“MARITANA”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 664, 16 May 1929, Page 14

“MARITANA”

I WALLACE’S MELODIOUS 1 OPERA TO BE GIVEN THIS EVENING

CHORAL CONCERT Although not in the highest class of opera, Wallace’s “Maritana” has a popularity of its own. This will probably be evidenced in a large attendance at the Town Hall this evening, when the opera will be sung by the Auckland Choral Society for its first concert of the 1929 season. The charm of “Maritana” lies not in its intrinsical musical value so much as in the melodious solos and duets and bright chorus numbers with which this pretty and exceedingly tuneful work abounds.

Set in the period of Charles 11. of Spain, it deals with the love of Don Caesar De Balgan, a young nobleman, for Maritana the gipsy, who has also attracted the attention of the King, Don Caesar had become involved in a duel, and as this is forbidden in Holy Week, was sentenced to death. In “Let Me Like a Soldier Fall” he pleads that he be shot instead of hanged. The King’s Minister agrees on condition he goes through the ceremony of marriage with a veiled woman, Don Jose seeing the prospect of introducing Maritana to court as the widow of a nobleman where he could not do so as a gipsy. Escaping the firing party, Don Caesar also proceeds to court, where he makes his presence known to Maritana. Don Jose, who has been plotting against the King, is killed by Don Caesar, and the young lovers are both forgiven by the King, who realises the unworthiness of his own conduct. A strong cast of soloists includes Miss Kate Campion, who as Maritana will have a large share of the opera's most tuneful numbers. Mr. A. Ripley will sing the tenor role of Don Caesar, and Messrs. G. Colledge and E. Thomas, the baritone and bass roles respectively of Don Jose and the King. Miss M. Clague will sing the contralto role.

Mr. Colin Muston will direct the presentation and Miss Edith Whitelaw will again lead the orchestra.

“Dunedin, it would seem, has turned out more outstanding singers than any other province in the Dominion,” states a Dunedin exchange. The following artists all received their early training there:—Misses Kitty and Rose Blaney, Amy Murphy, Jean Ramsey, Helen Gardiner, Mina Caldow, Mesdames Mabel Manson, R. Hudson, Orr. Loring, Messrs. Philip Newbury, Harry Smith, Jim Jago, Frank Foster, Charlie Clarkson, Martin Duff, Ernest Drake, and William Watters.