MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

OPERA HOUSE BOOKINGS. Mangrove's Grand Opera Co.—July 15 to August 13. 'Auckland Amateur Opera Club—Sep.emuer 1. Arthur Pollard's Libputians—September 14 to 27. Pollard's Opera November 1 to 27. Brough Comedy Co.—December 26 to January

W. P. Hawtrcy's Comedy Co.-January 23 to

February 3. .Williamson's Italian Opera Co.-Febrnary & t0 % ' OTHER SHOWS. City Hall—Diss Gaiety Comuany. Agricultural HaH-McActao Minstrels, tonight.

The Opera House is fairly well booked from July to the end of Febiuary next. October and" the early part of December being the only blank peiiuis, so that playgoers will not" have much leiison to grumble at the season of theatrical events to be inaugurated by the Musgtove Grand Opera Company. The D\e,e bookings include a lortnight's season by Arthur Pollard's LUiputian Opera Company. Williamsons Italian Opera season in Auckland is now definitely fixed for February of next year. last week was a record week for Mr. Dix : s circuit, li.e total receipts in the four centres-swelled, of curse so tar as Ancleland was concerned, by the crowded state of the city during (he Royal lestivuiesexceeding any previous weeks takings by over £100. There is no doabt that P.R.D. deserves the support accorded to aim. The present galaxy of artiste? appearing under his management at the City flail lorms a comb.nation of unusual strength.

On Mo;idu> next Miss Emmie Owen, a soubrette with a big reputation, opens at the City li-ili. practically replacing popular feene Franklin, who makes her final bow to-night prior to her departure tor Wellington. Johnson. Piano, and Bentley left Melbourne on Wednesday last by the Tannic and proceed to Dimedin, where they open at P.R.D.'s Theatre. The. Hay tors, pantomimes and sketch artistes, commence a season at the City Hall on July 3. Frank Yorke, " the irresistible, also re-appears on the same date.

MfAdoo's Jubilee Singers close a successful reason at the Agricultural Hall to-night. The company proceed to Whangarei on Monday, opening in that town or; Tuesday night. ' From thence tliey tour the Northem Wairoa. after which by special invitation they will revisit the Thames. hereafter Taranaki will be toured,, and Wellington visited on August 3. Madame Ball (soprano) and Miss Susie Anderson (the -Black Melba") are clue to arrive from America in August, joining the McAdoos in Wellington.

, The second of the winter popular song recitals, promoted by Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Hodges, will be given in the Choral Hall tin Thursday evening next. The high standard of efficiency invariably associated with these high-class artistes will no doubt be fully maintained. Miss A. Schmidt, contralto, makes her first appearance at these recitals on Thursday.

Mr. George Musgrove's Grand Opera Company is meeting with a prosperous run at the Royal, Sydney. The operas in the repertoire "are being staged in such a manner as to call forth unstinted praise from the critics. Aucklanders will have an opportunity of witnessing the company's performances next month, the opening night being announced for July 15.

Theatregoers will learn with interest that Mr. W. F. Hawtrey's Comedy Company -will visit Auckland early in the new year. Mr. Hawtrey has purchased the Australian rights of a "new farcical comedy, entitled *' In the Soup,"' which has been limning for the past nine months at the Strand Theatre, London, with great success. The comedy is most highly spoken of by the London critics. "In the Soup" is in active rehearsal, and will be shortly produced at the Palace, Sydney, by Mr. Hawtrey's clever company." "A Message from Mars," another of Mr. Hawtrey's successes, is filling the Palace Theatre night after night. Miss Nance O'Neil, after finishing her 'Adelaide season, was due to open in Perth on Thursday last.

It may interest my musical readers to know that a prize of £20 is offered by the London Organ School for the best trio written for oboe, horn, and pianoforte. All works must be sent in by January 13, 1902, to Dr. Yorke Trotter, at the London Organ School, £2, Princes-street, Cavendish Square, W.. from whom any particulars (d the competition can be obtained.

Here is a chance for playwrights whose lights have hitherto been "hidden under bushels. Say:, 1 lie Westminster Gazette: — "Mr. George Alexander recently made an offer to produce at a matinee any play by an unacted author selected by a committee of the Playgoers" Club; Mr. Charles Manners has gone further, and offered £-250 prizes fur a couple of operas, which he undertakes to stage, paying the authors ten per cent, on the net receipts from the performances ; and now Mr. Wilson Barrett says he is ready to produce any drama written for him which shall satisfy six experts of his own choosing.''

Mr. Williamson's Italian Opera Company. which is now playing in Melbourne, and which will be heaid in Auckland in February next, include;:—Soprani: Signora Lina de Benedetto {prima donna druminatico), Signorina Dalia Bassich, Signorina Edvige :"Vaccari. and Signora Clementine de Vere Sapio (prima donna lirico). Mezzo-soprani: Signorina Eliza Marcomini, Signorina Gughelmina Marchi. Tenon : Commendatore Vtncenzo Larizza, Signer Carlo Dani, Signer Evandro Cannonieri. Baritoni: Signer Ignazio Boz'ioli, Signor Ferdinand Catadori. Bassi: Signor Baldo Travaglini, Signor Cesare Tondini, Signor Olwito Lombardi. The company's repertoire includes: — "Aida," "Lucia d: Lammermoor," " Erliani," "Rigoietto," " Ugonotti,"' '"La Traviata." "La Gioconda," *'Faust." "La Favorita." "Un Bailo in Maschera," and Pueiui's delightful opera, " La Boherne," the reigning success of the recent carnival season in Italy; Giordano's impressive work, "Fedora," and Verdi's great masterpiece, "Otello."

My London correspondent, writing under date of May 18, says: —To-day closes the first week of grand opera in London in the twentieth century. It can only be, described its a moderate success. True, the Cove.'it Garden Opera. House has been greatly improved, and so have the choral accessories, while the orchestral department remains admirable as befoie. But the great "stars' of Optra are, with two exceptions, conspicuous by their absence so far. Madame Fames returns with her voice as pure and sweet and unforced as ever, with her perfection of method and style undiminished, her striking persona! charm unimpaired, and Ler histrionic capacities improved. She has already given two of her finest performances sis Juliet and Marguerite respectively, in Gounod's "Romeo" and "Faust." L'laucon, the :# a.-rb French basso, is the other exception, ami he is as superb as of yore. Indeed, he has no living bass rivals save (Van Rooy and Edouard de Reszke, both of whom are absentees as yet. It is feared that neither of the de Reszke brothers will be heard in London this year. On the other hand, Tamagno. the Italian stentor, is to vociferate "Blood! Blood! Blood!" in Verdi's " Otello." and Melba is to delight us—although but seldom—with her crystalline, if cold, warblings.

It is curious that the melodious Italian opera* which were the joy of our fathers and mothers are admitted at Co vent Gardens nowadays; only on sutfrance, as it were, and with either a veiled apology for their mildness or else a covet i sneer at their archaism. Yet many of us can still enjoy them, and are not thawed of it, much as ■we delight in Wagnei also.