GONSALEZ GRAND OPERA SEASON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2941, 29 November 1916, Page 3

GONSALEZ GRAND OPERA SEASON

■ Cousidorablo interest has been awakened in the Gousalez Grand £!perft Company's appearance at the Grand Opera House on Tuesday next. The season of 17 nighls will serve to introduce the most popular of the many operas produced in Melbourne and Sydney. Some of these will come with absolute fresh- j ness. A firm favourite has been selected for the first two nights in "II Trovatore." This is. quite tk.') most admired of all Verdi's works, because of the tune-fulness of tho music and tho dramatic force behind much of it. Tlie company is a very largo one, and of allround proficiency. The principal singers are numerous enough to admit of complete changes of casts, and there is a very fine chorus and orchestra. The following is from the .Sydney "Evening News," whose musical critic, writing of the production of "II Trovatore" in that city by tho Gonsalez Grand Opera Company, remarks: "The company with which (he brothers Gonsalez opened at tho Grand Onera House last night, under tlip Fuller direction, is thoroughly well equipped. Its soloists number brillymt singers among the men; its chorus is wonderfully resonant, and its orchestra is a real delight. . A. very largo audience heard the initial performance. Verdi's 'II Trovatore.' and found plenty to enthuse over. The opera has always heen in popular favour from the. first nisht. of ifs nroduction more than CO years ago. and the fact that its popularity has survived the huge advance in artistic conceptions of opera, an advance which Verdi himself, in Inter years, did much to initiate, is sufficient proof of tie potency of its melodies. They fell upon the-ear last night as insinuatingly as ever. The principals are nil good, Sig ri or fappelli (Staiii-.co) especially si. His fine singing tenor and admirable nro-' /lnotion created a great imprestnnn; Signoriua De Eevers (Leonora) and Signorina Buss (Azucena) are really fine ■7Tr*3t=. iis are n-'so Kignori Scanvuzzi and Gacialli. The company has at least one magnificent conductor in Signor Giovanni Gnnsalez." Tn thp first five nights will be presented "II Trovatore," "T,a Travintn." "Cavallcria "T Pagliecci," "Lucia <li Lammcrnioor." the box nlnus for wbie'h will be -opened at the Bristol on Friday morning.