ENGLISH- OPERA COMPANY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1893, 17 August 1874, Page 3

ENGLISH- OPERA COMPANY.

Ms G. B, Allen's Royal English Opera Company, after a very successful run throughout the various provinces of New Zealand, appeared at the Thames for the first time on Saturday evening, and performed to a large audience at the Academy of Music. An alteration in tho dato of their appearance, and tho limited notice given of the same, combined with the wretched weather on their opening night, served to reduce the number in the dress circle, but the other parts of the building were crowded. The troupe only arrived in the steamer from Auckland a few hours prior to their appearance, and the arrangements were not so perfect in consequence, nor had the comfort of the performers, or of the occupants of the dress circle, been studied, if we may judge from tiie piercing wind whioh fouud its way on to the stage and extended to tbe occupants of the front seats in the dress circle. If tho stage end of the buildiug had been wanting in roof the cold could not have been more intense, and the prima donna of the company laboured uuder some disadvantage inconsequence. The overture by the band, under Mr Allen's directorship, served to show the efficiency of theorchestra, which was not so numerous as usual, but perhaps equally effective. M Eleury, the leader, is an old identity, and his presence, added to that of Mr Allen, Mus.Bac.Oxon., was a guarantee of excellence. .H'ach musician possessed double instruments, and besides wielding the baton, Mr Allen performed on piano and drum accompaniments. The overture over, the curtaiu rose to Wallace's grand opera of " Maritana," the most popular and romantic of the whole opera libretto. The artistes were cast as follows:—Maritana, Miss Alice May; the King, Mr 0. H. Templeton; Don Jose, Mr T. fl. Eainsford; the Marquis, Mr| Howard Vernon; Don Ctesar de Bazan, Mr Henry Hallam; Captain of the Guard, Mr Charles Lester; the. Alcade, Mr Johnson; Lazarillo (a boy), Miss E. A. Lambert; tho Marchioness, Miss Florence Howe; her Guest, Mrs Levison, There was an absence of supernumeraries, which served to weaken tho choruses, iu male voices, but no doubt this will not occur again. "Maritana"isone of the chef d'eeuvres of English compositions, and was well chosen to introduce the company at the Thames. A portion of the plot was written in Soutli Australia, where the author was travelling, and the piece was first produced in New South Wales. The wayward and ambitious Gitana is just such au impersonation as suits the talents of Miss May. She possesses a piquant, captivating style of acting, which at once places her on good terms with her audidience, and does credit to any role she sustains, independently of her powerful, sweet, flexible, and melodious voice, capable of great expression, After making every allowance for the fatigues of the I journey by steamer, and the unavoidable drawbacks attendant upon their hurried appearance on the stage, we think the audionce will agree with us that the first performance of the company augurs well for the treat in store during the remaining four nights of their season here. The opera chosen is one perfoct and familiar inplofc, and possessesnumerouspopu'ar airs which serve to show tlie power and vocal talent of tho company. The first appearance of Miss May in the romanza commencing, "It was a knightof princely mien," was the signal for applause, and the superiority of her highly-trained voice was soon sufficient to stamp her as a favourite with her audience, She coupled with her charming vooalization stage accomplishments of a rare description, which materially enhanced the success of hor part. Her perfect enunciation and histrionic skill, added to a charming personnel, entitle, her to rank amongst the most gifted of her class. Her highly artistic impersonations commanded the adurirati n of her audience, independently of her vocal powers, which certainly excel anything we have heard at the Thames. In the Angelus chorus the strength of the company was wanting to lend it effectiveness, but we understand that a number of male voices were absent on Saturday. Mr Eainsford's powerful baritone seemed to have lost none of its compass and sweetnoss as he rendered " Those sparking eyes" in the ensemble, or "Of fairy land had I the power," in tho duotto with Miss May, which preceded it. The naivete displayed by Miss . May in the gipsy act was refreshing; and in the duet, "Of fairy wand had I the power," she fully established herself with the audience as a prima doona whoso capabilities had not been surpassed. Her part in tho second act was not very prominenfcjbut the amount of skill brought to bear in tho minor details of the performance kept her ever before the audience as the rnrinstay of the company. Miss E. A, Lambert made hor debut in tho oponing aria of the second act, "Alas, tlioso chimes, so swootly pealing," which she roudered with taste; and Mr Henry Hallam, tho tenor, (who about twelve months ago married Miss Hatiie Shepparde, so well known and respected in connection with tho profession at tho Thanhs) appoared to advuntago in the cavatina, " Let mo like a soldier fall." His voice possesses great purity, and is capable of the most mellifluous cadence, whilst it is seldom wanting in strength or compass. Every word comes forth boldly and distinctly, a very

exceptional qualification in operatic artistes. He is a powerful aid to the premier vocalist, and renders bis part with spirit and effect. His " Farowell, my gallant captain," "There is a flower that bloonioth," and " By this hand so soft and trembling," wore goms °f vocalisation, exquisitely rendered, The recitative to the third act, aud the aria, " Scenes that are brightest," by Miss' May, were the gems of the opera, and elicited marked applause. The aria by Mr Eainsford, " So my courage," served to exhibit the force and resonance of that gentleman's voice, which is of fine volume and of matorial assistance to the success of the opera. "Inhappy moments" wa? an excellent illustration of the compass of his voice. In tho scena with Don Canar (Mr Hallam), and tho duet which forms the principal part of it, Miss May's acting und siugiug merited tho highest praise, exhibiting genuine histrionic feeling and refinementof vocal trainingatonceimpressive and felicitous. In tho duet with lazarillo (Miss Lambert) tho prima donna again drew forth the most marked appreciation of the large audienco. The practice of smoking in the Academy was painfully prevalent on Saturday night, and must have been very disagreeable if not injurious to the vocalists, and especially to Miss .May. Wo hope, for the credit of tho place, it will bo discontinued. To add to the other annoyances, just as the soft cadences of the aria to "Those gentle chimes" wore dying on the ear a squalling " babby" chimed in with a most inharmonious ditty, to the annoyance of everybody. The following is a brief notice of Miss May's career in the musical world: — "Miss Alice May was bom in Yorkshire, and when only sixteen years of age was sont to study music and declamation under Mrs Wood, better known as Miss Paton, the original Agatha, in London, of * Der Freischutz,' and with whom she remained for a considerable time. Miss Alice May afterwards sang at concerts, but only as au amateur, until she placed herself under Mr Allen's tuition, many of whose pupils had attained a high position —Mddllo. Liobhart and Mr Wilbye Cooper being amongst tho number—when she soon commenced to take a prominent place in the public estimation, but suffering from an affection of the throat she was advised to go to Australia for a time. Shortly after Miss Alice May's arrival in Melbourne she was persuaded by Mr W. 8. Lyster to try the operatic stage, and accepted an engagement as his English prima donna. Her debut was most successful, and she at once became a favourite, which flattering position she occupied for nearly four years, and during which time she visited .South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Her appearance in every town was met with crowded houses, and the engagement was one of pecuniary profit to iVir Lyster. Miss Alice May has now almost completed the tour of New Zealand, and with marked success. On the occasion of her benefit lately in Wellington, when literally huudreds were turned away from the doors, Dr Diver presented her with a handsome set of diamond earrings .and brooch in the name of a few of her admirers in that town." To-night Flotow's beautiful opera " Martha " will be produced. The principal themes in this opera are Moore's beautiful melody, " The Last Eose of Summer," and Burns's "Eobin Adair," which will afford rare scope for the display of Miss May's chaste style. The rendering of the Irish ballad in her hands will no doubt remind one of the exquisite line in Enowles's" Virginius," " I hear a sound so fine that nothing lives 'twist it and silence,"