ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1391, 25 July 1874, Page 2

ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

Balte's magnificent opera of "Satanella" was performed last evening at the Prince of ' Wales Theatre for the second time by the English Opera Company. The house was filled on the occasion, and every part was sustained par excellence. The singing and ; playing of Miss Alice May, as the leading character, was aitistical. and perfect. ThiS artiste is so thoroughly natural in her ■ portrayal of character that she is always sue-, cessful. Nothing could be finer than her dramatic representation of Satanella last night. The scenery also was of the most gorgeous description, and does great credit to the talent and taste of Mr Willis and his assistants. Count Rupert was rendered with commendable skill by Mr Hallatn, who gave the several ballads in hia part with much taste. The ballad, "Our hearts are not own to give," by Miss Lambert as Stella, was very sweetly sung, and the character pictured with truth and effect. Mr Eainford, as Arimanes, was eminently, successful. His impersonation was fufl of energy and power. The "Pirate" scene was very full of life and animation, and Mr Templeton and his comrades were very fine with their melodies, and justly re- .- ceived an encore. The little slave that danced the mimic dance behind the Grand Vizier (which was personated by Mr Evans : with dumb show acting, was really excellent) in the slave-market of Tunis was much admired. This is his second appearance on the stage, and we may state that Master Fernandez exhibited an amount o£ cleverness which was very noticeable in one so young. We noticed a marked improve- > ment in Miss Howe, both in her acting and voice, and she performed her part gracefully. Mr Hallam sang, we thought, with much, more energy than on some previous occasions. >. The subordinate parts were also brought out more efficiently, and consequently thia v . beautiful opera was the more perfect. ; The scenery and the associations of * L the opera were all in keeping, and the music was excellent. This evening Bene« diet's '' Lily of Killarney" will be produced. CINDERELLA. On Monday night is to be represented Rossini's grand opera of Cinderella. This is the fitst of Rossini's which the Company have ventured on in Auckland, and it will be looked forward to with a great amount of in- ] terest. No composer's music possesses moro ; charms than Rossini's. In addition to its intrinsic artistic merit it has an attractive melodiousness which appeals to the general equally with the educated ear. Its sparkling play ol* expression eminently fits it for forming the vehicle for conveying the fairy straias of the beauti* ful story of the " Glass Slipper." No fairy legend is so generally a favourite as "Cm« derella." Every child goes into raptures over it, and its charm lasts into the later life of its readers,.? j The tale is so artistically con« structed in spite of its simplicity; the moral, which the story has in common with all other nursery legends, is pointed so pleasantly and with such an utter absence of all that goody-goody-ness which is apt to spoil the interest of such fairy yarns, that its: pages are always perused with pleasure alike by young and old, by those who practice the \ lessons it teaches, and by those who readmit for its owu interest, oblivious of any additional merit. Preparations for the performance are being made on a grand scale. Being a fairy opera the spectacular effects constitute a great feature, while the metamorphoses which- the performers have to undergo under the magic wand of the good fairy require special apparatus aisd machinery. To meet all these requirements tbe Company are striving manfully, having determined to eclipse even the acknowledged success of " Satanella." .New scenery has been specially painted by Mr Willis. We hear privately that some scenic effects will bo attempted that have never before been aspired to by any company in the colony. The greatest care is being taken to ensure a triumph The dresses will be va. accordance with the brilliant scenes in which the characters have to appear. " Der Freichutz" is in actic^j- — *!£"*•■ and will be given at au earlys&totY; . ' ~i the famous incantation scenet^—* Market*/ caused such a furore at 4 Christchurch. " ' - **-*-r —-'•*