CARTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 251, 29 August 1879, Page 2

CARTERTON.

[from our own correspondent! August 28.

The entertainment of the Opera Company last night opened with selections from Verdi's well-known opera, " II Trovatore." Many times as I have witnessed its production this was the first time I have ever heard it rendered in English, and I can come to but one conclusion—that an opera originally scored with Italian words should be sung in Italian, since it is an awful strain on the performer to makp the harsh English words fit into the music. The selections given last evening were well chosen, and the cavatina, " The night was calm," the trio for soprano, bass, and tenor, "How faithful," the popular "Tempest of the Heart," and " Home to our Mountains," particularly. The want of a chorus, a thing so almost impossible to obtain in a country town, threw tho whole burden of the "Miuriri 1 ' scenes on the company, but nevertheless it passed off very well, Offenbach's comedietta, " The Rose of Auvergne," brought the evening to a close. The plot is simple: Two young fellows, a blacksmith (Mr Browning) and cobbler (Mr Florence), being in love with Mdlle. Fleurette (Madame Le Couteur), a sprightly village coquette, The opera, like all by the same composer, contains the lively, rattling, jingle jangle sort of music that has made "La Fille De Madame Angot," " La Grande Duchesse," and many of his other works so popular. The duets between the blacksmith and the maid and the former and the cobbler were very good, and productive of much mirth and amusement. By special request Mr Florence introduced the ballad he had sung on the previous evening, " Still, I Love Thee," which met with a most hearty encore, which was duly responded to. This is the first opera company, I brieve, that has visited the Wairarapa, but I hope it will not be the last by a long way, for speaking for myself-and I think I might for all who have been present—the company deserve our thanks for the two very pleasant evenings they have given us. To be or not to be. This question as to the Carterton Borough is to be settled next Wednesday, when the Resident Magistrate holds an inquiry at the Court House here.