THE OPERA HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVI, Issue 3819, 4 November 1882, Page 2

THE OPERA HOUSE.

"La Pille Dv Tambour Major."

Despite the severity of the weather last night, the opera season was very successfully inaugurated. The house was crowded, and the performance was remarkably good, while the gratification of tho audience was undoubted. "La Fille da Tambour Major " or "The Drum Major's Daughter,'' was the final work of the most prolific, and perhaps also the most erratic composer of the century. Offenbach devoted himself entirely to.tickling the public tafite, careless whether or not he offended against musical canonsyso.longas he received the plaudits of his clientele, and his grea>t, if not enduring popularity lies ia the piquancy and sparkling character of his music and in the gaiety tbat pervades and informs the whole structure of his operas.- The perform _nee in this city, at various periods, of " La -raude Duche*se," "Genevieve de Biabant," "La Perichole," "La Bslle M_l_ue," "Madame L'Archidnc," and "XaJolie Parfumeu-e;" has extended Wb popularity here, and rendered his character isties easily recognisable and much appreciated. This latest Offtnbachiaa production has a good deal in common with its predecessors, but it is hardly so extravagant in incident and action or so b-iateroml; frolicaotrie in the spirit of the music. Thero is a slight undercurrent of sentiment to th* prevailing blithesomemess, and more than one of the vocal numbers has a tender charm of feeling about it that readily wins the heart ofthe listener. Still, while its airs.if few, aregeneraJly pretty.an. much of the csncsrUd music ia weil-choided and agreeable to tbe ear, it is a kind of composition that, taken it its entirety, wins upono-er_ther by repetition »»d lamiliVity raihet than of a kind to command admiration on a first acquaintance. Its graces in* sinuate thomselvss quietly and insen-ibly; they do not orsrpawsr and immediately captivate. As a natural consequence, the leading singers are not attorded great scope for vocol display, but tbey have the opportunity of exhibiting the quality of their execution and thair taste. The prettiest morceaux in tbe first act are Griob-t/s complaint "Cold as the Snow " (noteworthy for its delightful phraaing and the delicate nuances of the air), Stella's sosg " Italia I Land of Song," atd tho finale, in which the burden of the song again asserts itself. The second act is marked by a dainty little dnet, "It must be now," between Stella and Robert, and an acceptable septet- c and chorus. A Bceoa (Robert and chorus) at the opening oi tho third act has a pleasant ting, while the unaccompanied quartette, "Onoe Again" (Stella, Oriolet, Robert, and Monthabor), is quite a gem. The finale iB highly effective. There are but few choruses in the opera, and they arc not of particular merit. The librettist has bad ample room given him in tbe work, and if his passages are Hot irreai»tably witty or thickly studded with bon mots, they are, notwithstanding, b amorous. It is as a spectacular opera that "La Fille dv Tambour Major"' produces its first impressions, but after the glamour which gaudy colours, attractive costumes, and military pageant. create at first sight, has been overcome, tho work will bo found to bare enough real musical beauty apart from the meretricious glitter ot iacidcn-1 spectacle. Yet this display, much as the virtuoso may contemn it, goes a very long way to achieve the desiderated succcst, and the manig-rs of the present Opera Troupe show a perfect appreciation of the fact. They hate mounted the piece on a scale of g.rgenu.ncse, and with a completeness of detail that challenge compm-oa with any previous lyrical stage represen'atiun in ibis city or colony. The dresses of the yurig ladies of the conventual establishment together with tbat of the Abbess, ate neat and appropriate, the uniforms of the French and Austrian stldiora are handsome and picture- que, and the costumes of the fine ladies aid gentlemen who figure in the nuptial festivities ot the second act are varied, costly, and choice. Hardly anything more imposing aud effective in the shape of a stage military display c^u'd be contrived than the arrival ef the French vanguard with band playing B^nd colours flying, which fotms tne concluding tnblcau. It was exceedingly cUver, a*d the audience, contrary to tbe usual custom of making a basly exit at the close of a performance, sat contentedly en, and insisted up.n the curtain being r.i-ed end the farewell .herns te-peat-d. . ■ Tho scenery and mechanical effectswerequitein keeping. Itrcmainstobe seen whether, from a musical point of view, all the loading performers can lay claim to the degree af excellence that the finish of the misc en scene and the numkr of supernumeraries engaged presuppose. So far as the ladies aro concerned, there need be no hesitancy in pronouncing an opinion.— Mi->EleaMay(Stella)isfully equal to thcrdle of prima donna. She has a pure, full, clear soprano vsico of good compais and pleasing timbre, and its flexibility is shown by the ease with which she sings. The song, " Italia, the Land of Song," however, was the only solo number that leot.h.r any opportunity ot proviag her ability as a cantatrice. Sbe 13 short in stature, but p-sse.ses mobile features aud a self-p^Esessed style of action. Mis. Fanny Liddiard is already a favourite. She has a soft aud me lbw contralto aud she sings with taste, whilo her acting is graceful and happy. She appears as Griolet, ihe Drummer Hoy. Mibs Andre* Nsvaro (the Duchess) in both acting and singing acquits herself very satisfactory, and Miss Blanche" Lewie makes a good Olsudlnc. Of the gentlemen Mr Howard Ver_oa is immeasurably the best. As the Tambour Major ho plays with consummate skill, and his facial expressiveness and untirirg by-play cause him to be "the observed of all observer.." He eing. tor>, as the public well know, buffo music with unquestionable effect. MrJ, Drayton, alight buss singer, takes the pait of Captain Robort veiy well. His voice is agreeable, but it docs not seem to be marked by gre it power. Still tho music allotted to him did not give much scope for display, and it would be unfair, therof.ro, to pass a hasty judgment. Be give .atisfaction. It is difficult to say much abiut tho tenors. MrC, Birt (Marquis Bambini) is doiib.l.ss the principal one, but lvs part does not call upon him for any vocal effort, and theretoro his abilities as a singer were net shewn. He acs with considerable vivacity and humour. Tbe other tennr (Mr W. Lindsty) is decidedly weak. Mr F, Fred Dark, a buffo baritone, impersonated tbe Luke crcdi'ably, but he had no singing to do, and tbe first baritone (Mr Sullivan) was not in the cast. However, as we have remarked before, there is nit much solo-singing in the opera, and therefore the singers have hardly had a fair trial. Tuking it all iv all, the performance is meritorious, and the piece it-e'f is one which should havo a lengthened run. The orchestra, which is reinforced by local musicians, faithfully discharge! its share of , the wotk.