Music & Drama.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 94, 12 May 1892, Page 1

Music & Drama.

Spectatum admissi risum teneatis amici ? The Montague-Turner Opera Season. To produce nine operas in eighteen days might fitly be compared to the labours of Hercules. Such a task necessarily implies nine “ first nights,” and everybody knows that a first night is always a trying and ticklish business to the performers. So far a remarkable advance has been noticeable on the second presentation of each opera. To use a racing phrase appropriate to a sporting newspaper, principals, chorus and orchestra have in every case “trained on.” The climatic inconveniences noticed in my last article have almost entirely disappeared, and the singers are in much better form, while the orchestra too has improved wonderfully. The local additions to the chorus deserve great praise for the readiness with which they have picked up the music and business of so many new works, but to expect them tc master a new opera in two days is altogether unreasonable, and some critics have failed to remember and to make allowances for the difficulties under which the company has been struggling, through the sudden defection, just before leaving Sydney, of six chorus ladies. By sheer pluck and hard work—the rehearsals averaging about seven hours a day, and proving Mr. Harcourt Lee to have the proverbial feline nine li ves —marvellous results have been achieved. - The company will leave Auckland s > greatly improved in combination and efficiency as to ensure complete success during the remainder of the New Zealand tour. In support of my view I would point out that “Lucrezia Borgia,” which has so far undoubtedly proved the success of the season, exacts but little work from the lady members of the chorus. Since my last notice the new productions have been “Mignon,” “Lucrezia,” and Martha,” about each of which I will say as much as space permits. “ MIGNON.” This chef d'auvre of Ambroise Thomas is a charming example of the French school, which deserves the credit • of combining the best features of the German and Italian schools, and is the logical outcome of the work of Auber and Herold. A wealth of melody, fine orchestration, and strong dramatic effects combine to render the opera one of the most delightful works extant. It has never yet been given before an Auckland audience. I purposely went on the second evening in order to hear the company at its best, and was greatly pleased both with the opera and the performers. Miss Annis Montague in the title role sang and acted magnificently throughout. To pick out a few of the many gems I will mention the sweet prayer “ O virgin, my only hope,” the exquisitely tender song “ Knowest thou that dear land,” with the magnificent burst on the words “’Tis there,” followed by a superbly artistic diminuendo, ending in the faintest conceivable pianissimo. Her recitatives in monotone lapped in exquisite orchestral drapery were a delicious feast to the ear. The duo with Lotario “ Swift flying pretty swallows,” in which the flute has

a’charming obbligato, is another dainty morsel. The toilet scene and song proved another of Mignon’s triumphs — her business with the rouge and powder puff being artistically naive and effective. The dance of delight and exultant “tra-la-la” provoked tumultuous applause, and an encore was only averted by the more considerate portion of the audience remembering that the role was a most exacting one. Space forbids my noticing many other superb bursts and tender passages exquisitely rendered by Miss Montague. As Filina, the dashing actress and professional coquette, Miss Maud Lita made her debut upon the operatic stage. Making allowance for stage-fright, from which she naturally suffered, the young lady acquitted herself admirably in a difficult role. She possesses a light soprano voice of excellent quality, which is especially pure and true in the upper register. Her staccato singing, trills, and fioriture are all extremely good ; the polonaise “I am Titania,” in the third act, being a capital bit of light and tripping vocalisation, which won a well-merited encore. The young lady has a charming stage presence, and when she acquires the ease and confidence which a few more appearances will give, Miss Maud Lita will assuredly prove one of the strong featui es in the company with which she is associated. Miss E. A, Lambert’s impersonation of Frederick, the “ masher” exquisite, is like all her work, artistic in conception and finished in performance. Mr. Turner, as Wilheln Meister, has a fine role both musically and dramatically speaking, and his performance greatly enhances his already high reputation in both respects. Mr Edward Farley’s Lotario is another excellent feature in the cast —his singing of several melodies in smooth, rich and admirably modulated tones was enchanting. In the minor parts of Giarno, Laertes, and Zaffri, Messrs. Oraig, England, and Morrison showed capital form, and the company is fortunate in possessing second leads who can act and sing so satisfactorily. “ Mignon” will, I feel sure make a hit during the tour. Having devoted so much space to “ Mignon ” —and with reason too, since it is virgin soil to Auckland musiculturists —I am compelled to abridge my remarks about “Lucrezia” and “ Martha.” Donizetti’s magnificent lyrical tragedy shows the company at its best. Miss Annis Montague must be placed on a very high pedestal among the many artists I have heard in the role. Her dignity, power and grace and subtle acting combined with ma gnificent declamation and superb singing merit the highest praise I can give her. Miss Lambert as “ Orsini ” quite covers herself with glory, and is especially effective and invariably encored in the inspiriting “ Il segreto.” Her splendid figure, graceful acting and abandon, together with a most handsome and becoming dress, contributed largely to the success of the piece. Mr. Edward Farley as the duke is fitted with a part which he fills to perfection. Besides singing splendidly throughout (“Vieni! la mia vendetta,” was magnificently delivered) he acted the role with a fierce power and mobility of facial expression which commanded attention, and exactly portrayed the fury of a jealous and vindictive tryant. Mr. Charles Turner revelled in the fine role of Gennaro, singing all the music—and especially the immortal “Di pescatore”—with grand effect. He shone equally in the lighter and more tragical numbers, and his performance

must be pronounced a grand achievement. Mr. Fred England’s dressing and acting of the Spanish spy Gubetta, as well as his singing of the part, again proved him the capable and reliable performer he is. Mr. H. Cassier, although handicapped with a severe cold, acquitted himself well as Rustigello, and the other characters were capably filled by Messrs. Percy Stewart, Denis Gunning, G. Haswell, J. Morrison, and Harry Craig—the two latter gentlemen as Astolfo and Gazella respectively displaying fine qualities, both histrionic and vocal.

“ Martha ” brought Miss Maud Lita out once more, and this time in the title rdle ; Miss Annis Montague taking a well-earned rest. Miss Lita, although still nervous, did very well indeed, and already showed an advance in her acting. In “The last rose of summer” her pure and fresh voice and artistic simplicity won encores and bouquets. With courage, perseverance and study elle ira loin. Miss Lambert’s Nancy is full of life, go and originality, and her gags are very funny. When she turned two Martas into tomatoes even the performers were convulsed, and Lionel had to apologise for her on the score of its being Saturday night. The chair and love-making business between Nancy and Plunkett is irresistibly comic. Mr. Turner’s Lionel and Mr. Farley’s Plunkett prove the versatility of these artists, both gentlemen revealing light comedy gifts which one could scarcely expect after seeing them in the heavy roles. The former sang the lovely aria “Lost, proscribed,” etc., and the latter the fine “Porter song,” with telling effect. As Sir Tristram.Mr. England quite distinguishes himself, and an unrehearsed incident in the dancing lesson, when he. Martha and Nancj fell into a graceful group which would have done credit to bicycle trick riders, was loudly encored by the delighted audience, who vainly imagined that the feat was intentional and might be repeated. Mr. Harry Craig’s Lord Mayor, and his grotesque clerk (Mr. J. Morrison, I think) were dressed in true burlesque style, and caused inextinguishable laughter. Misses Freeman, Beresford, and Williams made fun out of Polly Bell, Kitty Wells, and Sally Fox ; and Mr. G. Haswell looked and sang the servant’s part admirably. Before concluding I wish to remind my readers that Miss Annis Montague takes her benefit to-morrow (Friday) when “Faust” will be staged with, I feel sure brilliant success. Tonight (Thursday) “ The Bohemian Girl,” will be performed, and on Saturday evening the season terminates with that favourite of the people “ Maritana.”

Good audiences rewarded the efforts of our stock companies at the City Hall and Academy of Music, Lorne-street, where the usual entertainments by Hugo’s New Idea Minstrels and Miss Amy Vaughan’s Amazons were as success-' ful as usual, notwithstanding counter attractions at the Opera House. Orpheus.

Mr. G. G. Stead is said to possess the best stud book memory in the Colony. A match is being arranged between Peter Kemp and Tom Sullivan for aside. The first-prize in the forthcoming Band Contest, to be held at Wellington, will be worth