THE OPERA.

Evening Star, Issue 6136, 10 November 1882, Page 2

THE OPERA.

A holiday audience, filling every part of the Queen’s Theatre, witnessed tho production of “Satanella ” last night. Tho performance was not of equal merit all through ; occasionally it was above the average, hero and there bad. *Miss Martina Simonaen was cast as the heroine, and so far as her representation was concerned tho verdict of tho audience was unanimously favorable. Since her last appearance here in tho character this young lady has wonderfully improved herself in the part, and last night she not only sang tho rausio correctly and with much taste, but infused an amount of spirit into her acting that few imagined her capable of. Alike effective In all tho varied situations of tho character, she carried the audience with her, and her every success was recognised by hearty applause. Mr Riccardi was thoroughly at homo in the part of Arlmanes. This gentleman’s impersonations of tho Evil One are generally above the average ; but last night he excelled himself, and, being in grand voice, made the most of the music written for the male demon. Mr Brennlr, as Count Rupert, made a good beginning, and throughout tho first act sang so well that the audience began to think he had got the better of his cold. As tho action of the opera proceeded, however, his hoarseness returned, and a tremendous effort to sing "Tho glorious vintage of Champagne” left him so weak that for the rest of tho evening he was unable to sing a tenor note in his natural voice, and had to resort to falsetto to take out nearly all the music of his part. Mr Wentworth filled the part of Hortensius creditably, and spoko tho lines very distinctly, thereby setting an example to others of the company. Mr Fitzgerald did what was required of him as Carl in an acceptable manner; and Mr Kitts was a passable pirate chief. Misses Saville and Stanley made tho most of the characters of Lolia and Stella, and each sang well. Tho scenery was good, the dresses appropriate; but some of the mechanism did not work properly. Wo have said that the performance hero and there was bad. Those who were present last night will understand at once that wo mainly refer to the chorus, who seemed to be at sixes and sevens. The invisible refrain to " Tho Power of Love” was sung well; but the other music written for the full voices was made a regular muddle of, two or three of the singers screaming out at full pitch and altogether out of tune, apparently with the object of making up in noise what the chorus lacked in numbers. This was especially noticeable in the third act, and people were glad when that chorus was over, Tho opera will bo repeated to-night.