AT THE OPERA

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 39, 9 November 1932, Page 4

AT THE OPERA

Magnificent Colouring in

“Tosca”

Rarely has there been seen ou the Grand Opera House stage such a magnificent spectacle as was presented by the Williamson-Imperial Grand Opera Company last night in the church scene in “Tosca” (Puccini). The singing throughout was as thrilling as ever, all the principals being In splendid voice. The gaily-clad peasants in quaint frocks and shawls, the uniforms of the soldiers, and the brilliant colourings of the cardinal, archbishops, and priests were a never-to-be-forgotten sight In the procession, headed by the Cardinal, who wore a scarlet robe, there were eight altar boys in red and four in violet with mauve velvet capes, and priests in red, white, purple and 1 black. The two archbishops were handsome figures in scarlet, brown velvet, and gold. In this act, Tosca (Molly de Guust) wore a frock of the period of 1800 in apple green satin with heavily-embroi-dered corsage. Her large hat was of black velvet with sweeping white ostrich feather, and she carried flowers and a tall stick. Her next change was into a beautiful evening frock of shell pink satin, hand-worked in tiny ribbon flowers. The shoulder straps were of flowers also in a deeper shade. Over this she wore a black velvet cape with wide ermine collar.

Scarpia (Apollo Granforte) wore a black velvet suit worked in jet, with lace .cravat, knee breeches, and scarlet crossed sash, showing his rank of Baron. A rich swinging black satin cape lined in petunia satin was worn also, and a black tricorn hat and period Mario Cavaradossi (Pedro Mtrassou), whose singing captivated the audience once again, looked very striking in his square-cut coat of nut. brown cloth faced with velvet, beige trousers, and waistcoat, high top boots, and tall hat. This suit was worn throughout, except in one scene, where he wore a coat of brown velvet instead of the cloth one. Cesare Angelotti (F. Audreani), the fugitive, was a handsome figure in a suit of saxe blue with matching swinging cape, and striped sash. 11 Sagrestano (Alichele Fiore), who has become so popular in Wellington in the comic roles, was again most amusing in a robe of purple'and scarlet, with flaming red wig. In addition, there were officers and soldiers of the Swiss guard, black-robed judges, and police agents.