“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10924, 11 June 1921, Page 2

“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA"

WELLINGTON CHORAL UNION. REPEAT PERFORMANCE TONIGHT. No praise cduld be too great for the splendid effort of the Wellington Choral Union in presenting the famous and well-loved “Cavatleria Rusticana,” by Pietro Mascagni,’ to a crowded and highly-appreciative audience in the large' Town Hall last evening. It would be difficult to imagine a more enthusiastic audience. Taking the whole of the performance, including both the artists and the chorus, the opera was presented with care and precision, and with a full regard to the very exact interpretation that the fam T ous composer must have intended. In both solo and duet the vocal artists were in excellent form, and the very delightful effects of the full orchestra and well-trained and talented. choir made one fully appreciate the performance; more so, in fact, on account ofthe fact that we so peldom have theopportunity of hearing operatic music. Miss Teresa McEnroe (soprano), in the part of Santuzza, a young peasant girl, had some extremely heavy work, but her vV>ice, as usual, was equal to the occasion, and she showed splendid form in the duet with- Mr Hubert Carter, who, as Turiddu, a young peasant, gave a imost acceptable interpretation with all those sterling qualities which portray the finished artist and reflecting the true atmosphere of bis pieces. Miss McEnroe was. most captivating in her singing of the duet with Alfio, taken by Mr Hamilton Hodges,' who treated the theme with his usual masterly manner. ""Miss McEnroe’s rendition in the duet with Mr Carter (resumed after the interruption in the piece) was one of the finest achievements of the evening, and both artists were at the best. In the “Romance,” Miss McEnroe scarcely found her true self, quite, just failing to get the weight of the piece, but the dedicate theme was tastefully rendered and rigorously. applauded. Mr Carter was almost faultless in all his renderings, and his beautiful* rich tenor voice lent itself admirably to the selections; the expressive sol?, the dainty embellishments of Italian music, were not overlooked bv the performer, who undoubtedly excelled, tine of the sweetest and most catchy themes of the evening was “Lola’s Song,” treated with a: clearness of tone and delicacy by Mrs R. W-r Alexander (Lola), the sweet lilting rhythm being most bewitching. Mr Hamilton Hodges’s best performance was probably in the “Scena” and “Alfio’s Song,’.’ with chorus.

The exacting part of Lucia, capably filled by Mrs Lance Maysiflor (contralto), revealed the performer in splendid voice, the rich tones of which were ■heard in “Prayer,” “Romance,” etc. So'-popular was the orchestra’s rendering of the well-known “Intermezzo” that an encore was demanded, the excellent harp accompaniment by Mrs W. D. Murdoch undoubtedly lending a magnetic charm to the piece. The choruses in the church and in the square, “O Rejoice, the Lord has Risen,” were most praiseworthy effort* on the part of the choir, and showed a balance of voices far beyond the average. A novel feature of the evening was the kinging of the National Anthem by the entire choir and orchestra, in which Miss McEnroe took the theme, solo, followed by an unusually delightful arrangement for instruments and voice. The whole evening’s entertainment only goes to. show that the Choral Union have an able conductor in Mr Temple White, and. also, that lie must have the satisfaction of appreciating the fact that he* has good material with which to work. There ■ will be a repeat concert at the Town Hall to-night at 8 o’clock, and with the chorus and orchestra of 300 performers, it is hardly likely that any surplus of seats will be recorded. The bex plan will close at the Bristol at 12.30 to-dav, and a supply of- 2s tickets will he on sale at the box office.