ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 73, 19 December 1919, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND OPERA SEASON. Tho opening production of the Wellington sciison of the Willinmsou Grand Opera Company will be Gounod's "jMiust." Ho opera, perhaps, is surrounded bj a greater wealth of story. Tho opera, when first produced, iouiul its way into nil tho prjncipnl theatres of the world. Only one great city rejected it. Home,. at .that time under tho Papal Government, could not permit tho representation of His Satanic .Majesty upon tho stage. But an imnressario in tho Eternal Oily was imxious to secure . the opera for his theatres and at tho siino tiniu to dofer to tho sensitiveness nf tho Papal authorities; ho wrote to Gounod to ask if ho could not alter slightly.tho character of Mcphistopheles so as to make him "per escmpio, nn medico" (for instance a physician). "There is a certain hidden bitterness in Gounod," writes Eugenio di Pirani, despite the popularity of '"Faust." Ho was obliged to witness ii total change in musical style; a change that had broken a pathway in a'direction that made his operatic creations appear antiquated. Gounod may have thought himself to bo present at Hs own burial. Wrongly 60, fays the writer referred to, for in epitc of the changes- of musical fashion, the tender inspirations of hie "Faust" will r.ever cease to rejoico music-lovers and (ill tl.em with rapturo. "THE MESSIAH." The booking at tho Bristol for the performance oY: Handel's masterpiece, '"the Messiah," is said to unsure the Choral Union a very largo audience at tte Tnvn Hall on Saturday evening. Tiiero are still good seats available in the si alls, and patrons are advised to visit ih'o ix-x office without delay. To a largo extent tho heavy 'booking is due.io the excellent cast of soloists that has been engaged. Miss Teresa M'Enroe, soprano, will be heard in this work for tlie'frst time, whilo Miss Mabelle L. Esquilant will appear for the first timo in Wellington in oratorio. The beautiful tenor solos and' recitatives will bo taken by Mr. Walter Whyte, tho eminent Australian tenir. A year ago Mr. Whyte sang in "The Messiah" for the two fjxlney societies, ami will also be remembered as singing for the Choral Union a few years Vfo with Madam Kirlriiy Limn m<l Mr. Andrew Black. The tmss solos « ; .ll be taken by Mr.'Frank C. Charles. The performance will be conducted by Mr. 11. Toil pie White, the society's musical director, and will be performed for tho first time for many years with a full orchestra. ' CAROL CONCERT. The choristers of St. Paul's ProCathedral will give their annual Christmas concert in tho Sydney Street room this evening, under tho direction of M , ; Robert Parker. They will have tho assistance of Miss Grar? Kennedy and a small orchestra of strings, and Mr, Eric Rishworth will contribute two solos to the programme.