SIMONSEN'S ROYAL ENGLISH AND ITALIAN OPERA COMPANY: "MARITANA."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6061, 21 April 1881, Page 5

SIMONSEN'S ROYAL ENGLISH AND ITALIAN OPERA COMPANY: "MARITANA."

This opera, which stands highest, and is certainly the most popular in the English repertoire, was produced last night with marked success. It is not perhaps generally known that "Maritana" is a colonial production, the score having first seen the light in one of the Sydney theatres, where Mr. Vincent Wallace was a member of the orchestra. Mr. Wallack, an American actor, had just made a great part of the drama entitled "Don Cassar de Bazan," written to display that extraordinary dash and abandon which were the special qualities of his style. The cast of the opera last night was as follows :—Maritana, Madame Simonsen ; Don Ca;sar, Signor Bianchi; Don Jos<s, Signor Riccardi; the King, Mr. St. Clair ; Lazarillo, Miss Carrie Godfrey. As usual Mr. Martin Simonsen conducted. There was a capital house, and the audience were not only willing to be pleased, but appreciative. This is another instance of the "old style" of opera, whicli pleased the playgoers of a quarter of a century since. It is composed upon a leading musical theme, which is then headed—sometimes overladen —with melodies, most of them exceedingly beautiful. The Wagner school was just then struggling into existence. Thenow "illustrious maestro" was superintending the production of Rienza and fighting out the first struggle of his newly developed theory with Mr. Lumley and the London critics. The melodists, however, are likely to hold their own, and " Maritana" was regarded at the time as the highest type of a lyric drama. The opera is much indebted to the originality of the part of Don C;csav, which, when well played, never fails to command success. It is the best illustration of that volatile, reckless spirit of adventure and bravado, which clings closely to a code of honour through every vicissitude of ill-luck, merited loss of credit and repute. We have so frequently had to pronounce opinions not favourable to Signor Bianchi's performances that we are glad of the opportunity which bis performance ot Don Cassar last night affords of paying a compliment to the decided merit of his acting. As to his singing it was a very great improvement indeed upon his previous essays. He sang the well known airs " There is a Flower that Bloometh" and I "Let me like a Soldier Fall" with great effect, being encored for the latter song. It is hardly necessary to speak of Madame Simonsen's Maritana " The Harp in the Air," '' Scenes that are Brightest," and her parts in duets were beautifully sung. Encores were in fashion last night, aud Madame Simonsen received her share of this kind of compliment. Signor Riccardi's Don Jos6 was a very fine performance. His rendering of " Happy Moments," "Trumpets sounding," and his parts in duets and trios being much admired for ease and finish. Mr. St. Clair sang the music allotted to his part carefully and well, receiving well-earned applause. Miss Carrie Godfrey s performance of Lazarillo met with special favour. She had to repeat the song in the second act, "Alas! those chimes," and she displayed the fine quality of her contralto voice to great advantage. The performance as a whole was excellent. This evening "II Trovatore " will be repeated.