"THE ROSE OF PERSIA"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 30 May 1930, Page 5

"THE ROSE OF PERSIA"

ORPHEUS MUSICAL SOCIETY

Amongst -works by -ivhtch Sullivan will bo remembered years hence there will probably not be included "The Rose of Persia." Although there is no mistaking it us Sullivan's, it lacks the depth and sincerity of many of his better-known eoritiy opera scores. Yet for all that it jvas pleasing to hear the Orpheus Musical Society produce it vocally last night, and to most of the audience^ in the Y.W.C.A. Hall it was a novelty. "The Hose of Persia" is certainly bright and tuneful, and eminently suitable for a. musical society wishing to try its wings betore soaring to greater heights. Last night's performance was entirely enjoyable. The majority of the soloists caught the .Sullivan comic opera spirit and responded to the enthusiasm of Mr. Hanson Cook, who conducted. It was no idle boast for the ladies of the chorus to sing "Musical .Maidens Are We," and the men, too, were good, although rather lacking in numbers for the making of a perfect ensemble The story of "The Rose of Persia" is one of a beggar who for a short time enjoys all the privileges of • a Sultan, whose matrimonial excursions were modestly confined to twenty-five. But the time came wheu the jest palled and the beggar was about to be beheaded. But by telling a story, with a happy ending, he was to be allowed to live. So he told the story of his own life which, for a happy ending, could, not close with an execution. Many delightful numbers are- scattered through the opera, some of the more popular being "I Care Not If the Cup I Hold," "0 What is Love?" "Suppose That Your Silly Ickle Little Wide?" "'Neath. My Lattice Through the Night," and "Our Tale is Told." • ■

The baritone soloists were- Messrs. R. E. Kemp (The Sultan). Assheton Harbord (Hassan), and 11. B. Ilobb (Grand Vizier). Mr. Egerton Pegg (Yussuf) and Mr. R. J. Maunder (Pliysician-in-Chief) took the tenor parts. The two basses were Mr. G. H. Gray (Abdallah) and Mr. E. H. Dellow (Executioner and Soldier). The three sopranos were Miss Kathleen Ferris (Rose-in-bloom), - Miss Gretta Stark (Blush-of-morning), and Miss Ruby Everitt (Scent-of-lilies). Miss Christina Young (Dancing Sunbeam) was the leading contralto, the other two being Mrs. Kathleen Jefcoate (Heart's Desire) and Mrs. Rita Kemp (Honey-of-life). Two very capable accompanists were Miss Hazel Rowe and Mr. H. E. Brusey.