"IL TROVATORE" AT THE QUEEN'S.

Evening Star, Issue 4895, 8 November 1878, Page 2

"IL TROVATORE" AT THE QUEEN'S.

. oon after tl:e very successful performance of 'Maritana" by i-ignor Morley's jiupils, it became th t a st 11 more difhcult task had been undertaken, and that Verdi's "UTrovatore " was in reheaival. Eacji of these charming operas has its peculi u merits : '• Maritana" U a pleasant comedy } with iliou K h if thefGmi-trngic element in it to give room for the expression < f varied emotions; while "II Trovatorc ' is a stoiy of wild roir ai.co, abounding in situations requiring tho highest hintii. Nic gonuw to represent them effectively The disadvantages to be overcame in the present imtnncc under less energetic management would have been insurmju itiiblo. fc'ocne«:.yi «»o«tume, and k»tmmental accmnt amroents liai to bo provided, an efticient bund w.'s ncco&sary, a competent conductor, vocalists gifted with voices of extraordinary range mid flexibiity, improved by culture and guided by in'.dJgenoe equal to com prebend'ng and giving expression to the most interne dentlis of (assion in a language foreign to them. It is very grat fying to know that amongst o irselvcs are artists, amateur and professional, who are fully cijual to tl'ie neCeSsary requirement*, fclgnor Morlcy has not attempted more thai lie has been abb; to cairy out. He has had enterprise to provide il»« *«*»e»*ary eostUrtlel! and stmc decorations; Mr Wi'lis, so long known in Dluiedin as a scenic artist, supplied the necessary scenery; Mr Martin, who is too Jittlo before the public in re proVibto rioß'.tisM, most eifici nt <v ««v.tng.:rt ttio iicoolfi;r>hmentß in tho ploCe ot the full score, which cju'd not le obtained He also c -Ldinted the orchertr, which includ d Messrs Leach, Norman. Wood, Buckinarhmw, nntt Vv&uti. Probably the HonposSosMoa of the original accompaniments was the less to be legictted, as it gave Mr Martin the opportur ity of arranging fr-jih one* specially adapted to his known him to itvKo tvith gl'eat advantage ill \?llu?l' instances—aud which apparently was equally effective last evening. The opera e msists of scenes representing inciI dents of a rcmaatie atd unfertuliftfe love fet >iy !of the feudal ftgeS. Tli6 Gottufc di Lutta's fath&f imping burnt the mctLcr of Atucena as a witch, the daughter, in revenge, Bteals a younger child with the intention of sacrificing him in a like jnanne-, h»t, in mistake, throws her own Child into the nam- s, and in remorse for this seeming judgment upon her evil intent, shi adopts the stolen child Mnnriaei «nd bilHtfs JUffl tip As htt son. He bGoGiiles a h'oubadour, distiuguitlies himself in a tournament, end is crowned by Leonora, the queen of love and hourly. A mutual passion growj o»* ef tllh incident, widen caw es enmity between Manrico and the reigning Loun*, who is also pas.ipnately in love with Leonora. The circumstances in which lovers and rivals meet, tho development of the feud between thorn involving tribal and personal co©« nob, the introduction of monastic rites and solemn choral tervices, and the glimpses of gipsy life amid wild ccenery, give opportunity tf artistic groupings winch form a scries of admirable pictures. Last evening these were exceedingly well arrange d The chorus, not only being perfect in their parts as musicians, but equally perfect iu the necessary changes of position, WMch were made without confusion, and with a full knowledge of the intended effect. The leading characters wore Leonora (soirano), represented by Mto, M. Hume J Azucena, the gipsy (Miss B. Hume, contralto); Inez (Mis Uut3am, soprauo), Manrico (Signor Morley, tenor), Kutz (Mr Lennan, tenor*, Count di Luna Mr Burrow*, baritone), Ferrando (Mr Kuncie, basso). _ It ia not our intention to criticise each part minutely, as we have no serious defects to point out that might be remedied. It seems to us that, a3 in a picture, the harmonious whole is of more importance than the beauty of a special leaf or prominent, twig, so the ideal of each character, as shown by its representative, is of more importance than a few speoially sweet notes or cadenzas. Signor Morley was in excellent voice last evening, and throughout bang with thorough appieciatiou of his part. His acting, too, was equally appropriate. Meßsrs Barrow, Itunoie, and Lennan sang with care and spirit, and, as aotors, fully equalled many whom we have seen as professional artist* on tho operatic stage. Their voices are of good quality, though Mr Kunciesis rather light for a basso, and occasionally not quite true. Mr Lunrows had an arduous task, as he shared the weight of the leading male part with Signor Morley. His efforts *ere much applauded, and he responded to an encore. But while the gentlemen acquitted themselves 60 creditably and satinfactorily to their audience, to the ladies, and mainly the Misses Hume, last night's performance owed its fascination. JMrs Clutsam as Inez had but little to do. Her office is to counsel and to listen—a very important one to do well. She did it well. Mits M. Hume as Leonora surpassed all expectation. Her voice is a rich soprano, flexibfe 'and capable of great expression. TMb of itself is a valuable endowment, but it is not enough for an effective repretentatien of to difficult a character as that of > Leonora. She adds to this a true conception of the part, and in tone, attitude, and action, shows that she identifies herself with the depths of passion cf love, hope, despair, aad undying devotion embodied in the romantic heroine, fche gave such expression to the character that the excitement in the third act obtained for her a shower of bouquets, and, with Mr Borrows, a call before the curtain. To our thinking to her sister* was allotted thi character of the opera, Azucena. While many ladies can play the lover, but few are equal to the representation of the gipsy of "II Tr..vatore." The changeful moods—burning with revenge, melting with maternal love, real dened witli memory of tho past, overawed with visions of the terrible lutui-e, bnatbing_ blessings, uttering malediction-, warning against trtachery and danger, impl rm piuclonio, render tnis chmactv. one involving ior its happy representation genius of tho highest order. Wo- x me lias fitted Miss B. Hume for this difficult t^sk.. Her voice, a fine mezzo soprano of t'.ttraoi'uina.ry compass, enables her with perfect case to give appropriate expression to the difficult recitatives and arias incidental to the character. Her acting, graceful and natural, h©r appropriate costume and complete abandonment of self to tho imaginary being she for tho mOilxrat was, wrapped h*r audience in an intense sympathy with her that we have seldom witnessed ia a theatre. We have seen the part performed by many ladies of deserved reputation in their profession, but cannot remember any that have equalled last' night's representation by this giftod amateur. Wo have already allided to the efficient chorus which, as in "Mari;ana, "proved superior to any choruses attached tc the opera companies who Lave visited us. Th<* labor of organising and getting up this beautif i'l opera, performed in Italian by Colonial amateurs, must have fallen heavily upon both feigner Morley and his pupil?, who have, however, a rich reward in the abundant recognition of their artistic efforts by tho crowds who enthusiastically express their delight by well-deserved plaudits. "IlTrpva tore" will be repeated to-night.