she was regularly commanded
to appear at the royal box after her
program to receive the congratula-
tions of the empress. Speaking of her
own success in Paris she says:
When 1 sang here two years ago
two or three of the critics who heard
me were very kind An unkind crit
icism makes me unhappy, but today
have no reason to be depressed.
All the critics are good to me, some
very good. One or two are disappoint-
ed that l am foreigner, and an Aus
tralian at that. However, am proud