"MADAM BUTTERFLY."

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 144, 20 June 1910, Page 6

"MADAM BUTTERFLY."

TO-NIGHT. The J. C, Williamson Grand Opera Company arrived from the South yesterday morning, and to-night will appear at His Majesty's Theatre i n Puccini's opera "Madam Butterfly." This evening Bel Sorel, the brilliant French prima donna, will sing "Madam Butterfly" for the first-time here—having in artistic association as Lieutenant Pinkerton Mr. Frederick Blarney, the eminent English tenor. There can be little reason to doubt that no greater musical attraction of grand opera calibre has previously been offered to the Auckland public. The personnel of the principals—the magnitude of the orchestra, the fact of its being the first presentation of any of the great Puccini's works, the appearance of so distinguished a musician as Signor Hazon. and the unusual numerical strength of the company, all serve to suggest a performance of a notable work at its highest standard. Besides the two principal artists will appear Mr. Arthur Crane as Sharpless and Miss Rosina Buckman and Florence Quinn as Luzuki and Kate Pinkerton respectively; also Messrs. Rufus Ferguson, Edward Wynne, Orme Darvall and C. O'Keefe have important parts in the opera. Tomorrow evening Amy Castles, the famous prima donna, will sing "Cho Clio San" and Signor John Zerga, the Italian tenor of great reputation, will be heard as Lieutenant Pinkerton. The stage direction is supervised by Mr. Henry Bracy, under whose watchful eye the opera will be produced. Puccini is magnificent melody from the first bars of *the opera, consequently patrons are desired to be seated before Signor Hazon commences the brilliant overture. "Madam Butterfly" will be given till Saturday next, when Signorina Maria Pampari, the gifted young Italian prima donna, will make her first appearance as Mimi in "La Boheme." Children in arms will not be admitted.