SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3042, 26 March 1881, Page 3

SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

Dee Freischutz.

The production of Weber's great work was looked forward to in Napier with a considerable amount of interest and expectation. The strong terms of eulogy in which the production of this play by the Simonsen Company had been referred to by the press in Wellington and in the South Island, had raised expectation unusually high. Those present last night, however, were fated to disappointment, in as much as, through the inebriety of the scenic artist, the incantation scene did not realise public expectation. The artistes of the Simonsen Company who took part in the opera did all they could to redeem the performance, while the orchestral accompaniments were as usual admirable. The loug intervals between the acts, which Mr Simonsen explained were necessary for tbe elaborate preparation t' c scenery required, wearied the audience, and the failure of the incantation scene was deeply disappointing. Of course a mishap will occur in the best regulated company, and after the explanation of Signor Riccardi we have nothing more to say. Miss Lenora Simonsen as Agatha played and sang admirably throughout the whole opera. In the second scene, in which tbe burden of work falls to her share, she displayed remarkable capability. " Softly Sighs" in that scene is an arduous undertaking for so young a vocalist, but it was given in a style which was acknowledged by an enthusiastic encore. Again, at the commencement of the fourth act, " Tho' Clouds" was charmingly sung. Miss Martina Simonsen as Anne thoroughly sustained her reputation both in singing and acting, and Bhe succeeded in infusing an amount of archness into her representation of the character which was very charming. Signor Riccardi as Casper sang and acted in hie usual thorough manner,§ and his efforts to redeem the piece from failure were very praiseworthy. Signor Bianchi as Max was not a succe?s. The music of the part is not suited to his voice, and from the commencement he did not appear to be comfortable in his part. The other characters were fairly taken, and the chorus worked well.

To-night " Der Freischutz." will be repeated, and as we understand that the scenic artist has recovered from the excitement attendant upon the extra effort he was called upon to make, and that the incantation scene will be thoroughly and carefully represented, we have no doubt that this second representation of the great opera will be worthy of the company.