GRAND OPERA IN ENGLISH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 826, 26 May 1910, Page 6

GRAND OPERA IN ENGLISH.

♦ "LA BOHEME" TO-NIGHT. This evening the curtain at the Opera House will rise at 8 o'clock upon Giaconio Puccini's fine operatic work "La Boheme." The occasion is of importance inasmuch as it embraces the first representation of a famous opera by a composer admittedly ono of the greatest of the present day. Also it marks the appearance for the first time in Wellington of a great singer—Maria Painpari— an Italian prima donna of high European reputation who will this evening sing the arduous part of Minii in "La Boheme." "La Boheme" has been described as "the. opera of modern melody." The plot, though \whimsical, is thoroughly natural; and the vicissitudes and tribulations of "Rudolph," the author, "Marcel" the painter, and "Schuanard" the musician are told graphically by a most comprehensible libretto wedded to a wealth of glorious sound. It goes without saying that the very best *the grand orchestra can give will be prodigally offered to Signor Hazon, the wizard of the baton, by the- forty instrumentalists that he has under his direction. An added attraction will be found in the appearance of yet another singer of paramount importance Signor Antonio Zanelli will be heard for the first time this season in the distinguished role of Marcel the Painter, a part that he has been eminently successful in in Europe and America. "La Boheme" is one of the most popular of all operas. With it, Puccini made a fortune, and when an opera season in Italy flags the managers, it is said, put on "La Boheme," knowing it to be a sure attraction. Tho reason of (his is not far to seek. The story is intensely hnnian and simple, and the music is brimming full of the most ear-delighting melodies. Where have we inoro humanity themes than we find in the duet between Mimi, "the little flower girl," and the Poet' in Act I? How tenderly delicate, not a coarse note or phrase anywhere. Again in Act II Musette's waltz song, with its fino ensemble at the close, in which all tho principals take a part. This number created quite a fnrore in Sydney recently, and tho performance haVl to be delayed some minutes. Then the quartet, or, more properly speaking, double duet, in Act 111, where the Poet and Mimi are making love, while the Painter and Musette are quarrelling together. What a contrast these two couples make; and their music is so different, yet it makes one glorious whole. In tho death scene at the end of the op°ra Puccini reaches a plane which has been seldom approached, even by the greatest composers. Everything helps to make this scene live—the music, the action, and tho scene. When this opera was originally produced in Australia it ran for 21 nights without a break, and recently it closed down to packed houses, hundreds being turned away. Signor ITazon conducted on both occasions, and Mr. Bracy was the stage manager. To-morrow (Friday) evening. "Madam Butterfly" is to be given. when Hiss Amy Castles, one of the most delightful of singers will repeat her exlranrdinarily fine performance nf "Clio Clio San." On Saturday "Carmen" will be given with Bel Sorel in tho title rolo. Mademoiselle Bel Sorel achieved another triumph in the part of "Madam Butterfly" last evening, and Puccini's wonderful music was appreciated by an audience that filled all parts of the house.