MUSIC

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2950, 9 December 1916, Page 13

MUSIC

(By "Treble-Clef.") An Operatic Feast. ' Tho programme of tho Gonsalez Opera Co. for tho ensuing week will bo as follows:— This evening—"Lucia di Lammermoor." Monday—"La Boheme." Tuesday—"Un Ballo in Maschera." Wednesday—'Luoia di Lammermoor." Thursday—"Faust." Friday— "Rigolotto." Saturday (Mtaineo) —"II Trovatore." Saturday—"Faust." Tales of the opera. It was a liappy thought which prompted these brief reviews of tho operas to be played by tho Gonsalez Opera Co. hero, and tho series of narratives is continued this week with the solo object of adding to tho enjoyment of thoso who tfoula understand tho drift of the opera they aro 'witnessing, which, to the average theatre-goer, is scarcely possible, as the wholo of tho operas aro sung in Italian, and 1 tho programme does not contain'a precis of the story. A good many of those who 1 have attended at tho Grand Opora House during tho week have taken tho clippings with them to refresh their memories with the narrative during the intervals. "Lucia di Lammermoor." "Lucia di Lammermoor," Donizetti's beautiful lyrio opera, which is to bo presented this evening by the Gonsalez Company, is an adaptation from Sir Walter Scott's novel, "Tho Bride of Lammormoor" by that gifted librettist Salvatore Cammerano. Readers of that famous romanco will remember that Sir Honry Ashton, wiio is financially and politically hard up, is endeavouring to arrange a marriage between his sister Lucy and Sir Arthur Bucklaw, and is furious o{i being told by her tutor, Bide-the-Bent, that Lucy has a secret lover in Edgar of Ravohswood, Sir Henry's greatest enemy. Edgar has to leave on a visit to France, and wishes to ask for Lucy's hand boforo going, but she implores him not to do so, fearing her brother's anger, so they plight their troth and part. In tho second act Sir Henry persecutes his sister, and tries-to force Sir Arthur upon her, but sho is true to her lover. Then the baffled brother tries deceit by showing her a forged letter, that seeks to prove Edgar faithless. Lucy believes, and is prepared to sacrifice herself to her brother's wishes, but on tho liight of the marriago Edgar dashes into tho hall,, and seeing that Lucy has already signed the marriage contract, bitterly upbraids her, and hurls cursos on the whole family. In her grief Lucy loses her reason, who after a very poignantly dramatic scene, calls on tho name of her true lovo, and falls back dead. . On hearing the fate of tho unhappy girl, Edgar, who has spent the night among the tombs of his ancestors, seizes a dagger, and stabs himself to the heart. "La Boheme." The story of "La Bohemo" is taken from Murgor's "L'Vio do Bohemo" (life of tho Bohemian), but in the opera it is represented in a series of vivid character sketches. In Act I ltudolpho the poet and Marcel the artist are found half starving in their garret in Paris, when Schaunard the musician arrives to share a bit of luck he has had with his comrades, bringing withhim Collino the philosopher. Tho landlord arrives to demand nis rent, but they give him wine instead. Then all go off to a cafe, save lludolphe, who stays behind to finish an article. He is interrupted at his task by the entrance of Mimi, wlioso candle has been blown out on tho stairs, and who comes for a light. The accidental meeting inflames the lovo the two have long held for ono another, and they ' become companions. Tho second act shows a glimpse of tho Paris pavements in their gayest mood, with all' tho characters at a cafe, and there also arrives Marcel's old sweetheart Musotte, who promptly gets rid of her aged suitor and joins the merry throng. In Act 3 it is shown that Mimi has contracted consumption, and. is daily growing worse, thore are potty quarrels, and the lovors quarrel and part. To Mimi comes starvation as well as disease, and it is to tho Bohemian's wretched garret that Musette brings Mimi to say goodbye, and though the poor fellows do all in theirn power to succour the girl, sho dies in Ruddlphe's arms. The music is a stream of gorgeous melody that nover ends from first to last, and the orchestration is richly embellished with theme and counter theme—really a complete work in itself. "Un Ballo in Machera" (The Ball in Masks). Tho plot of this famous opera is curiously enough laid in Boston, U.S.A., during the colonial _ period. Thero Riccardo, Earl of Warwick, and Governor of Boston, has fallen in love with Adelia, the wife of his Creole secretary. Dismayed at tho passion sho has created, Adelia seeks the aid of Ulrica, a fortune-teller, who bids hor gather a certain herb at midnight in a desolate spot. Iticcardo overhears tho instruction, and determines to follow her, though warned by Renato (his secretary) of a plot against his life. The gipsy has told the Governor that lie would be assassinated by the hand of tho first person that touches him, who proves to be Renato. Riccardo joins Adelia, and declares his love, but thoy are surprised by Renato, who warns his master of impending danger. Adelia, who is" closely veiled, is taken cliargo of by Renato, ~and when _ he meets, and is taunted by tho conspirators, Adelia discloses her identity. Lots aro drawn as to who will assassinate Riccardo, and it falls to Renato. The denouement happens at a masked ball, where Renato surprises Riccardo speaking to his wife (who has really come to warn him of his fate), and full of jealous rage he stabs tho Governor in the back, and even as ho falls he tells Renato that his wife is innocent, and hands him a commission to a higher post. "Faust." Tho story of "Faust" is almost too ;well-known to call for more than a sketchy outline. It is founded on Goetho's poem, was ■ composed by Gounod, and is to-day the most popular of all tho grand operas, its doep human appeal and glorious musio being in tho most" perfect relationship. Dr. Faust is a student, grown old iu the search of tho secret of eternal life. Glooming over his failures and tho tragedy of old age, ho is about t.o end it when an Easter carol -is heard, and Satan appears in tho guise of Mephistopheles, oifering him youth in return for his soul, showing hiim at tho samo timo a vision of Marguerite, for whom Faust's wholo soul craves. The dread compact is made, and Faust appears as a youth. He moots Marguerite in tho "kermesse" revels, whoro ho is urged by Mephistopheles to pursue tho girl, but sho rejects his advances. In hor garden he leaves a casket of jowels, and there sho refuses tho hand of Seibol, and yields to Faust's advances. In a streot scene Faust kills Valentine (Marguerite's brother), who has accused him of ruiniug his sistor, and who dies cursing her. _ Thero is a sccno whore Marguerite is in the church abandoned by her friends. Her , conscionco smites her, and she swoons. Later, sho is imprisoned for the murder of lier child, and there sho becomes sincerely peui-

teat. She dies, and her soul is borne to heaven, whilst Satan, claims tho soul of Faust. "RigolDtto." "Rigoletto" is one of the best operas written by Verdi, and there is never a season in Italy that does not find a. place for this popular dramatic opora. The story is founded upon Victor Hugo's "Le Roi s'Amuse, 11 and tho argument seems to be the reversion of the wickedness of the sinner on his own head. Rigoletto is the sensual Duke of Mantua's jester, and abettor in his excesses. Ho assists the Count to ruin tho wives of Count Ceprano and ilonterono. The latter utters a fearful malediction on tho jester, whioli fills him with foreboding. _ Rigoletto has a beautiful daughter, Gilda, and to savo her from the Count, he hides her, but the wily Duke wooes her as a student, and abducts her to tho palace, to the horror of the jester. Tho latter vows vengeance, and hires an assassin, Sparafucile, to kill him. Tho latter's sister lures tho Duke to a lonely inn. Meanwhile, Rigoletto lias persuaded his daughter to disguise herself as a cavalier with tho object of escaping from the palace, but before she flies he sends her to the door of the end to prove for herself tho Duke's faithlessness. Maddelena, the assassin's sister, now in love with the Duke, hegs for his life on condition that he may kill the first person to enter the inn, for the assassin (Sparafucile), has promised to bring the body of the Count to Rigoletto in a sack before claiming his roward. Gilda, overhearing the plot, and still infatuated' with the Duke, resolves to save his life by sacrificing her own. Sho knocks for admitting, an|d_ is promptly stabbed by Sparafucile. Rigoletto, coming for the body, discovers it to be his daughter, and falls senseless upon her. Thus is the HreafJ c*rse of Count Monterone borno out. A New Year Musical Attraction. A noted"Russian violinist, in the person of M. Solinsky, will shortly appear in tho Dominion. A recent notico in the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" says: "Ho has a conspicuous command of tonal. colour, volume, and purity of tone, and, for the most part, absolute neatness and precision of execution; in short, he is a resourceful performer and a notable artist." Solinsky will bo supported by John Amadio, an oxccllent flautist; Miss Elsy Treweek, a lino soprano, who has already established herself in popular favour in New Zealand, and Miss Jessie Massou, described as ono of Australia's leading pianists. Tho New Zealand tour Is.to commence at tho Town Hall on Boxing Night. Mr. John Hopkins will control the tour.