GRAND OPERA.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20712, 24 November 1932, Page 14

GRAND OPERA.

"LUCIA Df LAMMERMOOR* A BRILLIANT COLORATURA SOPRANO. The .J. C. Williamson Grand (W Company gave music-lovers an inte■ ing opportunity lo compare the ol early Italian opera, as in the forman'ja- in ihc Theatre Royal 1 evening or Donizetti's "Lucia cli i/'* mermoor'-' nnd the staging of Purr. 11 -* •"Madame Butterfly" at the maU^ 11 Both operas are endowed with that ■' ol' lyric ruolody thai rarely fails-^ Italian composer. Indeed, the derance of vocal melody j n solo" di, , quartet, and sextet form that is'S • u. the long popular and famous "L,,„i d. Lamm;■ rn. oor'' .shows how limch T whole field ot Italian opera has be2 c&nehcd by the vigorous melodic S o Donizetti ai,d 1.,s contemporar lliere it would seem resemblance w jS I'nccim ends, yet "Lucia," wiffi < lormal airs, admirably designed toalw the expressive yet natural hum» cjualities of tho voice, has maintaS ux position in the repertory 0 f nZ companies, as the classical test of m tab.le singing. Melba and Cara™ among many other singers won imm " diate fame on their first as Lucy and Ldgar. The libretto wrif ten, it is said, in the manner'of'Kir Walter Scott, is a bloodthirsty affair 'f forged documents, lover's broken vow unwilling marriages, fatal duels m J' ncss, murder, and suicide, presents against a Scottish background of castU halls and ancestral graveyards. Doni sctti, however, in accepting this melo-" dramatic plot, obeyed the contemp orart fashion that only asked that the incidentals of the drama should do little more than provide a convenient supnort tor the composer's flowing melodies wrote an opera that may seem old fashioned when set against the effort* of to-day, but still has power to'charm and attract.

As in "Rigoletto " the? „uccess or failure of the production dependa to the largest extent upon the voice and accomplishment of the soprano. The role of Lucia has been for over a centurr one of the great teat.? of coloratura technique, and Signorha Lina Paliurti won her greatest triumph in the Mai! Scene. After her previous appearance and her singing of "Caro Nome" in' "Rigoletto," her effortless mastery of the difficult music must have surprised only those who did not hear her ai Gilda. This charming actress and singer again conveyed the artless impression that the remarkable feats of coloratura technique are easily subordinated to tie music. Her voice, of unusual agility and flexibility, attained, in the passages with the solo flute, the utmost purify and at times intensity of tone. Sighorina Paliughi in the fountain aria, "Ii Silence Breaks the Night" enthralled the audience with her pure cantabilf style; her pure note? rang ' clcartj through the house and infused tin duets with Signor Montanari with delightful warmth of feeling. The party of the .unhappy and .unfortunate Edgar of Jtavenswood *ai splendidly taken by Signor Primo Montana ri. \Vith his fine, ringing .voice and romantic manner he sustained; the manly character of his role to tile end, avoiding the melodramatic with a fine sense of dignity. His duets with Luc.r, his dramatic entry on the eve.of tlip wedding ceremony, and his final plaintive farewell showed the most finished artistry. 1 .

Signor Franco Izal as the villainous Lord Ash ton made bis first appearance in this season of operas Hisopen* ing aria, with the band of soldiery, given with all the martial spirit »sti power at his command. The remaning parts were taken bv Ray clashes as Lord Arthur Bucklaw, Micliele Kut« as Raymond, and Lina Biarichi .&s Lisa, the three joining with the cipals in the great feature of ,-tbt second act. With such a ' group of singers, the famous Sextet wasvsuug in rare style, the individual Toices clearly underlining the dramatic character of each part", and niakiug in their melodious and fluent singing a vivid concerted number of the whole. The orchestral score was in till capable hands of Signor Emilio Rossi, who showed precisely the details Donizetti's' naive instrumentations. The flautist's smooth playine in tns accompaniment to Lucy's singing »' worthy of mention. , , The chorus had little to do i" opera; Asliton's soldiers saner smarti? in the opening scene, and the cborii' of wedding guests provided a background to the teextet. *■ MATINEE PERFORMANCE « MADAME BUTTERFLY' Tor their first matinee performanMi yesterday, the company chose ' 'MadaiU'! Butterfly,'' which, on its second prcM"' tation for the season, pleased aaotifll large audience. The pathetic story of passion and remorse, with its JapW' ese background, the sympathetic w terpretation by the principals, the chat of the chorus-work, and the masterly handling by the orchestra of Pu® e ®' ® music, combined to secure anot. - triumph for the company. its balance in every phase of the performance, and a delightful synchromsatio of effort which gave the presentation realism very seldom visiting opera companies in New Zes land. The well-nigh perfect smgaj of the principals in the lovely solo» ' "Madame Butterfly" could hardly surpassed.

LAST FIVE NIGHTS. To-night, commencing at 8 o clock, r»*. eini's thrilling and powerful opera _"T« C will be presented for the first time in church. Over 240 people will take P in this magnificent production. I* 6 ' roles will be taken by Molly de Gunsl, P" Mirasson, and Apollo ® ran * orte '. Emil' 4 fovmance will be conducted by Sign Rossi. The great church scene will of the features of the production, withstanding the enormous expense .ox > senting "Tosca," there will not bo a»J vanco in prices of admission. To-raorrow evening the fjrstandon.i formance of Gounod'B "Faust ® tb f with a cast of principals unsurpassed history of the theatre in New Zealsni . . special feature will be the singing famous "Soldiers' Chorus, in. wh'Cß 70 will appear. Two performances given on Saturday: a matinee at i-« h j, "Carmen," with tlio same cast, ""..j,, evening a gala presentation of o v>«rjs Boheme," one of the most P°P"' ar . ,jj of the generation which always appeals . hearts of music-lovers. tinffman" •On Monday night "Tales of , Ho T wr . will be produced. This opera " ~ t : c „Hy ticular interest, as it introduces P ' all the international artists, and Lina ■ will be featured at The Doll. of a special matinee of "The Kar Seville" next Tuesday afternoon, ana >" h 6 evening the final gala Performance « season will be given when two fß ™ ou, tic '' will bfi produced, Cavalleria Bus and ' "Pagliacei."