HIS MAJESTY’S.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1391, 21 December 1916, Page 34

HIS MAJESTY’S.

BRILLIANT MUSICAL FESTIVAL. GONSALEZ GRAND ITALIAN OPERA SEASON. A musical event of great importance is the coming to Auckland on Boxing Nnght of the Gonsalez Italian Grand Opera Company, wh.ch, under the Fuller direction, Will open a season of 16 nights duration at. HiS Majesty's Theatre, The success which attended the Gonsalez season in Melnourne was recently duplicated in Sydney, wnere the record achieved in the ’ Victorian cap.tal vas beaten in the matter of performances, over 100 being g.ven. Another record was achieved for opera—only one disappointment was experienced by patrons, and that was caused by an unlucky tram accident to one of the principals,. Though 20 operas were produced, except in one instance the Gonsalez Company gave the performance advertised with the s.ngers the public expected to see. A feature oi the Sydney and Melbourne season was the enormous first night bßt, hundreds of patrons attending regularly throughout the season ih ® re was l.ttie to choose in popu.arity between the operas produced, but these that proved themselves a 1-ttle aaeaa of the others have been selected tor the season. The opening will be marked by a gala performance of 11 Trovatore’ in which the pr.ncjpai members of the company will be seen. On Wednesday “Il Trovatoie will again be staged, and on Thursday tire ever-popular “La Trav.ata Wl |’ ‘ the attraction with an entirely dmerent cast of art sts. On Friday pa..rom> will see a double bill in Cavallena Rust.cana” and “I Pagliacci. Saturday night is reserved for Lucia de Lammermoor" and at the ■‘Cavalier.a Rusticana will be tlre attraction. The company is apparently rich in actors,. In I Pagliacci there are two excellent examples in Balboni, the tenor, and Scamuzzi, the baritone. The former, J ocal^ al ~ dramatically, is a sensation and m Sydney he received an ovation aftei ‘on w.th the Motey,’ wherein the poor clown describes now he must, with bursting heart, prepare hiniselt to be the public’s fool. Balboni is evidently a believer in Carusos method of speaking rather than singing l.nes supposed to be uttered under the stress of great emotion. It is with indescr.bable pathos that Baiuoni, after the tragedy of the last act, renders the final words, “The comedy is finished.” Scamuzzi, taller and slenderer, does excellent work, and his Singing of the beaut.ful prologue, is accompanied by gestures that procla m the finished actor in “Cavalleria Rusticana,” also as the coarse Aino, he does not stint realism. Signor Bettino Cappelli, who was principal tenor at the Constance di Roma in Rome, and at the Grand opera House in Turin, Parma, is recognised as one of the six leading tenors in Italy. Signorina Russ (contralto), who will sing “Azucena’ in the opening production, “11 Trovatore,” will, during the season play ‘ Carmen.” Signorina de Revers will be the Eleanor of “11 Trovatore” Signori Scamuzzi and Cacialli will also sing in “11 Trovatore.” “La Traviata ’ will introduce Signorina Gonsalez and Signori Dagradi, Eilippini and Petrucci. During the second week will be presented:—“La Boheme,” “Un Ballo in Maschera, ’ “Lucia di Lammermccr, ” “Faust,” and “Rgoletto,” while for the last week are reserved “Carmen,” “ Mignon,” and “Madam Butterfly.” The box plans for the first five nights will be opened at Wildman and Arey s on Thursday morning, December 21.

Mr Harold Gregson, the well-known organist of Auckland, has been appointed musical judge for the 1917 festival of the Christchurch Literary and Musical Competitions.