Melar’tin

Erkki, Kexholm, Finland, Feb. 7, 1875—Helsingfors, Feb. 14, 1937; pupil of Wegelius; after 1911 ir. of Helsingfors Cons.; c. orch. music, songs, etc. Melba (miél’-bi), Nellie (rightly Mitchell), Melbourne, Australia, May 19g, 1861—Feb. 23, 1931; one of the chief colorature-sopranos of her time, with a voice of great range, purity and flexibility; pupil of Mme. Marchesi; début Th. de la Monnaie, Bru els, 1887, as ‘‘Gilda’”’ in ‘ Rigoleito,’ sang in Europe and America with greatest succ. in both opera and concert; after 1888 at Covent Garden; the following year in Paris as “‘Ophelia”’; from 1893 at Met. Op., N. Y., where she was one of the notable luminaries in casts with the brothers de Reszke; 1906-07 at Manhattan Op., and in 1917, Chicago Op.; she gave a series of special perfs. in 1922-23 with the British Nat’] Op. Co. in London, then organized her own co. for a season in Australia; as a reward for her extensive work in giving benefit concerts during the war was created a Dame Commander ot the British Empire; her gala “farewell” Covent Garden, when she appeared in scenes from her favorite operas, was in 1926; founded Melba Scholarship for women singers in her native country. -Melcér (mél’-tsér), H. von, Kalish, Poland, Sept. 21, 1869—killed in battle, Galicia, 1915; pianist and composer; prize with Concertstiick for pf. and orch. Melchior (mél/-ki-ér), (1) Edw. A., b. ‘Rotter dam, Nov. 6, 1860; and lexicographer. (2) Lauritz, b. Copenhagen, March 20, 1890; tenor; studied at Cons. in native city, début Royal Op. there, 1913; afterward a pupil of Beigel, Grenzebach, Mme. Kittel; 1924, same Garden, year at Bayreuth, where his ‘‘Parsifal” roused much admiration; after 1926 mem. of Met. Op. Co., excelling in rdéles; has also sung “Otello” at Covent Garden and with San Francisco Op. Co. Melchiori (mél-ki-o’-ré), Ant., Parma, 1827—Milan, 1897; violinist and composer.