GRAND OPERA COMPANY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 12

GRAND OPERA COMPANY

“Madame Butterfly” To-night To-night, at 8 o’clock at the Grand Opera House, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Imperial Grand Opera Company will make its first appearance in Wellington in a gala performance of Puccini’s beautiful opera, “Madame Butterfly,” in which tne company achieved an outstanding triumph in Auckland recently. Great interest centres in the appearance here of the talented young lyric soprano, Cesttrina Valobra, who was select* ed for the part of Cho-Cho-San by the Puccini family from the best singers of the world for the opening of the famous Puccini Theatre in Milan. Primo Montanari. who takes the role of Pinkerton, is a young tenor who has won a remarkable reputation in the leading opera houses of the-world, and Ilio Del Chiaro is a distinguished baritone from Colon Theatre. His singing and acting in the part or Sharpies has assisted to make the present company’s performance of "Madame Butterfly” the finest ever given in Australia and New Zealand. Michele Fiore, a notable bass singer from the leading European theatres, will appear as the Prince Yamadori, and Jeanette Rooney will sing the character of Suzuki. A feature of the production is the work of the chorus and orchestra, which are under the baton of Maestro Emilio Rossi. Another feature is the magnificent manner in which the Williamson management has staged "Madame Butterfly.” On Monday night the company will present Verdi’s famous opera, “Rigoletto, ■ which will present Apollo Granforte, unquestionably one of the world’s greatest baritones, in his favourite role, that of Rigoletto, and Lina Paliughi, said to be the most brilliant coloratura soprano on the modern stage, as Gilda. On Tuesday evening “Carmen” will be staged, and it will introduce the famous mezzo-soprano, Bruna Castagna, and Pedro Mirassou, Over 150 people are concerned in the production of "Carmen.” Seats may M booked at the Bristol Piano Company until noon, and afterwards at the Grand Opera House.