THE OPERA.

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2705, 1 January 1872, Page 2

THE OPERA.

IL TBOVATOEE

Perhaps no opera in the whole repertoire of the ttalented artistes now visiting us could be better selected for an initial performance before a Christchurch audience than that of 'II Tiovatore." Containing as it does some exquisite gems of harmony, it possesses the additional attraction of being thoroughly well known by a large portion of those composing the audience, and even those who were not so well acquainted with the operas as the more musical portion of our community, have still heard the principal arias of it, as in numbers of households the music is as familiar as possible. Verdi's music was written for all classes, and is so simple its harmonic conbinations, that even the merest tyro in music can appreciate and enjoy it; a result which;we feel sure was the case with the audience on Saturday evening. Before proceeding to m ote the principal points in the performance, we may perhaps be allowed to express our regret at the comparatively thin house with which these singularly gifted artistes were greeted on their first appearance. Instead of the overflowing house ye had expected to have seen, there were numbers of seats vacant, and we have seen a much better house at a performance of Negro minstrelsy. Surely in a city like Christchurch, where we carry music to such a high state of perfection, comparatively speaking, there are more lovers of the divine art than put in an appearance on Saturday evening. It must be recollected that Italian opera js somewhat of, an exdtic, and that considerable risk and expense attends the experiment of acclimatising it in this remote part of the world, therefore we hope to see an improved attendance this evening to welcome the merry Figaro.

Those entrusted with the arrangement certainly deserve every credit for the admirable manner in. which, considering the limited time at their disposal, they have executed the difficult task of—necessarily in an imperfect manner-r-fitting up the Music Hall f<jr the representation of lyric drama. That it is far from perfect even as regards acoustic properties, to say nothing of stage appliances, Sep., the- performance of Saturday evening conclusively proves, but still wjth all its defects—which are however capable of being easily remediefl*-4;he Music Hall under its new guise is, far and away to be preferred to the Theatre. The scenery, also, deserves a word of commendation, seen as it ig under great disadvantages. The orchestra, under the baton of Signer Alberto Zelman, although . small, is thoroughly efficient composed as it is of "gentlemen, each one of rare-ability in his peculiar, line ; and vre feel sure that every one present on Saturday evening will agree with us that never have we bad a greater musical treat in Christcharcb than the playing of the orchestra, and tais, ; too, when they laboured uncler the disadvantage of playing in a strange hall, and one in which the acoustic properties are noncf of the best. The orchestra is composed as follows :*—Leader, Mr Levy ; violin primo, Herr Hichty ; violin secondo, Mr Wright j flute, Mr Creed Boyal: clan, nette, Mr Bward : bassoon, Mr T. M'Coy ; contre-bassofMr H. Lodef« Turning b the opera itself, we may say that" as a thole it was a great success, the various weljknown arias being rendered excellently, fhe plot of the opera is too well known to Used description, and therefore we will pass OB to note the impersonations by the variousEharaoteiß of the parts assigned them in th^opera. The raid of Leonora, that strange com-* pound of lore and hate seldom found in any but the wojien of the ennny south—love, selfsacrificing fie en unto death, wasiundertaken by Signora M|gherita Zenoui, and the music of the part guug by her splendidly. This lady posaejea a; pure soprano voice of great power andjbriiliancy having a wide range, and of mn| To this is added a most caref|iy cultivated taste. Her rendering otepmipi the bigger, notes in th.c arias

at once^ Btam P.her as ft lady of hijrh vocal abilities. The opsins aria in her part, >• Taceft l rt notte placiila," affords an excellent"opf! onillli <7 of displaying the fine quality?** ncr vo 'ce to great advantage, contai'niJM?' ns it docs, some p:i.«B:i»cs of cx.aisite tieauty. more particularly tit" closing portion, V'' , ' o ' l were rendered in a manner that drew forth loud plaudits. But in the next aria " Di talc iUm,r che dir si," Signora Zenoui completed hot , triumph, fairly briuging down thehonse. This wasceJtain'y beautifully fluug; the piano passages bringing out tliedepih and sweetness of her voice in a marked degree. In the last scene of the second act. in the concerted pieces between Manrico, Leonora, and the Count di Luua, commencing , '• Qual voce," in which she coufesses her love for Manrico, and begs the Count to let his anger fall on her rather than on the man she loves, her rendering of the music and pourtrayal of the emotions swaying her was really excellent, and at the fall of the act drop the principals received the honor of a call. The piece at the close of the second act was also well worked up, as also the piece in which she recognises Manrico, whom she has supposed to be dead. The beautiful aria in the fourth act, " D'amor sull , ali rosee," was to our mind, the gem of the solos, and the rendering of the music leading up to "Ah che la morte" showed the flexibility and range of her fine voice to great advantage. Her singing throughout this act was really excellent, the aria " Mira di acerbe lagrime," when kneeling at the foot of the Count and begging the life of Manrico, evincing her possession of gTeat tragic power. The pourtrayal of the anguish of her mind culminating in the offer of herself as the price of Manrico's release, was a fine piece of acting ; and in the duett " Vivra contende il giuhlo," which concluded the scene, Signora Zenoni's rendering of the music drew down enthusiastic applause. This was decidedly the most brilliant piece of vocalisation we have heard, and fully completed the triumph of the .fair prima donna. In the lastact, the love which even the approach of deatl} cannot quench, was depicted with a force and intensity which deserves the higher possible eulogium. Taken all through the Leonora of Signora Zenoni was a splendid performance, and we look forward to a still greater treat in the grand part of Lucrezia Borgia which, we believe, is the best of this Ulented lady's impersonations. Of the Azucena of Siguora Luigia Polli we can only speak in terms of praise. This lady possesses a lich contralto voice of greal compass and sweetness, aud also histrionic ability of a very high order. In the well known aria, "Stride la Vampa," not onlj was the music excellently given, but th( action, the depicting of the emotion arousec in her breast by the recital of the crue death of her mother was truthful in th< extreme. .•: This was more marked in th< scene with. Manrico, in which she describe! to him the death of her mother by order o: the Count, and her stealing the child t< avenge it, In this the fierce southen nature of the gipsy, thirsting for re venge, was pourtrayed with much power and the duet with Manrico, in whicl she commands him to avenge her wrongs bj slaying th& Count, was splendidly sung; ai also was the duet with Manrico, " Ua mo mento pud, involarmi," in which she snp plicates him to remain to comfort her. Ir the scene with the count, in which she if brought before him as a witch, she renderec the music excellently, particularly, ♦' Ivi po> vera rivea" and " Deh relentate o barbari," the latter especially being loudly applauded Iv the priton scene Signora Polli waa exceedingly successful, the duet "Ai nostri mouti." (Home to our, mountains) being splendidly rendered. Certainly Signoro Polli is to be congratulated upon the careful and effective manner in which the music allotted to Uer ttos given.

The small part of Inez docs not afford much scope either for acting or singing, and Signora Luigm Tournetie therefore did nob make her iehxLt under very favorable auspices; but what little of her. voice "we heard in the opera created a very favorable impression. , ;■;.■. Signor Ferante Eosnati as the unhappy Manrico was excellent. His voice is a ringing tenor of r great power and clearness, and he has some beautiful chest notes. We hardly like his Manrico as well as Mr Squires; there is an absence'of that sweetness of tone which the latter gentleman possessed in so eminent a degree. His .reading of the aria, "Deserto sulla terra" in the first act, and the scene with the Count in which " Del superbo vana" occurs, which closes the act, at once displayed the beauties of his voice, but it, was not. until later on in the opera that he achieved his greatest success. His scenes with Azucena in the second act were marked with great dramatic power and vocal ability, which culminated in the aria " Mai reggendo all' aspro assalto," and the duet''Ua momento," with which the scene closes. So is the second scene of the act, his denu,nciation;and rescue of Leonora from the Count, in which the- beautiful air. "N6 m'ebbe il eiel" occurs, was a splendid piece of lyric acting. But the gem of hia solo singing, not even excepting the favorite " Ah ! che la morte," was bis rendering of " Ah! si ben mio." which was exquisitely given, as also " Di quella pira 1"- in which the ringing notes of his voice fairly filled the house. The scenes in the last act were also given by him with great power, and his singing throughout was really excellent. The Count di Luna was impersonated by Signor Filippo ; Coliva, and to this gentleman we must unhesitatingly award the palm as regards the male members of the troupe. His voice is a beautifully pure baritone, of great compass. In " H Balen " he was not so successful as could be wished, but he was ;£ar more so in " Oraper mc fatale," and tis singing and acting throughout the opera* was exceedingly good. Signor Dondi's fine bass voice had not much scope in the character of Ferrando ; but his rendering of " Abbietta Zingara." showed that he possesses no ordinary powers. We hope to hear him in a part more calculated to bring out his capabilities. The choruses were fairly rendered, the anvil chords going, somewhat unsteadily, the best one being ',' Sqmiu echeggUa tromba." As a whole, the company made ft most decidedly farcrable impression. This evening will be given. Bossini's celebrated opera buffa •' II Barbiore di . Siviglia," when we anticipate a. greattreat—Sigaora Cortesi ap- ! pearing aa Rceina.)