THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 46, 3 August 1907, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

By Prompter,

COMING SHOWS. 12th August to 24th August — Rickards's Vaudeville Company. 16th September to sth October— Allan Hamilton's English Star Company. 7th October to 26th October — MacMahon Brothers' Dramatic Company. Ith November to 16th November— Willoughby Ward-Geach Comedy Company.

THE season of grand opera inaugurated by Mr George Musgrove's German company is rapidly near, ing its end. That the season has been a success- — at least from an artistic point of view — there can be no doubt. From a general standpoint, it cannot perhaps be maintained that any of the artists are in the very front rank of their profession, still there is little doubt that their interpretation of the various operas has come as a revelation to Auckland theatre-goers. In the past, we have had singers who couldn't act, and actors who couldu't sing ; but the members of Mr Musgrove's company are both capable singers and finished actors and actresses. It is in the combination of dramatic and musical ability that the charm lies.

From the audience's point of view, the most regrettable feature of this otherwise delightful season has been the changes which were made in the original programme. In at least one case this was done at almost a minute's notice. The changes were doubtless unavoidable, but they were none the less regrettable on that account, chiefly for the reason that people who proposed going to the theatre could never feel quite sure what pifece would be produced when they got there. However, when all is said and done, probably this was more trying to Mr Musgrove than to his patrons. In any case, the excellence of the fare provided compensated for many drawbacks, and the fact that the houses were consistently large proved that the public were willing to risk a change of programme in order to revel in operatic masterpieces.

Nor were any of the productions caviare even to those whose musical tastes were of a negative quality. The acting alone was of a sufficiently high order to arouse enthusiasm. Even though the words were German, the gestures and dramatic force of the singers were quite sufficieqt to make the dialogue comprehensible to audiences which were made up, for the most part, of people who knew no other toogue but English. Had it not been for that fact, the operas would have been robbed of a great deal of interest. But ( as it Was, they lost little by the fact that they were given in an alien tongue. The weakest spot was the chorus, but this is of small importance when contrasted with the all-round excellence of the principals.

The second production of the season wjakS Gounod's " Faust," which was put oh in place of " Tannhauser." Taken all through, the piece was well done, but, as .in the opening production of "Carmen," there were weak spots. In the jewel song, Mia Barcklow was palpably overweighted. Otherwise, Blie was an ideal Marguerite, looking the part to perfection, and exhibiting dramatic talents of a high order. Richard Oeser was disappointing as Faust. Perhaps the excellence of his Don Jose .in "Carmen" /, led one to expect too much. There ,- iwas an excess ; of tremolo in his voice, ,vi-and-i he made undue use of talseito. -Also, hiß continuous smile was.irritar ting. On the other hand, the i Mfephisio^Helea of L Julius lluoger showed a

'marked advance on his Escainillo. ItJB, not too much to say that he was ; superb, vocally and dramatically. The Valentine of Fritz Kupp was another fine impersonation. Elizabeth Kubnke, as Siebel, Sara Verner, as Martha, and Karl Fbller, 'as Wagner, were all that could be desired.

The introduction of Act V. (the Broqken scene) has caused some comment. As a matter of fact, the Brocken scene has little or nothing to do with the action of the play generally. It is more in the nature of an .interlude. As an aesthetic spec-' tacle it may be worthy of approval, but why his Satanic Majesty should hold his court on the top of the Brocken is not quite clear. In any case, the wooden platform covered with the red cloth upon which the ladies pose is out of harmony with the general weird ness of the rest of the scene. The opera would probably lose little by the omission of this act. <■ * *

Thursday night saw a revival of " Carmen," and on Friday Wagner's " Flying Dutchman " was produced. This opera is full of weird effect, both musical and spectacular. "The Hying Dutchman " has never attained to the height of popularity, principally because t>f its bizarre nature. Sarah Anderson made her first appearance as Senta. Possessed of a fine stage presence, apowerful'soprano voice, and great dramatic ability, she was eminently suited for the part, and her interpretation was in every way admirable. Hans Mehwinkel, as the illfated Dutchman, had a trying part, but overcame all difficulties with ease, his deep bass voice and dramatic powers making him well fitted for the part. Fiitz Rupp is a consistent artist, and gave a, forceful rendering of the part of Daland. Richard Ueser sang and acted fairly well, but occasionally had a tendency to forget the words. M. Massimt, as the steersman, and S. Verner, as Mary, sustained the smaller parts with cred.t. The scenery and stage effects were magnificent.

On Monday night the long looked for performance of " Lohengrin " took place. This, one of Wagner'a most ambitiousworks, makes heavy demands upon the performers, but Mr Musgrove's company were fully equal to the occasion Indeed, this was undoubtedly oue of the finest performances of the season. The chief rdle of Elsa of Brabant was taken Ly Sara Anderson. Her impersonation of the part was a triumph of vocal and dramatic art. Another outstanding piece of work was the Urtrud of Johanna Heinze. Maintaining generally a standard of even merit, al times she rose to sublime heights, as, lor instance, in her appeal to the gods. M. Massini, as Lohengrin, although opening somewhat weakly, quickly recovered, and gave a striking interpretation of the part. Julius Hunger was well suited as Frederic of i'elramund. Hans Mohwinkel made a dignified King Henry, and sang the part well, and Fritz Rupp's robust voice was heard to advantage in the lines allotted to the King's Herald. To-night (Thursday), "Carmen" will be reproduced. For to-morrow night " Tannhanser " is billed, and the season closes on Saturday with " Faust."

Convincing proof has more than once been furnished in the past that it takes a good deal to arouse enthusiasm in the Auckland public so far as musical recitals are concerned. Therefore, it speaks volumes for the genius of Marie Hall to find that the accommodation at the Choral Hall was taxed to the utmost to nod room for the large audiences which flocked to her three recitals. Miss Hall herself is a slight, delicate-looking little lady, and it Bays much for her powers that she, wiih the sole assistance of the pianist, Miss Lonie Itasche, can keep an audience pretty well spellbound for nearly two hours. the recital on Friday evening,. which may safely be taken as typical of the rest, was a veritable feast, of enjoyment, nor did it require an ear trained in technique to comprehend" the genius, of Mane Hall as a violinist. : ~

Opening;. witV the "Concerto" o Vieuxtemps, Miss Hall gave convincing proof from the first bar to the last that this sufficiently exacting piecebeld no difficulties for her. And her playing is delightfully unassuming in style. Seemingly oblivious of the presence of the audience, she casts her whole soul into her work. An enthusiastic recall was productive of Sulyer's " Sarabandi "as an encore number. Bach's " Chaconne," a number full of difficult variationp, and which none but a master hand could successfully reproduce, was given with ease and brilliance, and the resulting applause was loud and prolonged. Then followed four bracketed numbers : " La Bavolet tflottant " (Couperin), "La Complaisante" (P. Ei Bach), "Minuet" (Mozait), and Moto Perpetuo " (Novocek.)

The skilful interpretation given to these four numbers brought au imperative recall, and Miss Hall obliged with Dvorak's " Humoreske." The last item was Wieniawski's " Souvenir de Moscow." The audience, however, emphatically "refused to leave the hall until an encore number was given, with the result that they were gratified with a splendid interpretation of Schumann's " Traumeri." Even then they appeared reluctant to leave. " Miss Lome Basche's piano solos were also greeted with enthusiasm, and she had to respond to two recalls. Her items were two impromptus from Schubert's Op. 20, Nos. 2 and 3; Mendelssohn's " Wedding March," and Liszt's " Fairy Dance." She also acted as accompanist to Miss Hall, and carried out her arduous task in a brilliant manner. • » • .

Fullers still hold a mortgage over seekers after amusement, and the Opera House is filled to overflowing all through the week. N w arrivals this week are Walker and Hughes, who do an eccentric juggling act entitled "Fan on the Lawn." That small instrumentalist, Eileen O'Neill, is very popular, and her playing on various instruments elicits loud applause. Octavia and Warne appear in a sketch " The New Cook," which is a concoction productive of much merriment. Percy Denton is a corner man in the first part and a sentimental singer in the second. He is equally good \p either role. The gods dearly love joining in choruses, and Percy's illustrated songs give them every opportunity to indulge their vocal propensities

Clarence Tisdale's sweet tenor voice is heard to advantage in "Just For To-night," and A. L. Cropp sings "To-morrow Will Be Friday" in excellent style. Keldie and Davis have taken a leaf out of Athas' book, and appear in a roller skating act, as well as contributing a song and dance. Beattie Mac Donald and Flo Weston attend capably to the serio department, and Bob Lloyd is called upon for a large budget of comic songs nightly. Generally, he has to sing at least halfa dozen songs before the audience will Jet him go. The Warwick Bioscope pictures maintain their high standard, and are, as usual, a featuie of the performance. On Saturday next, Bob Bell, comic vocalist, and Carlton Cooper, ventriloquist, will make their first appearance.

It is rumoured that Messrs George Musgrove and "William Anderson ire going to combine together in the production of musical comedies.