GRAND OPERA CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21998, 6 July 1933, Page 3

GRAND OPERA CLUB

“IL TROVATORE ” HIGHLY CREDITABLE PERFORMANCE. The heart of the Grand Opera Club’s 11 Lrovatore” at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening was so obviously in the right place that it would be less than fair to dwell on the aspects of the production that failed to measure up to the standard ot quality reached by the best moments ot the performance. The club has-cause to be gratified at the interest taken in its efforts by the Dunedin public and also good reason for congratulation at the quality of the interpretation it was able to present for the approval of its audience. Such merit as was displayed last evening at the first performance of the four-night* season which has been arranged may be expected to do much to commend the activities of this club to the music-loving community of Dunedin. The opera was presented with a fidelity and fullness, amounting at times almost to laviehness, and the entire company co-operated admirably to give a highlysatisfying rendering of Verdi’s popular an i-i . ", howii work. In this respect credit is due to Mr Alfred Walmsley for his direction of the production. Stage management, costuming, and general mounting were accomplished with surprising distinction, and it may be expected that as the season progresses sufficiently for the usual first-night defect of the average amateur production to be eliminated. Dunf/UHh will be presented with a version of II lrovatore” which should satisfy the most exacting critics. It has to be admitted, however, that nothing was better than the choral workin which every member of the large company made the most of the excellent opportunities which this opera affords The melodious score found delightful expression, and the chorus under excellent control captivated its audience time and time again. The chief burden of the performance, however, was shared by Miss Phyllis Clare as Azucena, Mis« Gaynor Paape as Leonore, Mr Hubert Carter as Mannco, and Mr Arthur Macdonald as the Count di Luna. Miss Paape acquitted herself well in the soprano role, giving suitable expression and colour to her sinking but lacking the decorative attraction of style which, in conjunction with a delightful mezzosoprano voice, distinguished the performance of Miss Clare as Azucena. Miss Clare reached heights of artistry on two or three occasions which seemed outside the scope of the rest of the company, and her performance was greeted with the applause it deserved. Her impassioned solo in the soldiers’ encampment just before she was dragged away to prison was a genuinely moving piece of work, and she adorned the last scene in the prison cell with the intensity and feeling of her rendering of “ Home to Our Mountains” with its repris in the final duet between Leonora and Manrico. If she had invested the horrible climax in the last scene with some of the conviction which she displayed in earlier appearances her performance would have been faultless, but she had acquainted the Count di Luna with the fact that he had sent his own brother to death almost before her audience realised it.

The trio in the palace garden when Leonora mistakes the Count for Manrico was one of the highlights of the evening, and all three made the most of .the opportunities which this. stirring passage affords. In the Miserere scene with Mr Carter she made her deepest impression, although there was something strikingly effective about her dying scene as she explains with poignant emphasis to her lover that it is for him that she dies. Mr Hubert Carter’s Manrico was excellently done, and his fine tenor voice was heard to excellent advantage in the attractive numbers which fall to his lot. His reception' of the news of the capture of his mothex-, his meeting with her in prison, and his participation in the Miserere scene were his best appearances, but he was also very convincing in his rejection of his , mother’s pleading as he rushes off to intercept Leonora on her way to take the veil. There were probably many in the audience, however, who were equally impressed by Mr Arthur Macdonald, who exhibited an attractive competence at all times and gave an unusually fine rendering of the famous “ II Balen,” in which he expresses his love for Leonora. He displayed no more confidence than Mr Carter, but drew a more vigorously lifelike and convincing portrait. He was particularly good in his recitatives and certainly looked his part. Messrs J. < B. Watt, Alex, M'Dowell, Ernest Paris, and Miss Dorothy Mackay were also among the featured cast. The orchestra, under the direction of Mr Walmsley, gave a good account of itself and contributed considerably to the success of the programme. “11 Trovatore” will be presented again this,, evening and on Friday and Saturday evenings also.