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Show CRITICAL JUIDIENGE GHARMED By MELBA Great Singer Is Seen Ap. parently at Her Best at Assembly Hall. ' APPLAUSE PLENTIFUL ! Flaying of Signorina Sassoli Also Is a Most Fascinating Fascinat-ing Feature. Getting into Assembly hall last ni.-rht was by a straight and narrow path such ' as is com m on i y su nposed to lead into heaven. To the hundreds who cooled . iholr heels on the icy walks outside the ! : one entrance whore the stern ticket takers J stood pnard, the narrow shaft of light ; inside was as inviting as the fabled j L splendors of the Garden of Eden. When ; the tabernacle choir began the concert I s several hundred people were still massed I in a wedge, with the point toward the I entrance which admitted the crowd in j drfhlets to the alluring interior, where ; were warmth, radiance and music. j Refore dwelling- upon Inch musical i themes, it is pernaps just as well to touci j for a moment upon the profane not : 1 meaning, of course, the langtiase of the , waiting crowd, but such details as the ; stace manner of Madame Melba and the dresses of the preat singer and of Signer- ina Ada Sasso'.i. the harpist. One hardlv knew whether to admire the voice, the art or the stage manner of L Mel':-a the most. She has a way of bow- ing over the entire sweep of the stage that is an art in itself, quite as difficult i of attainment, one would think, as learn- j ing a s:nge tango, if one may be permit- I r ted to compare" things of tush and low I degree. j ! Captivatingly Gracious. 1 Moreover. Melba is not only graceful, ; 1 hut captivating v gracious. It was a 1 genuine pleasure to see her smile and how to the tabernacle choir as she walked 1 on and off uie stage- Being of a demo-! demo-! erotic nature. Melba smilingly tiling little quips and jests at the ladies in the front rank of the chorus as she passed to and fro. . 1 pv war of approaching the music in ' the 'proper spirit, we will here set down i ! to ihe best of our ability a description ' of tiie goun wom by Madame and ese the gown worn bv Signorina. i Ma .lame Melba wore a rose taffeta 1 gown, with crystal trimmings and rose- bcPd embroiderv. In her hair was a daz-zline. daz-zline. white-jeweled aigrette which had a vt ry excellent sense of time and har- ! 1 Siciiorina Sassoli wore a gown of tur- quoise blue satin, embroidered In silver, black-fur trimmed, with a bodice and drop skirt of white lace. ; Opening Number Impels. The opening number, which won the heartiest' encomiums from Melba herself, was the chorus. "The Heavens are Te'l-iiic." Te'l-iiic." from Kadyn's "Creation." The 1 choir sang once again during the evening. ' rendering" most impressively the linale from Act I of "Aida," The p'aying of Signorina Sassoli was ' renned. delicate and brilliant. In making h-r selecnons she was perhaps too much ' inclined to choose music that permitted ; a disr-lav of her brilhancy in technique, i Machime Melba sane f.rst the "Mad S- ene" from the 'Hamlet" of Thomas. Her audience was instantly Impressed bv extreme cultivation of her tones and her rr.srve'ousiy pure enunciation. T' e musi al values of the words them- cajve; in this ease French words were re'aled mag.caliy. Melba sane eight more sore? ana seerred to reach a culmination of power, at ah events in the appreciation of her e udier.ee. in the last two, a waltz song bv Arditi and "Comin Throueh the Rye." One of her encores was the inevitable "Annie Laurie." hich e'1 the great singers of our dav have thocht well of and whi"h Meiba renders with much charm. But ' Comin" Throueh the Rye" ! seeme-i more to her taste and she evoked fmm It with some unique mannerisms all i'r rjuaint corr.ir spirit. Tve concert was one of the most dehsrhtfu! of the las: few seasons and Mr.'Orahain Is to be congratulated upon its success. Programme in Full. The programme was as follows; 1 Chorus, "Tho Heavp.s are Telling" freatlon Havdn. Tabernacle Choir. Harp Soh 1 (at Gnvotte r.ameau rb Minuette Masenet (ci Impromptu Pierne S : gn rri r.a Ad a Sa ss-oii ?,. Mad Scene t Hamlet i Thomas Madame Meiba A. Harp Poli ( a'l Old French Song Ponhnn Le Rouet '. Zar! (c( Marionettes T edsc hi S'cnorina Ada Sassoli 5. (n) Ava Maria (Otelioi Verdi I'M Addio (T,a Foherr.M Pucurd Madame M-1K) f. Chorus: Firaie. Act I, "A id a" Verdi Tabernacle Choir 7. Songs (at Anr'-K P'ourcnt Rfinhrrg (M fhant Venetn P.fmhn? (c) Nymr-i.s e Sylvian Hemhvre Madame Melba 8. Harp Soli O) Fri-re HnK'rr.an (b Gitana Hasnelmana Senorina Ada Sn w-oli ?. Waltz Smg: S-oran P.?e Ardlt Madame Mdra |