ITALIAN OPERA

Evening Star, Issue 16350, 16 February 1917, Page 6

ITALIAN OPERA

‘LUCIA m LAMMERMOOR.’ Lucy Ashton....; Signorina Gonsalez. Sir Edgar Signor Cappelli. Lord Henry Ashton..., Signor Belloni. ■Lord -Arthur Buckla w... .Signor Barontini. Raymond Signor Cacialli. •Alice Signora Belloni. -Norman Signor Petrucci.

Donizetti's opera ‘ Lucia di Lammermoor’ was presented a.t His Majesty’s Theatre last night by the Gonsalez Company. The attendance, though not so largo as on the opening evening, sufficed to make a payable and encouraging “house." Nearly all the circle seats were occupied, and there was a good muster below. ‘ Lucia ’ is not often produced nowadays. It was last presented in Dunedin in November of 1831 by the Turners. Being comparatively unknown to the present generation, it may assist to outline the story. It is very simple. Lord Henry, a Scot, being hard up, desires to wed his sister Lucy to Lord Arthur. Lucy is secretly in love with Sir Edgar, and he returns the passion. Edgar, before being sent on a State mission to Prance, exchanges vows with Lucy. During his sojourn on the Continent his letters to Lucy are intercepted. A document forged by Henry makes Lucy believe that Edgar is false. Edgar returns, and appears at Ravenswood in the midst of tile marriage ceremony. He curses Lucy, and she goes mad, kills Arthur, and die's, whilst Edgar, on hearing of her death, stabs himself.

I hose who witnessed the performance hist night had no difficulty in tracing out all that is essential in the plot, for the acting was admirable and much more informing than in any previous representation of this opera that we can remember, .and it may be fairly added that the staging generally was on a scale of completeness seldom attempted in the colonies bv Italian companies, who as a rule giv'o attention to the music and let the other things fit in or not. according to circumstances and resources. The scenerv last night was very good indeed, quite creating the environment of the Castle of RavonswonH. ami tlie costuming came in for iniK'li praise.

Musically, ahn. the present,tf'on wns highly satisfactory. .At the outset the orchestra, once more directed bv Signor Htovanni Oonsalcz, pleased the audience. T!te introduction was delighl fullv played, and the instrument-Mists uwe koon. mid. judicious pretty avo!1 the whole evening it being only now and again that the loudness complained of tbs previous night became a, matter for comment. Special reference may be made to the lovely qtt.alTv of the hj rass in the softer passages, and the harp solo, accompanied pizzicato, was a source of much enjoyment in the first act. At their best—and they were nearly always at their best-—the- members of this orchestra, can thrill one.

Signorina. Gonsalez may be congratulated on her work as Lucia. She looked the bonnie Scottish lassie without much make up ; she has a. nine way. not intrusive and not shy ; and her singing, though less impelling and forceful than that of the average prima donna, was in its way effective, since by her tenderness she made points that the more masterful Lucias miss. In tile first act we were wondering whether the. lady’s voice wa.s strong enough, for ‘Regnava nel silenz.io ’ was delivered very moaestly, without any attempt to announce it as a big cavatina but in the subsequent scenes Signorina Gonsalex let herself go with good results. As a- proof that she possesses vocal resources, we may mention that she lopped the finish of tho sestet with a piercing D flat that is not asked for by the score. In the mad scone, also, she sung really well, though, using lender means and never opening up to the full strength of .her voite. Her chief roncern seemed to be to get quality rather than strength, and her voice earned teniarkably well. Signor Lappelli got a great reception .as he entered. He was again in fine voice, though sometimes needing to pm on a little, force to sustain the high notes. Tins was noticeable in ‘ Sulla tomha ’ and also in ‘Fra poco ’ at the end. It was largely owing to his share in the scale . that this numuor was redcmnnded. Signor Cappclli is a great singer, atid also a very line actor. ‘.Lucia’ is usually played in three acts, but last night they made the iuiu,le an net by itself. It may be supposed that the object was to give the tenor a rest and feature him for a wind-up. 'Whatever the purpose, that was the result, and the, audience, had a treat rarely alforded in this opera. As a rule, all hands are hy this time tired and eager to get off. Signor Gappelli came on as fresh as paint, took the act pretty well on nis own hands, and .scored at a tiemcndous rale, as much by his stage work its by Ins singing. ffigii<-r Belloni was a most picturesque Lord Henry. He drmnixl the part sumptuously, and, king endowed with a good carriage and more, than a common knowledge of stagowork. he, gave us the character in dramatic, entirety, for which many thanks were siknulv rendered. He also sang with marked judgment-, but his voice, a baritone of good tattge and power, is handicapped with a very open vibrato. Signor Cacialli, the Raymond of the cast, was not made much use of, some of his music being cut, but we got a round of his tine voice now and again throughout, and in tho fourth act ho snug ‘ Haile stan/o, ’ in capital stylo. Signor Barontini, a.s Arthur, did all that was required of him. and Signor Pctnicci rang Norman's music effectively. The chorus did good work, and altogether it, was a memorable performance, and one which we are sure the Dunedin people will he glad to hear repeated next week.

TO-XKVH.T'S 111 Id, Cavaileria llnsticana,

The lltem-e c-f .Mascagni s ‘ Cavalleria Rtif-lienna'-—to bo pre.senteil tonight—is a? foliows: —Turndn. a peasant, loves Lola. Inti, on n ttiriiir.,g from serving his time in the army finds her wedded to Atfio, atari in pique marries i&intuaza. khekle Lola longs for her old lover, and lures him away from his wife during Alfio's absence. Santuzza. maddened bj grief and jealousy, informs Allio on his return of what is goiny on. The two men meet in front, of a wine. shop, whore AI fir > bites Turridit's ear as a challenge to a duel with knives. They fight, and Turridu is .slain.

‘T I’agli.ioci.’

T5 racketed tor production with ‘ Oavnl’cria iiu. Tirana ' this evening is Leoncavallo* ‘ I itr 1 i'u’i• j,’ The rtorv is intensely dramatic, and concerns the Joves of (.'■amin and lonic, two incni'iic-rR of tiio pagliarci. or strolling firmin',nimis's, who tour the villages on the occasion of ilia

rr.fi’. of the Virgin di Me/zagnsto. Both hive .\edda. the tdlumliino of the troupe and wife of C.inio. Xedda has already a jov. ]•— -one Silvio, a peasant —and this tha scorned Tonio loams, and in revenge ha t n lls Curio of his wife's | ertidy. Canio eventually fiiiv|n oo s the gmltv pair. stabs Siivio to death, and kills Xrdda at tha door of the theatre. exclaiming: “Tha comedy is finished.’' 'Jo-morrow afternoon ‘La Traviata" will staged, ami to-morrow night 1 II 'J rovatore ' will be .so n for the last time.