GRAND OPERA SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1932, Page 9

GRAND OPERA SEASON.

TO OPEN HERE SHORTLY. It will be an auspicious occasion for lovers of grand opera in Auckland when, the J C Williamson Imperial Grand Opera Company which has been performing with notable success in Australia, presents its first gak pet'tcrmaiice m H Maiestv's Theatre on Wednesday, October 5 1 The initial opera presented will be "Madame Butterfly, • and Jlns will be followed by one-night P? rfo "Lucia di Lammermoor, II lrovatore, "Carmen," "Cavalleria Rusticana and "Pagliacci" (bracketed), Rigoletto, „ "Lucia di Lammermoor, La "The Baiber of- Seville, La losca, "Faust," "Don "Traviata, "Las Tosca," "Tales of Hoffmann" and finally* on October 22 "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci (bracketed). A fine company of world-famous artists has been gathered, some of the betterknown names including Lma Paliugln (coloratura soprano, from Milan), Cesarina Valobra (lyrical soprano, from Milan), Pedro Mirassou (dramatic tenor, from tlie Colon Theatre), Carlo Alfieri (lyrical tenor), Pietro Montanari (tenor, from the Colon Theatre), Bruna Castagna (mezzosoprano), Apollo Granforte (bass-baritone), Molly de Gunst (drahiatic soprano, one ot the newer Australian operatic stars), Ilio Del Chairo (baritone, from the Colon Theatre), Albino Marone (basso profundo), Michael Fiore (basso comico, protege ot Toscanini), and Maestro Wando Aldovrandi (conductor). With the Vocal artists is a grand opera orchestra, including many of the finest instrumentalists in Australia. The tour of the Dominion was arranged only with considerable difficulty., fresh contracts having to be made with the Italian and other Continental stars, with'the chorus (of nearly 100 voices), and also with the orchestra. The chorus was selected from over 1000 voice trials. The original contracts for the Australian tour were arranged by Mr. J. Nevin Tait, the London director of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., who spent several months organising the company on the Continent. The company is declared to be the strongest combination of its "kind ever brought to the Dominion. A most efficient ballet is included,