THE OPERA TOLD IN STORY AND SONG.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 76, 30 March 1931, Page 10

THE OPERA TOLD IN STORY AND SONG.

entertainment at WOMEN’S CLUB.

Bowls of blue agapanthus, michaelmas daisies and asters were used to decorate the Canterbury Women’s Club on Saturday evening when members gathered to hear an operatic concert given by Mr W. H. Dixon and his pupils. Mrs J. A. Flesher, president, introduced Mr Dixon. Mr Dixon gave a short address on “ Opera.” “ Opera,” said Mr Dixon, “ either tragic or comic, is drama, which is sung throughout with appropriate scenery and acting to the accompaniment of an orchestra.” Operas were sung in order that the stories might be expressed with deeper feel ing than the most careful declamation could reach. Opera was older than the Christian era, for even in ancient Greece the prevailing style of tragic drama was by musical declamation. Many of the plots were of a purely imaginative character, arid listeners must let their imaginations run free in the realm of fancy, remembering for the time being that the composers must of necessity have lived in that realm of fancy in order to make the stories live. Most of the operas were tragic, concluded Mr Dixon, and dealt with loves and hates, intrigue and passion, ideals and sacrifices of human beings in all phases. The following programme of selections from well-known operas was given by Mr Dixon and his pupils: “Habanera” (“Carmen”), Miss Gladys Ferguson; selection from “ Cavalleria Rusticana," Miss Hilda Hutt, soloist, Mrs Stapp, Mrs Ann Harper and Mr E. Rogers; “Star of Eve,” Mr Malcolm Miller; selections from “ Faust,” Mrs P. Le Brun; “ Fierce Flames are Raging ” (“ 11 Trovatore”), Mrs Ann Harper; duet, Mrs Stapp and Mr W. H. Dixon, “ Home to Our Mountains,” Mrs Ann Harper and Mr W. H. Dixon; selection from “ La Boheme,” “ Your Tiny H'and is Frozen,” Mr E. Rogers and Miss H. Hutt; duet, Miss Hutt and Mr W. H. Dixon, “ She Alone Charmeth my Sadness,” Mr Malcolm Miller; selection from “Alceste,” Mrs Ann Harper. The accompanist was Mr. Noel Newson. Mrs J. A. Flesher, on behalf of the members, thanked Mr Dixon and his pupils for the splendid evening’s entertainment they had given and which had been greatly enjoyed by all. Supper concluded a pleasant evening. ___