J.C. WILLIAMSON'S NEW COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11882, 19 January 1914, Page 7

J.C. WILLIAMSON'S NEW COMIC OPERA COMPANY.

"THE COUNT OF LUXEMBOURG."

To-morrow night, J. C. Williamson's New Comic Opera Company will stage for the first time here Franz Lehar's charmingly picturesque and daintily scored musical comedy, "The Count of Luxembourg," which recently created a perfect furore of enthusiasm in Auckland . In '' Tho Count of Luxembourg there is Lehar's music and Adrian Ross' lyrics—both, it is said, appropriately light. There is a Bohemian and artistic setting in the first act; the splendour of the-Grand Duke's ball for the second act —and upon both these scenes, as well as the story, is built the veal creation, which is mirth and melody. There is a waltz of the same languorous charm as that in "The Merry Widow," and there aro many other companionable airs. Iv the bohemian strains the composer, it is said, produces the gay spirit of carnival that sets feet tapping; in the second act the waltz melody brings out the sentimental side of the storyj and at times it is said the music is quite up to the standard of grand opera; and thero arc some quaint numbers which, it is said, are particularly well sung by tho comedians. The elaborate scoring" for the waltz—evidently none of Franz Lehar's operas would be complete without a waltz—is one of the features of the work. The eloquent harmonies for the violins, the mellow tones of the violin-cello and harp, the utterances of the flutes, the soft cadences of the horns, and the telling phrases for the brasses, unite in a rich ensemble, to which variety is imparted by the frequent changes of the mood. 01 course, playgoers will realise that Miss Florence Young's singing of the solo numbers allotted her is quite a featuro of the production, and it is stated that it is worth travelling a long way to hear the ducts "Love Breaks Every Bond," "Aro You Going to Dance?" and "The Marriage Duet," the honours of which aro shared by Miss Young and Mr Frank Greene, the brilliant young baritone, who on his last visit appeared so successfully as Princo Danilo in "Tho Merry Widow. " The whole of the scenery effects for "The Count of Luxembourg" has already arrived in charge of a large staff of mechanics and electricians, so that everything is prepared for to-mor-row night's representation.