GRAND OPERA CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22369, 17 September 1934, Page 5

GRAND OPERA CLUB

PROGRAMME OF SELECTIONS , Keen interest was taken in the programme of operatic selections presented by the Grand Opera Club in His Majesty's Theatre on < Saturday v night. The choice of excerpts was a good , one, and at the same time a popular one, but it must be admitted that it placed a heavy strain on the material available. Amateur grand opera is beset by innumerable difficulties, not the least of them being the financing of complete full dress performances. Nor is it easy to secure a uniforriiity of talent of the kind that grand opera demands. It is not sufficient to find one or perhaps two principals, as is the case in less pretentious theatricals. The average opera calls for anything up to half a dozen stars, each more or less the complement of the other, and the problem of securing a complete and balanced cast is a serious difficulty that always has to be reckoned with. The same applies even' to selected programmes of the kind given on Saturday evening. The effect of some outstanding performances was to. some extent marred by certain inconsistencies of casting and performance, but it must be admitted that the club made a genuine effort to present some of the better known gems of grand opera. The programme comprised a selection from " Pagliacei," an except from the first act of " Cavalleria Rusticana," selections from " Rigoletto," acts 2 and 3, and the opening scene and final trio of " Faust." The last-named left the most pleasing impression, due" largely to the excellent average performance of three soloists who took part. Mr Wilfred Kershaw was impressive vocally and dramatically as Mephistopheles. He was admirably costiuncd and was in good voice from the outset. He addressed himself to his words forcefully and convincingly and gave a sound interpretation of Mephisto the tempter, who offers Faust a new youth in return for his soul. Mr Walmsley as Faust began a trifle uncertainly, but he warmed to his work as he proceeded, and achieved the best performance' of the evening in the final trio. He is to be commended on the manner in which he acquitted himself in this respect after a strenuous evening. Miss Lillian M'Donald sang the part of Margarita in the final trio, and brought a commendable fervour and conviction to the part. Her contribution to the trio was a credit to her, although her range was sorely taxed before she finished.' Miss M'Donald is to be congratulated, upon the wholehearted manner in which she attacks her. work.

She had already displayed exceptional vigour and interpretative sensitiveness in the part of Santuzza in the " Cavalleria Rusticana" and the " Vain is Your Pleading" duet with Mr. Walmsley was specially good,' and she. used her outstanding voice to good effect. Mrs .V. H. Ruddenkluu, as Lola, had comparatively little to do, but she exhibited a beautiful clarity of tone and displayed a genuinely.., pleasing vocal quality. Miss Maude Kenwood did all that was required of her as Mother Lucia. Mr Walmsley'sTurridu was a good study, and he sang a difficult part well. Mr Clem Howell appeared momentarily as Alfio. The " Easter Hymn" was on the whole well presented by the chorus, but even so sacred a number would have been the better for a little more vigour." It was far from an Easter paeon of praise.

Miss Graziella L'ossi was heard in the role of Gilda in' " Rigoletto," and she demonstrated once again the superb quality of voice which is. hers. Her singing of "Caro Nome" was a de-

! light, and tonally there was not a fault in her narration of the circumstances of her dishonour to the horror-stricken Rigoletto. It was a pity such a rendering was not combined with the dramatic ■ fervour and expression which should characterise Gilda's tale of woe. Mr Don M'lnnis achieved a certain distinction as Rigoletto,- and sang well throughout, if not brilliantly.. He made a genuinely effective endeavour to infuse real colour into the part. Mr Alfred Walmsley and Miss Bertha Rawlinson joined with the other two in the beautiful quartet, " Fairest Daughter of the Graces," which was nicely rendered., Mr Walmsley's " Plume in tjhe Summer Wind" was one of, his best efforts of the evening. Mr Evan Tuckwell sang the part of Sparafucile well. Mr Arthur Macdonald, Mr Mason Harrould and Miss Madge Tuckwell were the soloists in the "Pagliacci" selection, which could not be called one of the successes of the evening. Mr Macdonald's Prologue was not in his best style, and Mr Harrould was not impressive. The performance of Miss Tuckwell as Nedda in " The Bird Song " was fairly well done, but it was difficult to enthus over the " Ding Dong" chorus. s .' Mr James Clark acted as conductor throughout, and the pianists were Mrs Alfred Walmsley and Mr Colin Oliver. Although "the excepts were presented in character, there was comparatively little scenery and 'no orchestra, but there were some excellent examples of good staging and stage management, which was in the hands of Mr S. Jacobs. The settings for the Angels' Chorus in the " Faust" scene showed imagination and artistry. ■;...,