THE OPERA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4124, 9 June 1874, Page 3

THE OPERA.

“SATANELLA, Oil THE POWER OP LOVE.” This opera—one of Balfe’s latest —was performed last night at the Theatre Royal. It introduced that extremely beautiful song, “The Power of Love,” which at once became so popular, and the refrain of which deliciously flavors the whole work. It is well called a romantic opera, and it is something more, for it draws upon the other world—especially as that ■world is known to the German dramatists —for the living material with which to prove the irresistible influence of pure love. The plot, as may be supposed, is somewhat wild. Its action begins in the gardens of the palace of Count Rupert, where a fete is given to pleasure the Princess Stella, who is about'to bestow her band ou the Count, though her love —according to the opinion of Horteusius, the Count’s tutor—is more after the maimer of Mammon than of Cupid. While Hortensius and the Princess search for a bouquet the latter has lost, Lelia, a peasant girl," foster-sister of the Court, enters. The Count and Lelia have been devotedly attached to each other, and the meeting revives their mutual passion. While they are conversing, Stella re-enters, and a quarrel is the result, in which the Count rejects Stella. The latter, knowing the Count’s weakness for the gaming-table, proposes dice—“ all sorrows are forgotten in the game ” —and plays so successfully that she wins from the unfortunate Count his entire possessions, with the exception of a mined and all but forgotten castle, in which is the Demon Tower, in which, according to the family tradition, one of the ancestors of the Count had sold his soul for present wealth to a demon page. It is kept by Karl, who also is in love with Lelia, and who expresses his devotion in the song, “ Oh would she but name the day.” To this tower the Count ’and his tutor repair. They discover hooks of magic, and using'a charm Arimanes appears. With him is Santanella, the demon page, the task assigned to whom is to “ ensnare and make him mine,” who has “dared to bravo.” Satauella places “ himself” at Rupert’s command, and at once magically provides supper for her master and the tutor. Wine leads to sleep, and while Rupert dreams Satanella assumes her woman's form, young and lovely, and after the recitative, “Myself once more, the page I cease to play,” she sings the song', “The Power of Love,” and vanishes. Rupert wakens from his dream, which he thinks was not all a dream, is enraptured with the “angel” ho has seen, and the “heavenly strains ” he has heard, to hear which again he would give his existence. The second act opens with the reappearance of the demon page, in the recitative beginning, “Ah me, how wretched is the doomed one’s fate.” In an interview with Rupert the power of love all hut prompts her to tell her secret, hut tolling him his thoughts he confessed their truth and his passion for the beautiful creature of his dream—• “An angel form, in dreams beheld, Still charms my fancy's wakeful eye.” As the Count and his page leave the scene a band of Algerine pirates enter, bent on making captures for the slave market of Tunis. Satanella, called upon by Stella, informs her that within an hour Lelia will he the bride of Rupert, and Lelia is seen passing in a bridal dross to the church whore Rupert awaits her. Stella at once bribes the Pirates to carry Lelia away ; Satanella, inspired by the hope of winning Rupert’s heart, if both ladies were out of the way, doubles the bribe to have Stella carried off also. Satanella assumes the dress of the bride, and is approaching the altar, personating Lelia, when Aramanes iuterfei'es, a storm of thunder and lightning occurs, the false bride is stricken down by a bolt, and descends amid red fire to the regions below. The third act commences in the cave of Arimanes, who reproaches Satanella for her failure to ensnare Rupert. She pleads for another trial, and succeeds in obtaining leave once more to assume the tempter’s part during a period of thirty days. Rupert and Hortensius have ■ found their way to Tunis, in pursuit of Lelia and Stella, whom they find in the slave-market. Rupert offers to buy Lelia, but is ont-bid by the Grand Vizier, who sends Lelia to Ids palankin. Satanella enters as the demon page, and promises to restore Lelia to Rupert’s arms if he Will “ sign but this pact ” —“your soul shall buy the maid”—and the term of payment is the usual thirty days’ bond. The bargain is made, the Demon Eago at once assumes a charming garb, and with the song, “Sultana Zulema,” fascinates the aged lover. The price of her hand, however, is the liberation of Lelia, who at once escapes with Rupert, while the Demon page, after undeceiving his purchaser as to Ids feelings, also disappears. In the Demon’s Tower the lovers, Rupert and Lelia, meet. The bridal day has arrived, but it is the thirtieth. Apprehension weighs down the heart of the bride, whose fears communicate themselves to Rupert. The priest is waiting, hut as the clock strikes midnight, the Demon page appears in Satanic costume, and claims the fulfilment of Rupert’s bargain. Lelia appeals to Satanella for mercy, and offers to sacrifice herself to save Rupert. Tins “tenderness sublime” subdues Satanella, who burns the bond which Rupert has signed, and so frees him. Arimanes appears to weak his vengeance on his faithless slave, but Satanulla appeals to Heaven for aid, her prayer is hoard, and the scene terminates with an effective tableau. Tile interior of a church is seen, with lighted candies ou tile altar, and the service proceeding; the demon page kneeling, and Arimanes and the fiends discomfited. It will ho seen that the opera presents a number of effective situations, and these tho Company made the most of last night, ably assisted by Mr. Willis, tho scenic artist, who was called before the curtain for an excellent view of Tunis. “ Satanella,” of course, was performed by Miss Alice May. The bracing air of Wellington has had a happy effect, we are glad to say, upon her health, and she has now recovered from tho cold which has so long affected her. She played with great spirit, and wc never hoard her sing to greater advantage. Her performance, altogether, was of a most finished character. That it was appreciated was made manifest by the applause she received, and tho shower of bouquets which fell upon the stage from tho dress circle as the curtain came down.

Miss Lambert played the part of Lelia, but did not appear to so much advantage as wo had anticipated she would. She acquitted herself very well, however, throughout the last act. Miss Florence Howe was “Stella,” and played and sang the part with credit. As Dame Bertha, Miss Levisou had but little to do, but did that little satisfactorily. As Arimaues the make-up, the acting, and singing of Mr. Bainford were all that could be desired. Mr. Vernon’s “ Hortensius ” was also a most creditable performance, though Mr. Vernon exhibited an irrepressible vigor which could scarcely have been expected from the venerable tutor. Mr. Templeton, as the pirate leader, was in fine voice, and gave a spirited representation of the part. Mr. Lester’s “ Karl ” was also a clever performance ; while Mr. W. Evans, as the Vizier, attended by his black page, created great amusement. Mr. Evans has not often an opportunity of appearing, but always does carefully the business entrusted to him. We have left Mr., Hallam to the last, because his “ Count Rupert ” was not so good a performance as he is capable of giving. He sang “No Prize can Pate on Man Bestow” very tastefully, but failed to interest the audience, though his opportunities are many; while he was far from perfect in his part, mercilessly excised much of the dialogue necessary to the proper progress of the story, and made sad havoc of much of the rest. This is a fault which is scarcely excusable in a young and rising artist, who has a good, though by no means a remarkable voice, and has his way up to make in the operatic world. This evening, “ Satanella ” will bo repeated, and as the Hurt train will run, numerous visitors will no doubt be present from the country. '