THE OPERA.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 581, 20 November 1871, Page 2

THE OPERA.

On Saturday night the opera of "La Sonivunbuhi" was repeated at the Prinoo of Wales Tlieatro. The attendance-was not so largo 'as nsuul, which arose, doubtless, -from the fiirt. that Saturday night, is the' night for [ho " Polloi" ii Auckland, whose tastes are not in operatic! music. The drama vms rendered, as before, exquisitely. —To night tho sensational and sorrowful drama of " tfaust" ia to be produced, which, for striking situations, is not to be surpassed. A large number of our best amateurs assist in the choral parts. The scene opens with Fauet in his study, worn out with disgmt.of life, and longing for death. He invokes Satan, and Mephistophiles, the mocking fiend, instantly appears. After some time, a bargain is struck, the fiend is to help Fau3fc daring life, and is to receive his soul in payment after death. Faust is immediately restored to youth,_ and a life of pleasure presented to him. A loveiy village maiden, Marguerite, becomes the object of the 'irtaohinatiens of the fiend and, Faust:, and tho contrast of heartless innoornco, "and'cunning and' heartlessness, is finely pourtraj cd. At length the rotary of pleasure attains his object, i and the agony uf remorse and despair constii tutea the features that give to Una, opera its | thrilling character. The (u'er-faithful suifcoi;, ; Liebel, the anguiah'od brother, tho laun.ta .0/ I the citizens?; iJijjcoij^icting feelings of good avd i evil in the breast, of Fau3(, (he penitence of Margueriti',,l'he .p:'is:'n scone, where she Jies, the murdeivss of her infant, her agony and death, a'l contribute tlieir share in producing ' one of the must thrilling Jyric. (Iraujus. .-,