GRAND OPERA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 230, 28 September 1928, Page 11

GRAND OPERA.

THOMAS' "MIGNON." Ambroise Thomas' charming opera comique "Mignon" was produced by the Fuller-Gonsa'lez company last evening, and was warmly received. The opera was sumptuously presented, artists, orchestra, ch'orus and dancers gave a captivating performance of this attractive work.

The opera of "Mignon" owes its popularity to its picturesqueness, and poetic grace, as well as to its freshness, warmth, and richness of its melodies. It contains three, acts, text by Barbier and Carre, based upon Goetlie's "Wilhelm Meister," and was first performed at the Opera Comique, Paris, on November 17, 1866. During the decade 1901-1910, three thousand presentations were given of the work. The composer was the son of one skilled in music, and a man of unusual versatility. He was a sound musician; and also had a fine sense of stage effect. Throughout the music of "Mignon" reveals the hand of a sensitive and refined nature, and is full of charming situations, all delightfully united. Of world-wide popularity is the overture, which recites the leading motives of the opera, whilst of special interest are the arias "Fuggitivo e "Leggiadore rondinelle," "Non conosci il bel suol," "Conosci un zin garello," the rond6 gavotte "Filiiia Nelle Sale," the aria "Mignon, fa core," which is one of the most paithetic songs in modern opera, the duet "Sofferto hai tu?" and the sparkling "Ah! per staseera." Signonna Margherita Flor, in the name part, Joly sustained this exacting role. She sang and acted with dramatic intensity, and was heartily applauded after her solos. In the various duet and recitatives she used her soprano to fine advantage. The scene with Giarno was admirably acted. She gave with charming voice the beautiful romanza "Non conosi il bel suol," to which was added, tastefully played, clarinet and flute obligatoe. Signorina Flor joined Signor Fumagalli in the Swallow duo "Leggiadore rondinelle," which was delivered in exquisite tones, both by singers and orchestra. The popular "Io conosco un garzoncello" received a characteristic interpretation, and the Styrienne refrain was delightfully coloured. The beautiful duet with Lothario was entrancingly given; and the love duet "Ah! eon felice" between Wilhelm and Mignon was tenderly expressed, whilst the concluding trio, as rendered by the soprano, tenor and bass, was one of the chief ensemble pieces of the performance. Signorina Olga Poletti, as Felina, an actress, made a conspicuous success. Her fine soprano and admirable use of it, gave life and spirit to the character. Her impersonation of the light-hearted woman of the world was a marked change to that of Mignon, which made the embodiment all the more contrasted. She shaped and tinted her phrases in a way which delightfully pictured the scene. The dashing and showy polacca "Io son Titania" was given in a sparkling coloratura style, whilst a graceful rendering was secured of "Grazie al gentil Signor." The tezetto "Ohime quell acre riso" was a notable piece of dramatic conversation, whilst a gay and coquettish performance was obtained of the aria "Gai complimenti." • Sipiorina Pfrimmer made an acceptable iredenc, a part which is now a contralto role since Trebelli, for whom Thomas wrote the only contralto solo in the opera, trie Rondo Gavotte in Act 11. The singer f^T e 311 easy piquant rendering of Me vocci dans son Boudoir," and acted the frivolous dandy with life *and vivacity. , Signor Vanucci used his lyric tenor voice to good purpose in the part of the young student. He bravely championed Mignon and declaimed his music with taste and facility. He was pleasing in the situation where he inquires into the life of Mignon, and also, where he decides to leave her, which he displayed in an affecting per-forman-ce of the aria "Addio Mignon." Signori Vannycci, Federici, Fumagalli and Afieri ably sustained their characters, and the ov -ture. intermezzo, choruses and dances were effectively presented. Tonight the opera ffll Trovatore" will be staged.