"MARITANA"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2161, 29 May 1914, Page 9

"MARITANA"

ROYAL WELLINGTON CHORAL ' " SOCIETY I Those grand operas which find producers—liko books, poetry, and songs which find publishers—have their little or long day according to their merit. Time is tho great arbiter winch dictates that which will stay and that which is to pass away. Customs and manners change, but that which is charged ,with tho vital spark of inspiration is proof against tho ravages oi time. In' tho light of musical development, tho constructional form of "Mantana may havo become old-fashioned, hut its melodio charm remains untarnished, shining as pure silver, as on +.ho lvglit of November 15, 1845, when it was first produced at Drury Lane. Uie_ old opera, which was successfully proauced at tho Town Hall last evening by tho Royal Choral Society, has a special, it remote, interest for Wellington, as n is on record that the composer, V ir.cent Wallace, visited" this .city a auple of years before tho opera was f.rst produced in London. It was not, however, until after he had roamed tho vorld as few did in those days that he was banded- tho libretto by Fitzhall, .m Irish poet of no little note. "Alantana was a great success from the outset, and, for over a quarter of a century or more, its popularity with English audiences remained tindimmed. It is jver a scoreof years since the work was produced hero, but thero are many -.ho will remember the splendid singing of Miss Annis Montague and Mr.. (Juries 'iurner as Maritana and Don Uctar respectively. It was "therefore with a deal of unusual curiosity Uiat tho performance of tho opera in coi.-cert form was awaited. , . Such a performance must necessarily have its restrictions, apart from the absence of histrionic interest, but, on the wholo, the cuts were judiciously. made, and the gems of melody which have outlived the years' wero all retained. There is little doubt that all present i thoroughly enjoyed hearing Wallace's music once more, fragrant as it must have been to. the memories of many. The Choral Society can always be relied on to. produce a good chorus, and, though they were not given a great deal of work last evening, what they were given was very well done indeed. Here and there a lead was taken up rather fuzzily, but laving foqnd themselves, the sound, body, and balance were excellent, and the choral climaxes at the end of each act were filing in a highly stimulating manner. The orchestra, however, was inclined to be rough and appeared to bo short of rehearsal. Mr. Christian Hellemann, the society's conductor, took the overture too slowly— it dragged somewhat in places, and was played withojit animation. Coming to' tho. soloists "Maritana"' may bo said to have been a triumph for tho two ladies engaged. Miss Helen Gard'ner, tlje talented Dunedin soprano, who sang the role of Maritaua, opened rather nervously , and appeared to be quite dependent on the score, but as she seused tho acoustics of the big hall and became used to'her place*on tho stage, she gained confidence, awl sang with delightful ease and rare intelligence. Miss Gard'ner has a puru soprano Voice that is always absolutely true to pitch. It is nicely produced, and is appealing in its musical quality. She was not at her best in " 'Tis tho Harp in the Airj" and in the succeed-' ing duet with 'Don I 'Jose : '".Of'"Fairy Wand," Mr. Hodges's voice'" failed to blend. Miss Gardner's interpretative instinct became apparent in the "Pretty Gitana" scene; It was, however! in the solo, Brig'nles"t?''t'hat eho sang with great beauty, of tone and expression.' 'No'ii.umber. was quite so artistically'treated as-.was"this delight fill song, and .the singer was encored. Another signal success 'was achieved ;..by Mrs. Gregor "Wood, of Melbourne, who as Lazanllo was not heard as often as one would have'wished. Her voico is a robust contralto of the healthiest' order. It is of pleasing quality, very powerful, and slightly vibrant. Without tho slightest effort, Mrs, Wood produces full-powered notes that could bs heard all over the building, and her enunciation ;was impeccable. Though she did not realise to tho full the tender sohatudo was expressed in "Alas Those Chimes, it was well sung, and the audience wero not slow to recognise the fine .vocal attributes of the visitor.'Mr. Gregor Wood, of Melbourne, sang the musio'of Don Caesar fairly well. He has a vigorous tenor voice, which is inclined to be hard throughout the registers._ There is little tone colour, and not infrequently the visitor was inclined to flatten. Still, tenors -who can sing the music of Don Caesar aro not to be found in ovory corner, and if Mr. Wood could infuse- some of his personal geniality into his voice, both ho and the public would be the gainers. He was at Inn best in the dramatio songs, which suited his robust style rather than his vocal capacity. He was heard more to advantage, for example, in "Let. Me Liko a Soldier Fall" than in the romantii) "There is a Flower that Bloometh," which, when faithfully interpreted, is full of poetic charm." Mr. Hamilton Hodges, who doubled the parts of Don Joso and the King of fapam, appeared to' be- suffering from a cold. Ho thoroughly comprehended the demands that were made on him, hut was tonally insecure, and distinctly toggy in places. His treatment of "iii Happy Moments" was favourably received. Tho concerted music'was only fairly satisfactory. There were tender spots m- plenty. By far the best numm<r in that regard was the duet, ■. Sainted Mother," sung by Miss Gafd'ner and, Mrs. Wood, which was one of the gems of the evening. Mr. Hellemann conducted satisfactorily.