GRAND OPERA RECITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 29 November 1929, Page 16

GRAND OPERA RECITAL.

An attractive programme of excerpts fioni grand opera was presented by Madame Irene Ainsley and her pupils in tlio Lewis Eady Ilall last evening. There was a fair attendance and each item was received with warm appreciation. Notablo numbers given wero operatic scenes from Verdi's "II Irovatore and "Aida." The second and fourth acts of the former wore interpreted by Madame Ainsley, Miss Marjorio Fair and Mr. Arthur Ripley, in the respective parts of Azucera, Leonora and Manrico, with the assistance of a chorus from Madame Ainsley's class and a ballet arranged by Miss Daphne Knight.- This number was excellently rendered and was well received. The scene from "Aida" also proved popular, the artists participating being Miss Fair, as Aida, and Madame Ainsley, as Arnenris. 'The chorus and ballet again gave valuable assistance. Excerpts from Bizet's "Carmen" in costume, by Madame Ainsley, proved another pleasing item. Other notable selections were the aria "Che Faro," from "Orpheus" (Cluck), and the prologue from "Pagliacci" (Leoncavallo), sung by Mr. L. Gibson Blackie. Among the soloists were Miss Beryl Adams, who was heard in a waltz song from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet" and "Villanelle" (Dell 'Acqua), Miss Marjorio Fair. "Morning" (Oley Speaks), Miss Mabel Thomson, "She Wandered Down Lite Mountain Side" and "I Dreamt That ] Dwelt," from Balfe's "Bohemian Girl," Mr. Ernest Pearson, "The Lute Player" (Allitzein and "Friend" (Novello Davies), Miss Irene Frost, "Flower Song" from "Faust," and "Where Corals Lie" (Rlgar), and Miss Airitu Rogers, "Arise 0 Sun" (Day) and "Grey Eyes" (Phillips). The accompanists were Mrs C. Prime and Miss Mary Hamilton