GONSALEZ ITALIAN GRAND OPERA COMPANY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2939, 27 November 1916, Page 7

GONSALEZ ITALIAN GRAND OPERA COMPANY

At the Grand Opera House, commencing on. Tuesday week, Bon Fuller and John Puller, Ltd., will introduce the Gonsalez Italian Grand Opera Company, ■which, since its arrival _ from Italy, lias given 78 performances in Melbourne and over 100 in Sydney. The principals of the company are Signorini Ernestina Gonsalez andTeresina Vieoni (sopranos), Signora Buss, Sipnori Piccolo, Franchi, Cappolli, Vittorio Lois, Balboni, and Dagradi (tenors), Sifrnori Vicliffe, Scamuzzi, Belloni, Baiontim, and Count Hercules, Filippini (baritones), Signox-i Guido Cacialfi, Pasqualo Petrucci, Mosca (basso), and Signori Padavoni, Ceasaroni, Borgliesi. The season -will include 14 of the operas which have proved most popular in Melbourne and Sydney. The opening; production will bo "II Trovatore," with Signor Bettino Cappelli as "Maurice." The company, which is over 150 strong, ■has attracted the Australian critics' notice for the evenness of presentations, and the all-round high quality of the artists contributing.' It has been said that no tenor has yet appeared in Australia so brilliant-asi-Cappelli) whilst in Scamuzzi and Filippini the Gonsalez have two dramatic baritones of great power. Signor Bal.boni, Who will appear iij "I Pagliacoi," excels both as actor and singer. Tl)o tenors, Dagradi and Lois, have vouth and appearance on their side, and' their singing has placed them high in the regard of music lovers. To' present fourteen grand operas in seventeen nights- is \a musical - task- -approaching.,the remarkable. For tho purpose it requires three separate companies of principal artists, which it is said this enterprising organisation possesses. An undertaking of moro than ordinary magnitude is the programme offered for the first fivo nijjhts, comprising ''II Trovatore" (two nights), "La Traviata" "Cavnlleria Rusticana," '' "I Pagliacci," . and "Lucia do Lammonnoor." The 1 nmsieal directors are tho famous -brothers— Oioraiini and Ernesto Gonsalez—who will have under them an oroliostra of no fewer than 30 instruments. Alto gather'it would appear that in the coming of tho Gonsalez Company a musical treat of rara quality and quantity may be confidently-■ anticipated. The-box plans for. the first five nights will bo opened at tho Bristolnext Friday morning.