THE OPERA.

Press, Volume XXXV, Issue 4824, 20 January 1881, Page 2

THE OPERA.

Maillart'e " Hermit's Bell " waa given W night by the Opera Company. This, it wl be remembered, was produced during tir former visit of Madame Simonaen, and this bright and sparkling character of ft? mneic, became a very great favorite with oitj! goers. Except in one respect it eellently last night, Madame Simonssa es» tered to the full into the fun a-ad vivaejs! which form 00 conspicuous a feature in \jL char-aoter of Boss Moineau. There waa, 0 J? in her aoting and singing, but more espe'ciaiL the former, a verve and spirit which ma 4 her rendition most enjoyable For the nonce she wae transformed; and !* was indeed hard to believe that the etately Duchess or the lovo - stricken Laonorj •wag identical with the laughter»loriu? wilfuL peasant girl. Her fir at aria, " Go, Jj? light ss a z?phyr," was rendered with archness and spirit, the sparkling musio bossy exeouted with an artistic grace which dral forth loud plaudits. The duet "It a D?b*. goon" waa also very prettily given, and in th* concerted pieco closing tho act Madame's uplendid voice and artietio execution heard to'great advantage. The beautiful (J E .,* " Call mc Pretty" also received, as it deservtj so far as Madame was concerned, a war* reception from the audience, and her eingisi in the trio " 'Tie there," in which the runiasl trills were taken admirably, narrowly eacs">*j an encore. The aria "Holovea mc," third act, was charmingly rendered, and so her part in the concerted musio closing |fe opera. Tho past is one in which Madainj excels, because not alone is she good in h £ . ; rendition of the mueic, but her acfe throughout is finished. Miss Mutbg Simoneon played Georgette very prettily, There is but email scope in tho part for the display of her undoubted talent, bat still made a good deal oE tho character. Xhe chanson in the first act, " Oolin going away," was admirably eung, and in the concerts] musio her voice came out well, particularly a the duet with Bellamy, " Tie there." Siga;t Bianchi waa altogether over weighted es Silvan, and therefore tho muaic of tho paj wan scarcely hoard to that advantage whioh it should have bean. Mr B{, Olair both played and eang in ftj part of Bellamy very oreditably. It woslil have been an improvement if ho had inhui a little more life into his rendering of tho ga? dragoon, particularly in hia lovo-makis/, which was rather tame, but bs a whole it try fairly good. Mr Crano as Thibaut had iuj littlo t;o do, but did that well. The obornje, especially the opening one " While Saubosaj Play," and the prayer at tho end of tig eeoond aot, went capitally. The opera was well put on the stage, the sot in the second act of the rooky pass being Tory good in4«ij f and worlhy of more recognition than j{ received at tho hands of the audisneo. To. night the " Hermit's Bell" will bo repa&trf. M. Simonaen, it may be etatod, haa arranged for late trams leaving for Pipanui after Uls opera.