GRAND OPERA.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18671, 21 April 1926, Page 12

GRAND OPERA.

A FEW COSTUMED SCENES. Tndofatigablv Madamo Gower-Burns plans new adventure. Her latest scheme, initiated last uight at the Caledonian Hall, invades the domain of Grand Opera, from which the most effective bcciics aro to be brought to illustration in appropriate costume as well as musical reproduction. Since in operatic extracts given on tho concert stage tho performers rarely look the pun, the attempt to aid illusion may well claim approval. For the tirsc performance scenes troni Bizet's "(Jarmen'' and Wagner's "Flying Dutchman'' were presented. It would be difficult-to find two operas moro violently in contrast. In "Carmen" is pictured the sensual atmosphere of the ,South, with its unbridled passions and intrigues; Wagner's opera is steeped in the fateful gloom of Northern Saga, unrelieved save for an ideal figure of self-sacrificing, exalted womanhood. Before these 'Venae" materialised, a iong niiscellanous programme was Mil'initteri, with an encore after every number. Miss Myra Pollard sang Welsh songs " daintily. .Madame, with .Mr Rennell, gavo tho Offenbach Barcarolle, and "Trot Here, Trot There." .Miss Kathleen Helmore rrveaiod very pretty high notes. There followed "Che * Faro" and Stanford's "Soft Day" by Mrs Anne Harper; Miss Dulcie Ha-berfield made her greatest success with tho encore "Away, Away" ; .Miss Nancy Bowden's rich voice came out well in the Brahms songs. Madame Gower-Burns contributed in the first part also an "Ave Maria" by Mr S. Hoben, with a violin obbligato tastefully played by Mrs Moysey, and the Aria from "L'Enfant l'rodigue." Then tho costumed section came to view, at first in solos only from "Pagliacci" Mr Bernard Eennell singing the Prologue in very spirited fashion with a voice rich, telling and resonant, and Madame Gower-Burns followed it up with the "Ballatella." We were then offered a most charming sight of elegantly dressed cigarette girls, apparently consuming their own brands. They sang their chorus well and sustained admirably the central figure, "Carmen," gorgeous in the person of Mrs Anne Harper, who proved already in her solos how much her voice has gained in every way, and who as Carmen found the right accents for the part, and the disdainful attitude. The march of the b'roo'mliandling urchins must not be forgotten. Splendid actors they were.

The last "scene" from "The Flying Dutchman" eclipsed all. Madame Grower-Burns had aJready in her solos sustained the brilliance of execution we are accustomed to, in Scnta's great Aria she surpassed herself under the spell of its poetry. The "Spinning" Chorus, singing brightly, had only one spinning wheel between them, but ingeniously substituted crocheting. Mrs James Barnett was more than equal to her part, and Mr Rennell sang finely and artistically as "Eric." Mr Sydney Hoben was the orchestra at the piano, playing very skilfully and effectively through his long and responsible task, also directing ihe performances. Miss Eileen Warren played soloists' accompaniments in excellent style. Also a word of praise is due to the stage management of Mr Frank McDonald. .