GRAND OPERA.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19448, 23 October 1928, Page 14

GRAND OPERA.

THE COMING SEASON. BOX PLANS OPEN TO-DAY. That New Zealanders are musical is shown without doubt by the overwhelming sufceess of the Fullor-Gonsalez Company's giiand opera tour of the Dominion. The crowded houses, the enthusiasm o£ the audiences, their appreciation and understanding of the oporas presented, proves this beyond any shadow of doubt. It will be gratifying news, therefore, to music-lovers that a • further opportunity is to bo afforded them of witnessing some ' of',the. worldls mastcrr'eccs during a brief return season to be p.nyed by the Fuller-Gonsalea Company in tho New Opera House, commencing- ou Saturday nest.. .The .works to. be presented are those which have proved the moßt popular in tho company's repertoire, and include two which were not produced when the company, was last in • Christcliurch. T'liese are. Verdi's "Ernani" and "Wagner's "Lohengrin,-" both of -which have proved phenomenally successful wherever they have been produced. The opening performance, on Saturday' evening, will be Verdi's "Ernani," a tragic opera in four acts, the words of which are by F. M. Piave. , The subject is taken from Victor Hugo's tragedy'of "Ernani,'" and .was* first produced at Venice on March 9tli, 1884. Early in'its career tho opera, experienced various-vicissitudes. The conspiracy hud to be toned down for 'political reasons before the presentation of-the work was'permitted. In Faris; Victor. Hugo ; raised objections to its performance,' and 'it was- the I'rench capital as "II Pri>3cetto," with the characters changed ,to Italians. Though one of tho earliest of Verdi's operas, "Ernani" is strong in dramatic intensity, in brillance, and. the power of its concerted finales, and in the richness of its choral effects. On Monday .the second opera,, 4 Barber of Seville," by Rossini, which was rendered so successfully on tho occasion of. the first visit, will h 0 staged. . Thereafter the order of the performances will be as follows: — Tuesday, October 30th, ""Lohengrin* |; Wednesday, October 31st,. "Un, Balio in Maschera"; Thursday, November Ist.'"La Traviata'': Friday, November 2nd, "Rigoletto"; Saturday, November 3rd, matinee of an opera by popular request, and in the. evening, "II Trovatore." There are many reasons why the coming season should be equally as successful as the previous one. In, the first instance grand opera is, and been, a form of entertainment with an irresistible appeal. Second, the works to be presented are representative of the greatest, musical geniuses, full of immortal harmonies' and melodies that have enriched the music of the world. They haunt the memory and there is always the desire to hear them again. Lastly, the enterprise of the Fuller-Gonsalez Company in providing such rich popular prices deserves every encouragement. The box plan for the'season will open this morning at The Bristol, and in view of the great interest being taken in the season, early reservations are recommended.