GRAND OPERA SUNG IN ENGLISH

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 190, 10 May 1934, Page 10

GRAND OPERA SUNG IN ENGLISH

Sir Benjamin Fuller’s Plans OLD-TIME VAUDEVILLE IS GONE FOR EVER Grand opera sung in English to be played at least once a year in every important city of New Zealand and Australia is the ambition of Sir Benjamin Fuller, who is organising a company of first rank to open.in Melbourne in conjunction witli the centenary celebrations in October next. Sir Benjamin arrived at Wellington by the Wanganella from Sydney on a brief business visit, and in an interview with “The Dominion” yesterday he gave some interesting details of the preliminary organisation, and his general ideas on grand opera presentation. Sir Benjamin said he had been associated with grand opera as far back as 50 years ago, when he appeared at Covent Garden as an off-stage angel in Berlioz’s “Mephistopheles,” and ever since then he had maintained a lively interest? in it. He was definitely of the opinion that if grand opera was to find favour with an English-speaking public it would have to be sung in English. People liked to understand the words of the songs they were listening to. It was proposed that the new grand opera company would present the Carl Rosa repertoire, which had met with enormous success in England during the past 50 years. The cast would be entirely British, and he had already engaged Walter Widdop and Norman Allin, two of England’s finest operatic singers. He hoped to idealise the art of grand opera sb that the people would be able to understand it and love it. The latest methods in stage presentation would be followed with particular regard to lighting, and he hoped to have-specially 'fine scenery. Although just at present he could not mention any names, he was in negotiation with some of the finest conductors in England, No effort was being spared to secure a company of really first rank. Permanent Institution. , He hoped to make the opera company a permanent organisation and visit every important city in Australia and New Zealand once a year. He had complete faith in his venture, so much so that he was calling it the “Benjamin Fuller Royal Grand Opera Company.” For many years it had been his desire to launch upon such an ambitious scheme, but owing to opposition from his executive he had not been able previously to do it. There had since.been a change of control, and now he was able to proceed with his project. He anticipated the company arriving in New Zealand in February. In answer to a question as to whether grand opera, might receive State aid iu Australia, as it did in a number of European countries, Sir Benjamin said that he did not think that subsidies would ever be granted there. As to his present venture, he certainly anticipated at least making enough to keep it going for five years; in fact, he had secured the performing rights for Ricordi’s operas for that period. Tilings theatrical in Australia, Sir Benjamin continued, were fairly brisk at the present time. He intended presenting a new show, “The Merry Malones,” by George M. Cohen, to start in Western Australia in early October. Polly 'Walker, who played the original role in this musical comedy, had been engaged, and she would be supported b.v Florenz Ames and Bob Capron. They would be supplemented by the pick of Australia’s comedians and dancers, and the producer would be Ernest C. Rolls. This show would probably play in Auckland about Christmas time, and would tour the Dominion. Films and Vaudeville. Sir Benjamin said that on his return to Sydney a few days lienee, he would proceed to London, and as he did in America recently, he would visit various British studios, giving them an indication of the type of entertainment favoured by Australian and New Zealand audiences. Technically, in his estimation. British films were as good as any made, but there were one or two points in which they could be made rather more acceptable for audiences in this part of the world. People in New Zealand liked above all good stories; they did not care so much about the stars themselves.

As to the vaudeville shows of the future, Sir Benjamin said lie did not think that they would Yeturn in the style known in the past. There was no question, in his opinion, that the vaudeville show would once again come into its own, but it would be. in a manner, produced by a younger generation for a younger generation. He was definitely of the opinion that the old-time show was gone for ever. Just as an example of how public taste had altered in regard to vaudeville, 30 years ago his firm used to advertise a show as being opened and finished by 1000 feet of film, but now, if vaudeville was presented in conjunction with a film, the name of the film was mentioned, and the remainder of the programme was referred to as “supporting acts.”