ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 71, 17 December 1919, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

—-—«► GII.AND OPERA SEASON. Tho plans for Mio first niglifs r.f tho J. (.'. Williamson giraml opL-ra soafiou ivorc mado available .at the ycslcnlay. As early as Ax o'clock, according Io 1 ln.« a ijiifiie ku* l'ormi'd oiilsklo liha box oliicc, ami at c o'clock, when the plans opcncil. over 2(1!) jieoplo were wailing Io book scai.-:. Tlihsu desirous of securing acconunodal'ioii ivil! be well advis-?d not lo defer their vi.-il to Ihn box ollice. After brilliantly .'iiicechini C-CHSOHS in Sydney. Melbourne, and Adelaide, (lie companv will commence its New Zealand "lour a! the Grand Opera [louse on Monday next with ■Idle ever-popular "Faust." '"Tales ol Hoffman" (jirst time here). "La Bolicmc," "II Trovaloi'D," and "Madanifl lluttolly" will bo staged during (lie. first week, and_ many oliher favourites are to follow. The company, eomnrisin? 1 25 perlormcrs, and a full prand operatic orchestra, is claimed to be one of she largest ever seen in Wellington. In addition to Mis* Amy Castles, who is making a welcome reappearance, it includes n number of English, American, and .Continental singers new to Wellington audiences. Those who are making (Ji?ir hrsl appearance hero include Walter U.lieaMey, described as a dramatic tenor; Carl Formes, baritone; 'Ralph Erl'ollc. lyric tenor; Raymond J.oder, baritone; mid Alfredo Valcnti, basso nrofundo. Mr. Wiieatley, tf iho is an A'merican, has appeared in opera in Italy, at Covent Gawlen. and at (he Ceutufv Jhealre, Xew York. JTr. Formes bo's sung in opera a,t La Sc.ala (Milan), Covent Garden, and >'ew York. Jlira Eileen Cnstles has never appeared here in .grand ?.?, eri V. ]]n voles wIU i " <:l « < '« Nwldii in Pasliacci,' and Olvmpia in "Tal"s of Ilofi'mau." Id i s -said that one of the features of the season will he the handling of Olio chorus. The rather wooden grouping and gesticulation which has become conventional will bo dropped, and the elioriiA will be' endowed with unaccustomed energy and life. ; "HINEAfOA." Great interest is beintr .shown in the concert, which will be given in the Concert Cnamuor on Tihiirsdav night, when Mrs. Ernest 11. Queree will present Alfred J. HiU' s Maori cmtata, "flino- "">»• „. Ille principal soloists are .Miss Ala.v Clui twin, Frances Barrv Blanclw Godier, Elsio Hariwr, Joy S'utherland, ?t-,-. A i', sh " Wnekio. Will Goudie. E. J. Hill, lliipert Alcaics, Theo Queree, beorge limes, Robert .Moore. Mi-'< Reus Queree, who ha.s come over from Australia tor the performance, will make a welcome reappearance. The plan for (the concert is now open at the Bri'tul