RIGOLETTO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 244, 15 October 1932, Page 12

RIGOLETTO

WILLIAMSON GRAND OPERa COMPANY.

It has now been definitely decided by the J. C. Williamson Utd. management to present their Imperial Grand Opera Company at the Opera House, Wanganui. on Tuesday, October 25, in a brilliant production of Verdi’s famous opera “Rigoletto,” in which the company achieved a sensational success in Auckland, and which received the majority of votes from local playgoers. There are over 100 members in the organisation, including some of the world’s best and most famous Continental grand opera singers and a full grand opera orchestra and chorus. The leading soprano is Lina Paliughi, who is regarded as the finest coloratura soprano on the stage to-day, and the part of Rigoletto will be sung and acted by Apollo Granforte. who is unquestionably the most realistic and most powerful baritone singer of modern times. The tenor is Primo Montanari, from Colon Theatre. The cast will also include Albino Marone, a magnificent basso profundo, and Michele Fiore, proclaimed by Toscanini as the greatest living singer of comic roles. “There was,” wrote a Sydney critic. ‘‘a. genuinely magical quality in Signorina Tana Paliughi’s singing of “Caro Nome.’’ As at her earlier appearance as the ill-fated heroine in “Lucia.” the soprano revealed in every phase that rarest of combinations -dazzling coloratura singing united with intense artistic sensibilityWhether in her particularly charming use of mezzo voice, in the faultless ease of her production in decorative staccato passages, or in the fine resonance of her head notes, her perforcance was equally remarkable. If the chief honours of the performance must be awarded to the soprano, she was ably seconded by Signor Apollo Granforte as the sinister and tragic Rigoletto. The popular baritone is a great artist, and he was entitled to the cheers which followed his brilliant singing and acting in the third act. Michele Fiore and Albino Morone also assisted in making last night’s performance of ‘Rigoletto’ the finest ever seen in Sydney.” A big feature of the production of “Rigoletto” is the work of the full grand opera orchestra and chorus, which are under the direction of Maestro Wando Aldrovandi. The box plans will be open at the Bristol Piano Co. on Friday morning next at 9 o’clock. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m.