" MARITANA."

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 43, 13 July 1907, Page 8

" MARITANA."

St. Patrick's Operatic Society

ST. PATRICK'S Operatic Society is to be complimented on the success achieved in the production of Wallace's delightful and everpopular " Maritana." The first performance on Tuesday evening was an agreeable surprise. It is not customary to expect from amateurs a high standard of either musical or histrionic excellence, and the public would have been quite satisfied if an ordinary amateur level had been reached and maintained, but the St. Patrick's Society accomplished much more than this. It gave a representation of grand opera that was far beyond any similar amateur performance that we have seen in Auckland, and that, in its higher flights, approached and even contrasted most favourably with some excellent professional productions of the same work that we have heard. As an amateur performance, and judged as a whole rather than by the standard of individual capacity, it was more than creditable, and warrants the expectation that it will be a great financial as well as an artistic success. The large and appreciative audience at the Opera House on Tuesday evening was certainly well satisfied.

It is from the musical rather than the dramatic point of view that the production must be regarded as a success. Uf course, in grand opera it is the interpretation of the music that is the chief and almost the sole consideration. At' the same time, the opera was remarkably well staged, was supported by a large and thoroughly well-trained chorus, and had the assistance of a very fair orchestra. Dr de Clive Lowe conducted, and, if he had taken the music along at a faster pace, the production would have gone with considerably more verve and swing. Occasionally, he permitted it to drag to such an extent as to suggest that the performers were participating in a funeral scene rather than in the play of a bright and sparkling opera.

The honours of the production rest with Misa Kosina Buckmann, who is a thorough artiste, and the inspiration that prompted Rev. Father Farthing to bring her from Sydney to take the title role must be regarded as a happy one. She is a gifted soprano with a voice of splendid range, good compass and fine artistic effect.. More than this, she is a sprightly and vivacious actress, with a capital conception of the part allotted to her, and was thoroughly at home on the stage. All her vocal numbers were splendidly sung, but her best solos were unquestionably " Scenes that are Brightest" and "The Harp in the Air." She was also heard to great advantage in the duet "Sainted Mother," with Miss Madoline Knight, which was one of the gems of the evening. One of the best Maritanas we have seen in Auckland was Miss Annis Montague, who was an exceptionally gifted operatic artiste in her day, and it is no small measure of praise to say of Miss Kosina Buckmann that she more nearly approached Miss Montague than any Maritana we have heard in recent years.

Mr James Crabtree, wbo came from Sydney to take the part of Don Ceeaar de Bazan, has a very good tenor voice, and sings the music of his part acceptably, but practically without any dramatic effect. He has not what would be termed a good stage presence, and, as he was seen on Tuesday night, failed to realize the popular conception of the dashing, roystering, but withal chivalrous and handsome Don Caesar. His vocal work also left something to be desired, but nevertheless reached a high amateur standard. Unquestionably, his best efiort was " There is a Flower That Bloometh," which was sympathetically and artistically sung, and was vociferously encored. He was not nearly so successful in "Let Me Like a Soldier Fall," which lacked the essential dramatic power, and was less suited to his voice. Evidently, Mr Crabtree is not

familiar with the stage work of "Maritana" or he would have made a much more effective scene with the King in the fourth act where he is called upon to develop an effective situation when he exclaims: " If you are Don Csesar de Bazan I am the King of Spain." This passage, one of the most dramatic in the work, was rendered in an affable, and unemotional conversational tone. His speaking voice, also, is anything but good.

The chorus, as we have said, was a strong one, and did first-class work. The female voices preponderated, and the basses were somewhat weak, but the training was undeniable and the eliect irresistible. Mr' Colin Muston, A.R.A.M., led a very satisfactory orchestra. The stage management, which deserved every praise, was in the hands of Mr Scott Colville. The opera was certainly well staged. Two very graceful and pleasing ballets, which formed agreeable interludes, were arranged by Miss Daphne Knight. The opera is being produced each evening. On Thursday, Miss Lizzie Knight, who is a sister of the Lazarillo of the performance, will take the part of Maritana, by the courtesy of Miss Buckmann. Speaking of the performance as a whole, it is a credit to St. Patrick's Operatic Society, and deserves a thoroughly successful season.

Mr Cecil Ryan, who was heavily weighted with the baritone part of Don Jose, improved immensely with the progress of the peiformance. Indeed, after he had discarded the extinguisher hat, he was seen and heard to excellent advantage, infusing something like life and animation into an impersonation that was previously heavy and lifeless. The 6rst impression of him is that of a man with a big voice that he is afraid to use, and with an excellent stage presence that he mars by his make-up and his stiff attitudes. He ought really to cultivate a stage swagger. It would make him more tolerable. Mr Ryan's voice is a fine one, of good quality, and, except for faulty enunciation that made every word he uttered indistinguishable, he gave a capital interpretation of the music of his part. His best vocal efforts were "No! My Courage Now Regaining,"and " In Happy Moments," both of which were excellently sung. Mr Ryan will improve with each performance.

Miss Madoline Knight was thoroughly at home in the part of Lazarillo, the persecuted apprentice, who is championed by Don Caesar, to whose service he attaches himself. Her voice is a mezzo soprano rather than a contralto, of pure and sympathetic quality, and is well cultivated. She gave a delightful rendering of "Alas Those Chirues," which is the solo of the part, and sang charmingly in the duet "Sainted Mother" with Miss Rosina Buckmann. Miss Knight ia also graceful and self-possessed on the stage, and displays some histrionic capacity. Mrs Nelson, as the Marchioness, made a good deal of a subordinate part, and left nothing to be desired.

The King of Spain, which is ever a thankless role, was filled by Mr Lonergan, who has a good enough voice, but whose stiffness and restraint were painful. In no part of the scene with Maritana, after the marriage, was it possible to imagine him the ardent wooer. Mr Lonergan might well take a lesson from the lady performers and get more closely into sympathy with his work. Mr Allen McElwain made a very good Marquis, while Mr Owen Pritchard was cast as the Alcade, and Mr R. Johnson as Captain of the Guard. Taking the principals collectively, as we have said, they constituted a strong and capable caste. If we have been in any way severe in our criticism of individual performers, it is with a view to their improvement, and not because of any dissatisfaction with the production, which was really excellent.