THE OPERA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4224, 3 October 1874, Page 3

THE OPERA.

THE BOSE OF CASTILE. It is almost impossible to use terms of praise too great in recording the manner in which this beautiful work of Balfe was rendered at' the'Theatre Royal last night. Never did the performers carry the house more completely with them throughout an opera, and never did the walls of the theatre resound with more genuine marks of admiration. There seemed a happy combination of favors and success ; for the ■ artists were all individually in splendid voice, and readily seized the opportunity which that fortunate circumstance afforded, by singing and acting their best. All the choice parts were encored, and so thoroughly pleased did the audience show themselves that a disposition was apparent to encore everything, and when the opera was over one folt a strong desire to sit down and have it all over again. To say that Mis 3 May looked and sang her best scarcely conveys the proper idea, for she fairly seemed to excel herself. The term is curious; but it is a fact that this talented lady, admirably as she always has played, eclipsed all her previous efforts as Elvira last night. In the rondo " Oh, were I the Queen of Spain," and the ballad " The Convent Celi," Miss May was most delightfully successful, and on the completion of each, which she had to repeat, a considerable time was occupied in receiving the showers of bouquets ' which fell on the stage, the floor of which appeared for the time to be transformed into a floral show-room. Mr. Hallam continues the vast improvement shown in his singing and acting since his re-appearance in this City, and with it secures the admiration and wins the applause of his audience. As Manuel he left nothing undone which could tend to tho success of his representation, and for the ballads " Could'st thou, dear maid, thy form array," and " 'Twas rank and fame that tempted thee," particularly the latter, he was accorded a storm of applause, accompanied by numbers of bouquets, with a vociferous encore in the last. Miss Lambert appeared to more advantage as Donna Carman than she has done for several nights past in other parts, and looked, sang, and acted very spiritedly. A well-deserved . encore was won by her in the song " Though love's the -peatest plague in life," which open 3 the third "act. Mr. Rainford* was never in better voice, and his acting was fully up to the part. Ho sang "Though fortune darkly o'er me frowns" splendidly, and had to repeat it for the satisfaction of the audience. No fault could be found with the manner in which Miss Howe and Messrs. Temploton and Vernon played and sang their parts, and the two lastnamed, in the trio, of which Mi - . Rainford made the third,which occurs in the first act, commencing "For wine's sake and love," sang very nicely. The most effective piece in the whole opera was the scene in which Manuel seeks an interview with Elvira at tho palace, and which opens with a charming little duet between the two, who are then joined by Carman, when the music glides into the prettiest of trios. The singing and acting of Miss May, Miss Lambert, and Mr. Hallam in this pleasing part was' perfect, and quite brought down tho house; a repetition of it being insisted on. The beautiful accompaniments in the opera were done ample justice to by tho orchestra, and the parte where the piano comes in were played with all -Mr. Allen's usual brilliancy and effect. A repetition of the " Rose of Castile " during the season would be a treat ever/ lover of music would fully enjoy and appreciate. To-night, Offenbach's well-known comic opera "Genevieve do Brabant" will be performed.