GRAND OPERA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15131, 27 January 1917, Page 8

GRAND OPERA.

WANGANUI’S MUSICAL TREAT, BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE OF “IL TEOVATORE.” CAST OF CHARACTERS. ; Bleanore Signorina de Revers Azucena Signorina Russ Manrico ... Signor Oappelli Conte di Luna ..... Signor Seamuzzi Ferrando Signor Cacialli Ruitz Signor Barontini Director of Orchestra 1 Giovanni Gonsalez Leader of Orchestra v Mr S. de Tarcynski

Possibly one of the greatest, if not the greatest, occasion in Wanganui’s musical history, occurred last evening, when grand opera was presented on a scale rivalling grand opera in the great wm-bl centres. To the enterprise of the Fullers, "therefore, Wanganui, as well as the rest of the Dominion, owes a considerable debt, because it must he admitted that the treatment meted out in the past to great artists has not been of a kind to encourage an undertaking of such magnitude. In the case of Wanganui audiences, however, the one which attended the Opera House last evening certainly rose to the occasion whsn the Gonsalez Italian Opera Company produced Verdi’s immortal opera, T1 Trovatore.” From the moment the magnificent full operatic orchestra commenced the first bars of “God Save the King” to the final notes of the great opera, the huge audience showed unwonted enthusiasm and delight. At times people could not restrain themselves, and cheers broke out from all parts of the building- It was certainly a musical triumph by one of the finest organisations ever got together. Long before the appointed time every seat in the theatre was filled. In fact at 8 p.m. there was not standing room, and hundreds were unable to gain admission. In addition to the iiuge crowd inside the theatre, hundreds assembled in the side alleys outside the Opera House and in Cook’s Gardens to near the magnificent singing ■ and music. And they were not disappointed. At last the Wanganui music-loving public has woke up to the fact, that there are still chances being given them of hearing some of the world’s greatest artists. The highest expectations were more than realised as the storms of applause greeting the work of artists, orchestra and chorus proved. Than Signor Cappeli, no finer tenor has ever been heard here, hie glorious voice being produced with amazing ease and artistry. Seldom, if ever, has Wanganui heard an operatic baritone of the same quality as Signor Scamuzzi, while the brilliant work of Signorina Buss in the part of the old gipsy was something, to be remembered. One of the joys of last eveping's performance was the perfect balance of the concerted numbers and the full volume produced by the choir. The “Anvil Chorus,” the beautiful unaccompanied work in the cathedral, the famous “Miserere” number and the soldiers’ chorus were brilliant to a degree, while the orchestra completed the triumph of the evening’s achievement. The orchestra, it might be said, played under difficulties, the orchestral well being far too small to accommodate all the performers. Some of the musicians were compelled to mix witu the audience in the front row of the orchestral stalls. “II Trovatore” is Verdi’s best known and probably his best opera, showing in a notable degree the famous Italian composer’s skill in interpreting through the medium of music those intensely dramatic situations with which the story abounds. The opera is one of the choicest examples of the Italian school,- full of beautiful music, all of which is within range of the average run of musacloveis. Interpreted as it was last night by a cast exclusively from the land which- gave it birth, a chorus composed of Italians and a conductor steeped in Verdi traditions, this masterpiece came as a revelation to the great audience, a large proportion of whom ffor the first time came under the spell of standard opera produced by artists of the first rank. The performance abounded in dramatic situations, working up to a powerful and tragic climax in which the lovely “Home to our Mountains” duet and the famous “Miserere” chorus were. rendered with 'great emotional effect. Signor Tinto Cappelli’s characterisation of the troubadour lover, successful in his suit, but doomed by the hatred ,of Ills aristocratic rival, was a revelation. Not only has he a fine stage presence, but his glorious tenor voice of amazing strength and purity makes an irresistible appeal. Among his top-notes he reveals those which are the envy and despair of the average singer, and in dramatic situations he shows a remarkable robustness and fulness, his declamatory work being intensely powerful without any suggestion of forcing. Signor Scamuzzi, who gave a brilliant musical rendering of Marnica’s rival, was another outstanding feature of this notable cast. He is a picturesque figure on the stage, a fine actor, and a singer possessing a glorious organ. His singing of some of the notable arias produced enthusiastic applause. Signorina de Rivers in the role of the ill-fated Leonora proved herself to be an artist of rare grace and ability. Hexmore passionate arias were sung with telling force, and her voice was used in a remarkable way to express the varying moods of pleasure and pain, while posture and gesture finely express the emotion of the moment. This was notably the case in the powerful “Miserere” scene outside her doomed lover’s prison cell. Signorina Russ achieved an outstanding success as the Gipsy Azucena, and in the part where she telle Manrico the tragic story of her life the audience was held in a thrall by the simulated horror of the singer, whose voice is particularly suited to the part. Again in the

prison scene Signorina Buss showed herself a ?true artist, and achieved a notable success in the rendering of “Rom© to Our Mountains” with Signor Oappelli. Signor Cacialli displayed a splendid pnd well-cultivated bass voice in the opening scene, wherein he relates the story of the count's childhood. A great performance may be expected from him to-night in “Faust.” The orchestra is one of the finest ever heard in Wanganui, and under the capable direction of Signor Giovanni Gonsalez it added a rich > contribution to the musical feast. The combination, produced many beautiful and powerful effects at once an .object lesson in the mission of the orcheatra and a pure joy to the audience. Special mention should be made of the harp accompaniment in certain passages of. the "’Miserere” scene. “CARMEN” MATINEE. This afternoon a matinee performance of“ Carmen” was given before a crowded audience. 1 r “FAUST” TO-NIGHT. To-night (Saturday, the last) night) ■will be devoted to the over-popular opera “Faust.” The story of “Faust” is almost too well-known to call for more than a sketchy outline?. It is founded on Goethe’s poem, \tfas composed by Gounod, and is bo-day, the most popular of all the grand operas. Dr. Faust is a student, grown old in the search for the secret of eternal life. Brooding over his failure and the tragedy of old age, he is about to end it all, when an Easter carol is heard, and Satan appears in the guise of MepHstopheles, offering him youth in return for his soul, showing him at the same time a vision of Marguerite, for whom Faust’s whole soul craves. The dread compact is made, and Faust apears as a! youth. ,He meets Marguerite in the “Kermese” revels, where he is urged by Mephistopheles to pursue the girl; but she rejects his advances. In her garden he leaves a casket of jewels, and there she refuses the hand of Siebel, and yields to the advnncs of Faust. In a street scene Faust kills Valentine (Marguerite’s brother) who has accused him of ruining his sister, and who dies cursing her. There is a scene where Marguerite is in the church, abandoned by her friends. Faust is conscience-stricken at the end. The overture is at 7.30 p.m.