BRILLIANT FINALE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 47, 18 November 1932, Page 8

BRILLIANT FINALE

Opera Season Ends VICE-REGAL PATRONAGE With Puccini’s beautiful but tragic opera “Tosea” as the closing presentation, the Wellington season of the J. C. Williamson Imperial Grand Opera Company ended last evening. If was a brilliant finale to a most successful and never-to-be-forgotten season. The Grand Opera House presented a sight that has had no equal for many years. Every seat was occupied, every box held its quota. Shortly after 8 o’clock the playing of the National Anthem by the orchestra announced the arrival of their Excellencies, the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and the Lady Biedisloe, who were accompanied by Mrs. Veal , and Lieutenant Elworthy, R.N. Their Excellencies occupied a dress circle box; L Her Excellency, who was presented with a lovely bouquet of pink and white roses, wore a beautiful frock bf pal? green chenille georgette, and an exquisite matching wrap in pastel shades 'of green and pink, with a soft golden fox fur collar. ■ ... Mrs. Veal wore a soft peach bloom, satin frock and a cloak of chiffon velyet in a deeper shade of peach. Also present in a circle 'box were Signor Cav. Dottore Formichella, the Italian Consul, and Signora Formichella, who . wore a rich velvet wrap trimmed with mink, fur at collar and cuffs, over , her frock of beige lace. The performance of “Tosca” was one of the most impressive of the season. Miss Molly de Gunst, as Floria Tosca, sang magnificently. One of the gems of the evening was her duet in the last act with Signor Pedro Mirassou. Signor Mirassou’s rich, magnificentlycontrolled tenor voice raised the audience to a pitch of unbounded enthusiasm in his aria “E lucevan le S telle,” which was encored. In the role of the villainish Scarpia, Signor Franco Izal acquitted himself with great merit. The sacristan was excellently played by Signor Michel Fiore. Mr. Roy Glasheen sang well in the role of the police agent. The impressive church sceue was a masterpiece of stage presentation. The orchestra was conducted by Signor Wando Aldrovandi, Signor Emilio Rossi having made his last appearance on the previous evening.