AMATEUR OPERA AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3356, 10 January 1879, Page 3

AMATEUR OPERA AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Mr Towle'a venture last evening at the Theatre Boyal was decidedly enterprising; and it was successful. The opera of Martha is by no means easy. It abounds in florid music ; there are lovely and intricate harmonies scattered through it from beginning to end; there is extremely heavy and rapid work for the chorus ; the orchestral accompaniment is exceedingly brilliant and lively throughout ; and the vocal range required of lomo of the singers is uncommon. As such a work presents very formidable difficulties to the amateur, it was a bold enterprise to entrust it mainly to amateur musicians. The enterprise was the outcome of a healthy feeling of rivalry. A few months ago Signor Morley, who is remembered here as the tenor of the Simonsen Operatic Company, and a conficientious painstaking artist, showed the public of Dunedin what could be done in opera by amateurs properly trained. His first attempt was with "Maritana," which the local talent under his direction produced in a manner that astonished the audiences, and earned the applause of the critics. Encouraged by the success of his first effort, he produced Verdi's " Trovatore " which was received with even more enthusiasm. Both operas drew large houses for ■everal nights, netting a fair sum to the enterprising maestro, besides yielding substantial assistance to locul charities. These successes roused the emidation of Christchurch musicians, producing a general desire to follow the example so pluckily and successfully set by the Dunedin JaSnateur talent. Taking advantage of this feeling, Mr To wle organised an operatic class, sot them to learn the opera of "Martha," andproduced it last night with great success. He obtained substantial assistance from Signora Venosta, whose operatic training materially helped the rehearsals, and whose artistic talent contributed in a largo measure to the success of the performance. Of the performance, we may say at once that no opera company has ever given such •good chorus Binging in Chriatohurctu There was about the chorus a vigour, power, and freshness which the professional opera companies, who confess their weakness in this particular, never even pretend to. Their chorus singers almost invariably inow their business, but thoy always fail to sing their music so aa to please. Thero is no balance in their work, and harsh voices are too prominent. Mr Towle's amateurs last night were in marked contrast to this, j To have merely sung their music through more or less correctly would have been of itself ft feat, for the amateur likes his book to read from, and is apt to feel like a fish out of water without it. Even when hia memory has come by diligent exercise to supply the jplaee of a book, it is apt to give way before the fire of the lorgnette -when it first sweeps the phalanx of the amateur chorus. And if the amateur memory .does not fail under these trying circumstances, 'difficulty is to be apprehended from the amateur's want of individuality, which sometimes keeps the orchestra waiting, tmd often blots out important leading passages. But lasfcj night none of these things came to pass. Thcr choruses were, as a rule, sung not only por-l rectly, but with precision, animation, light' and shade, and good balance of voice. The , chorus even accompanied the concerted music/ for soli, voices with intelligence — moderation! where necessary, and power where required! for the climax of effect intended by the' composer. The quintette and chorus forming the finale to the third act ■ was especially noticeable for this intelligent care. . The chorus was besides well dressed, and having evidently been taught how to move about the stage, entered into their "business" €on amore. In thiß respect there is room for improvement, for amateurs cannot be expected to wholly lay aside their natural stiffness on & first appearance, but what was done last night exceeded what might have been reasonAbly expected. For the training of his chorus Mr Towle and Signora Venosta deserves the highest credit. Signora Venosta, whose professional reputation is deservedly high, was of course the chief figure amongst the principals, and to tor fine singing and spirited acting the success of the opera is in a great measure due. Bh« sang the bright, lively music of her part with artistic finish, great power, and the necessary degree of humour. The song, " Dismal is my heart " — a smooth flowing air, cot always sung — in the third act gave her an opportunity to display her splendid voice, and the song, " Huntress fair," a song with ohorus, which followed, she gave with great spirit. In all the concerted music her voice was of course ft very important feature. We need only add tkafc ah« was very successful with the English libretto. The lady amateur to whom the r6le of Lady Harriet was entrusted sang the difficult musio of the part throughout very correctly. She has a light soprano voice of high range, and a good memory, which she did not lose under the trying circumstances of a first appearance before a large audience. Musically, she performed a feat last night of which any amateur might be proud. From tho dramatic point of view, her abilities require the development that comes of study and familiarity with the Stage. Mr Towle, as Lionel, was not in good voice, but sang his part like a musician, and bis acting showed a very great improvement on his previous performances hero. His singing showed to special advantage in the fine duets with the soprano in the first and fourth acts; aud in the finale to the third act he did full justice to the fine leading part of the tenor. Mr Marshall made a very creditable first appearance in opera as Flunkett. _ His •conception of the character was intelligent, his knowledge of the musio was perfeot, and his fine boss voice was equal to the work required of it. He was very effective in his duet with the tenor in the first act, and secured a well-deserved round of applause by his rendering of the famouß " Beer Song." The four singers above mentioned sang the quartettes, some of them unaccompanied, in the first and second acts in a very finished manner, making these items among the most enjoyable of tho opera. Mr Walker •aa Sir Trißtram, sang well in the beautiful trios with the soprano and contralto in the first act, but did not appear to have studied the dramatio requirements of his rdle with the same care that he had bestowed on the ■musical. Mr Ellisdon, as the shariff, made a good deal out of a small part. The orchestra, under the able conductorship of Mr Searell, was a tower of strength. They t-layed the overture with crispness and spirit, the cornet and violins dividing the honours. They gave through^ the opera some delightful accompaniments, and performed the wnele of thoir muaio with brilliancy ana vigour. Tho playing of this orchestra will long be remembered among the amateurs of Chnstohurch. The duty of the conductor was hazardous, but his ability and watchful care carried him through it with great sueBeverting, in conclusion, to the performance of last night as a whole, we have only to Bay that its completeness was highly creditable to all engaged in it. We frankly confess that we expected to see something very far short of completeness, but only noticed some of the hitches inseparable from a ttntp«rformance, and these were confined chiefly to the first act. The audience was large meyerj part of the house, and the applw jmphatio ind frequent; throughout. "Martht^' will |>a repeated to-night.. « . - . .