THE OPERA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4127, 12 June 1874, Page 3

THE OPERA.

“ LA SONNAMBULA.” East night the fates were again unpropitious, hut nevertheless there was a large audience assembled in the Theatre Royal when the curtain rose. The opera was Bellini’s “La Sonnamhula," and the company have to be congratulated on another genuine success. There was amongst those present a fair sprinkling of music-loving people who had seen the opera performed in “the heart of the world” many years ago, who remembered the bewitching Spaniard Malibran and her favorite Scottish tenor, Templeton, and there were more who remembered the success of Grisi and Mario, as Amina and Elvino respectively, in the old Covent Garden Theatre, and who came prepared to make comparisons as close as long interval of time would permit. We may reverse the usual order of criticism, and at once summarise the verdict of those critics, and of the audience generally, by saying that a more per-' feet performance of the part of Amina than that of Miss Alice May has rarely been seen, and that as Elvino Sir. Hallam deserves a largo measure of praise. All throughout, Miss May’s performance was not acting. She threw herself into the part with so much naturalness that it was impossible to think otherwise than that for the time she forgot her own individuality and became in reality the honest, loving, passionatelydevoted, but the afflicted and, for the time, the wronged young peasant, to whom Elvino was all in all. A better sustained and' more finished bit of acting we do not remember to have seen, while the exquisite music entrusted to Amina could not have been better vocalised. If we mention the closing solo, “ Ah, don’t mingle,” it is not because, fine as it was, that it was better than her “ Oh, love ! for me thy power,” hut that it gives ns the opportunity of saying that the applause which Miss May received throughout was prettily capped by the throwing from the dross circle of a beautiful, and, we may say at this season, unique bouquet of violets, —as pretty a token of admiration as could have been presented. We have already said that, as Elvino, Mr. Hallam acquitted himself well. We, reluctantly, a few days ago, felt compelled to throw out a hint which we hoped would be taken in the same good spirit in which it was given. We have much more pleasure now in saying that, but for the uncontrollable effects of a severe cold, his performance of the part of Elvino wotdd have been uuexceptionally good. He played the part—and wo need not say that, next to that of Amina, it is the most important in the opera.—with energy, taste, and care, and sung excellently. His “ Take now this ring” promised well : his parts in the concerted pieces were carefully filled ; and in those testing parts, “ All is lost now,” and its corollary “ Still so gently o’er me stealing,” he sang with a sweetness of intonation, a regard for the sentiment involved, and a power of vocal expression, which gave great satisfaction even to those who were able to compare his efforts with those of the great tenors who have gone before him. Miss Lambert, as Lisa, the hostess of the “Golden Fleece,” played and sung well, and was deservedly applauded in her opening song “ Tho’ Helvetia’s mountain bowers.” Miss Florence Howe has also to be complimented on her excellent representation of an elderly female—the mother of Amina—as she sang and acted with taste and propriety. The “ Count Rodolpho ” was in the hands of Mr. Rainford, whose make-up was admirable, and who sustained his part with much spirit. His great song is “As I view those scenes so charming.” He sang it most admirably, and was warmly applauded, and certainly not undeservedly, “ Allessio” was personated by Mr. H. Vernon, who made a most amusing country bumpkin of him, and succeeded in creating roars of laughter. The chorus, throughout, were in good voice ; and we can only hope that they—and the principals—will escape the possible effects, in the shape of colds, of the winds which swept across the stage through the eaves, and made the flies “quiver like an aspen,” and the dropscene shake as if there was an earthquake about. We must not omit to say, also, that the usual excellence of the band’s accompaniment was most marked last night. The Count Rodolpho’s fine song already alluded to —■“ As I view those Scenes so Charming,” was accompanied in the most delicious way, and the violoncello’s contribution to the general result was in the very best taste, and a proof of rare skill on that leviathan amongst “fiddles.” We -should have been without excuse if we had omitted to say that Mr Willis was called before tho curtain for his fine scenery and mechanical effects—tho mill, the water-wheel, the “shining river,” and the distant mountains, all under tho effect of moonlight —in the third act. This evening “the bohemian oir.L.” .will bo repeated. It will be a fashionable night, and the opera, we have not tho least doubt, will be performed in better style than it was a few nights ago.