SCENES FROM OPERA

Evening Star, Issue 21820, 8 September 1934, Page 17

SCENES FROM OPERA

On Saturday evening next, in' His Majesty’s Thetare, a feast of operatic music will be presented. Miss Liliam M/Donald, who has had a great experience in musical circles in Sydney, and whose singing of operatic roles is both inspiring and authentic, is coming to Dunedin especially for this concert. Signorina Rossi, whose remarkable voice has so far had to confine itself to the concert platform, will have her first experience in grand opera in costume, singing senees from ‘ Rigoletto,' including the famous quartet, in which she will have the coo-peration of Miss' Bertha Rawlinson, Mr Alfred W.almsley, and Mr D. MTnnes. Mr Wilfred Kershaw and Mr Walmsley and chorus will sing and act the opening scene in Gounod’s ‘ Faust.’ These two fine singers have appeared in this scene before and had a remarkable ovation for it. Mr Arthur Macdonald, always a popular artist, will sing the well-known ‘ Prologue ’ to ‘ Pagliaoci,’ and in a scene from ‘ Cavalleria Rusticana ’ Miss Maud Kenward and Mrs Ruddeuklau (of Timaru), who has an unusually fine mezzo-soprano voice will be associated with Miss Lilian M'Donald. Mr Mason Harould and Mr Evan Tuckwell have some interesting music, while the items of the chorus of the Grand Opera Club include the beautiful ‘ Easter Hymn ’ from ' Cavalleria,’ the final chorale from ‘ Faust,’ and the ‘ Ding Dong ’ chorus from ‘ Pagliacoi.’ A feature of the production will he the principals’ costumes, which are from Christchurch. The items will all he in costume, hut the accompaniment will he by piano only, and the stage settings will suggest the scenes rather than portray fhem. The box plan arrangements are advertised.