GRAND OPERA.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 926, 29 January 1917, Page 10

GRAND OPERA.

"IL TROVATORE" TO-MORROW.

A musical event or great importance is the appearance of the Gonsalcz Italian Grand Opera Company, which will open a season of 11 nights' duration to-morrow evening. An interesting and varied programme is announced for the first week. The opening will he marked by a gala performance of "II Trovatore," in which the principal members of the company will be seen. On Wednesday the ever-popular "La Traviata" will be the attraction, with an entirely different cast of artists. On Thursday, for the first time, patrons will see a double bill, for "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "I 1 Pagliacci" will be staged. Friday night is reserved for "Faust," and "II Trovatore" will be repeated on Saturday night, and "Cavallerja Rusticana" with "I Pagliacci" on Saturday afternoon next. Signor Gonsalez, the impresario, stales that the company is bringing with it a full eequipment of wardrobe, scenery, and general effects for the production of 10 operas, which are to be staged during the season. A leading Sydney musical critic writes thus of Signer Bettino Cappelli, the famous tenor of the Gonsalez Grand Opera Company:—"Signor Cappelli is probably the company's most valuable asset. He has the true Italian production, and a beautiful voice to wed to it. He sang the music last night ('II Trovatore') brilliantly, with ease and power, and with never-failing certainty. It is a voice of charming lyric quality, but with a robustness which enabled him to soar gloriously to the full possibilities of the thrilling martial passage of the third act. His share in the several duets lent lustre to those numbers, the haunting air, 'Home to Our Mountains' in the prison scene with Azucena being a notable case in point." The box plans for the first five nights and first Saturday matinee are now open at Milner and Thompson's. The plans for the last six nights, commencing Monday next, will be opened next Thursday morning. The following operas will be produced next week:—"Carmen," "Lucia di Lammermoor," "Mignon," "Madam Butterfly," "Rigolctto," and "Faust."