THE OPERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 325, 26 November 1864, Page 5

THE OPERA.

"We wore very sorry, indeed, to see another very simiU audience at the theatre on Thursday night, to witness the meritorious performance of " Martha, or the Fair at Kichmond." "Colonel O'Brien and many of his otli< era were present, but" tlie general public, if we may be permitted the use of ii somewhat slang expression, were not" all there." And yet the exertions of the actors to please a " tit audience, though few," seemed in no-wise dam: ed by the paucity of tho sit tendance tiie whole of the music was gone througlt as conscientiously *s though the house had been crammed. Ihe chorus and the band, under thcr masterly leadership of Mr. Loder, went together

" like one muii," ui:d we hare rarely heard any better examp.e of the effects of long continued training than the spirit-stirring accompanied choruses with which tiie opera abounds. The principals, too, one and all, exerted themselves to the utmost, and the wonder was how they could be eo lively under such depressing circumstances.

All the above remarks apply with redoubled force to last night's performance of " Era Diavolo," ns the aitcndance was even worse than the night before, and the singing even better. Mr. Squires as the soii/i.stiiil marquis, but real robber, was perhaps better fitted with a part, than any ho has yet appeared ill. llis management of the Calsetto in the beautiful Barcarolle "Young Agnes," was something to be remembered, and the audience were so pleased witli it that he was obliged to repent the concluding phrases. Jldlle. Durnnd also made a great impression in " On yonder roek reclining," and many others' of the pretty airs that occur in her part. But it is invidious to single out particular passages or particular singers for commendation where all were so good, and we can only repeat our regret that Auckland doeß not assert its metropolitan title more emphatically by a more spirited support of a really spirited enterpiise.