THE OPERA.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 2046, 31 August 1876, Page 2

THE OPERA.

"LA SONNAMBULA."

The sudden indisposition of Miss La&ibert prevented the performance of the " Bohemian Girl" last night, and " La Sonnambula " produced in itß stead. A large and fashiov" 1" able audience, including the Canterbury anfc 1 Auckland football teams, filled the house, and the announcement of the substitution was received good-humouredly. A short concert preceded the opera. The overture; to the " Hermit's Bell," well played by theorchestra, was followed by a song, "Happy be thy Dreams," by Mr Florence. This provoked loud applause. Mr Martin Simonsen next gave one of his much adtaired violin solos, " Annie Laurie " with variations. In response to the shouts of applause which this produced, the skilful maestro gave an amusing and clever version of the once popular air, " Pop goes the weasel." The comic effects produced by the artiste's instrument in this, fairly threw the audience into convulsions of laughter. The solos were accompanied on the pionoforte by Madame Simonsen. Mr Markharo gave " Tis hard to Love," and in response to an encore complied with " The Hungry Man," a very humorous affair. The Opera was then commenced and gone through capitally. Madame Simonsen never appeared to better advantage. Her pathetic singing and splendid acting in the final sleep-walking scene were both magnificent, and drew tears from eyes which rebelled at the unwonted suffusion. Signor Morley's representation of the loving and sor-row-stricken Elvino was wonderfully good, and his singing of " All is over" and " Still so gently," was suitably acknowledged. During the evening Mr Simonsen announced that instead of II Torvatore which bad been set for to-night, the grand opera Bouffe of La Fille de Madame Angot would be produced in answer to repeated solicitations. The announcement was received with cheers. La Fille de Madame Angot, we need scarcely inform our readers, has been one of the most successful operatic compositions placed upon the boards during the last decade. It is the work of a previously not very well known author named Lecoq, whose fame has been thoroughly established by his brilliant production. The plot is eminently French in its character, clairette, the daughter of the historical Madame Angot has been adopted as the Child of the Market, and is about to be given in marriage to a barber, named Pomponnet. She takes a strange method to avoid the marriage, which in distasteful for her. Her lover, Ange Pitou, is a writer of seditious songs, and she siugs one of these in the streets for the purpose of being arrested. She is snccessful in her ruse, and is brought before Madame Lange, the favorite of Barras, and the lady against whom the song was aimed. Clairette and Lange find they are old schoolfellows. Pomponnet comes in and exonerates Clairette, and accuses Pitou, who is a secret lover of Mdlle. Lange. An agent of the police, also struok with the charms of Barras' fovorite, surprises her with Pitou, and Lange concocts a story that Pitou has come to see Clairette and join in a meeting of conspirators, which is to be held at midnight. This meeting comes off, and the house where it takes place is surrounded by the hussars, of Angereau. At a signal from Lange, the conspirators manage to hide their badges, and pretend to he assisting at a fete to celebrate the marriageof Clairette and Pitou. The soldiers are deceived and join in the fun. Both Clairette and Dange rind they are in love with Pitou. By an jingenioas device, CKirette mina^ej tohave Lange and Pitou surprised together before the market. A row takes place, but all ends amicably, Ciairette, at the finish becoming Madame Pomponnet. JJ