THE OPERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 332, 5 December 1864, Page 4

THE OPERA.

The performance of "Don Giovanni," on Saturday night, was a success. To our liking, the Lyster Company performed this opera as well as any they have yet given in Auckland. We have no hesitation in saying that it was one of the most effective we have seen during the season ; and, judging from the enthusiastic reception with which almost every piece was received by the very large audience, we must add that the representation of " Don Giovanni' was nothing less than a triumph. An ideal " Giovanni" is hardly to be looked forinjNew Zealand, and the comparison of Mr. "V\ hart on with Signor Tamburrini becomes tiresome per force of repetition. It may be fairly asserted, however, that, viewed as a whole, the Don Giovanni" of Air. Wharton is superior to many that have been seen ou the boards ol an Italian Opera since Tamburini retired from the arena of public exhibition. Mr. Wharton has more of the required nobility of presence, and enters more thorougly into the dramatic exigencies of the character than nine out of ten who have essaj-ed it during manj- vears past, even in London, He has, besides, completelj' mastered the musical text, and displays an equal degree of fluency in the airs, the duets, or the conceited pieces ; aud had the recitatives— which, are in what is called the parlante style, been sung we would have preferred them. 1S performance, indeed, both in a musical and histrionic sense, was one of level and well sustained excellence, correct to the utmost nicety of expression, note-perfect, and always prepossessing from its gentlemanly ease and naturalness. It was an unqualified, aud, what is more, a well merited success. The character of iJerlina is the happiest oMadamoiselle Durand's efforts, and the greatest of her success. She is gifted by nature with the requisites for succeeding in this captivating part. Jn her pretty peasant attire she was ail that painter could imagine in the Spanish country girl; her grace and simplicity, aud the ven sound of her voice completing the illusion. Her acting, too, was very good. She was neither, as most of our Zerlinas of our days are, the tine lady masquerading in homelj r garb, nor the vulgar hoyden according to Piceoioniini's notion of the character—but the rustic little idealised, such as we could fancy, though we have never seen in actual life. Everything she did was so entirely the result of impulse, so artless and unpremeditated, the details were so consistent and characteristic, as to leave the audience convinced that nothiug less than an actress of nature's own making was bei'oro them. True : to sing the delicious music alloted to ZeTUna not require a very great singer—the- melodies

aw simple and made -op of fetr notes—T>at to sing such picccs as "La ci djirem la raano." •• Batti. Batti," or "Vodrai earino," a musical education is requisite. Mr. F. Lyster's Leporello was careful, painstaking, and full of excellent intentions. His delivery of the seen a d'evidra ta was remarkably well'rendered. The part of Don Ottavio fell to Mr. Squires, whose execution of the aria " H mio tesore," elicited great applause. Madame Escott's Donna Anna was a performance, whether looked at from a dramatic or a musical point of view, that it would be difficult to surpass. From the splendid duct with Don Giovanni, " Fu"-«f cnidele. fuggi!" in her first scene, to " Noifmi' dir"—the air which Donna Anna ought to address to Don Ottavio. but never does, inasmuch as Don Ottavio invariably takes his departure after "II mio tesero"—in her last, Madame i'sc-ott was very good. The air in which Donna Aiini recounts to Ottavio the attempt of Don GioTanhi and the murder of her father, was a truly superb display, and raised the enthusiasm of the house. The trio of Masks, too, with Mrs. King and Mr. Squires was equally successful. and well deserved the unanimous applause it elicited. The baud performed the overture and accompjmiments. with an exception here and there, in 3 manner deserving unqualified approval. The imitation of the guitar, executed by the first violin player, was very well done, "indeed it would be simply unfair to speak of one per former without mentioning the others, and as we have no space or time, it must suffice us to say that a band of nine members capable of executing such operas as the Lyster Company are now performing in Auckland, and with 'such effect, would be tlie most difficult thing to find out of Europe.