The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1901. A SUGGESTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7232, 19 October 1901, Page 4

The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1901. A SUGGESTION.

■ : Those of our readers whose tastes incline '• towards £he higher forms of muse, will " : recollect that some years ago, the Chrisi- ; church Musical Union tried the experiment , of performing operas an oratorio form. The experiment was tried twice. la the first instance, "Faust" was produced, and in the second Mascagni's ll Cavalleria Busti- ( caina " constituted the programme. Both - . perfonmances were, on' the whole, very successful. The operas, naturally, were shorn of some- of their dramatio impreasiveness, ,'. owing to the absence of scenery and stage accessories, but from a amusicaf point of view, they were most enjoyable. In short, the experiment was so successful that it is .;•';. surprising that it has never ibeen repeated since. This, at least, was probably the reflection of many members of the audience which gathered in the Canterbury Hall en ■.'..'■. aUnirsday, when the Musical Union gave • a perfoxanance of "Psyche." The music of "Psyche" is singularly operatic in : character. Had it been composed for some '■■'■■' of the themes which Wagner ohose for his yoperatdo works, the combination: would at . least have been not ill-matched. 'But operar .'.,,'■- tic although ib is in character, "Psyche" ■ is not an opera. It is a cantata, a class of composition which we tfhink' appeals less to / the average audience than almost eny dweriptiaa of vocal music. Opera, on the : other hand, is music perhaps in its most popular form. 'No matter whether ib be light or heavy, it can always be trusted ttr arrest the attention of the practised musician, and 1 what is perhaps of more consequence, to excite popular interest. Can as much be said; for aty other class of music? : jWe "think sot. contend, although, we do so with some diffidence, that no other form of musical entertainment could >iave riveted the attention of a Christchurch smdienca as the recent performances of Mr Musgrove's Opera Company ddd. But the Musical Societies needi not go -further than .their own experiences for an instance of '■■', : . the popularity of opera. Their performances of "Faust" and "Cavalleria Rustdcana " should been enough to satisfy them that, however much the musical public of Christchurch may enjoy oratorio, cantatai, part song and other kinds of vocal music, its heart is set on opera. The reason- for this is not far to • - eeek. It lies in the fact that the public of Christchurch have very few opportunities ■■'•■ of, hearing opera. Until Mr Musgrove'a , V company visited us last month, nearly - : twenty years had passed 1 since opera in anything lik* a complete form had! been produced here, and if past experiences are a trustworthy indication, many years mar elapse before another grand opera company ' comes this way. is nob 'surprdsing that in the ab- :,-';, sence of the real thing, in the shape of grand opera, well-mounted, and staged, '-. Christchurch audiences should be grateful for the v«y excellent substitutes with which the Musical Union ihas twice .furnished them. If the Union or the Christ- ' church 'Motett Society would see fit to at- ' tempt opera again, we venture -to think that they would not regret their decision. Their excursion into mew fields need not interfere wifcb their ordinary functions. By : ' «11 means let them continue to provide their jpatrons with the great oratorios or orchestral works, i bub in. place of cantatas and . «uch like compositions by the lesser known authors, let the'im produce opera in oratorio form. The departure would be appreciated