SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3034, 17 March 1881, Page 3

SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

LA DAME BtiANCHEi

The performance last evening at the Theatre Royal was one ol more than ordinary iuterest to the music-loving portion of the community, inasmuch as it introduced to a Napier audience a work of considerable merit, which, to the large majority, is qmte new. Boieldieu's " Dame Blanche " has for many years enjoyed a wide-spread popularity in France and Germany, and why it should have been so persistently ignored by colonial operatic managers we are at a loss to explain. The plot of "The White Lady of Avenel," as it is called in Mr iMmonsen's version, is drawn from oue of Sir Walter Scott's romances, and is of sustained interest. The score abounds in charming melody, fine choral writing, and brilliant orchestration, to all of which a very creditable measure cf justice was rendered last night. Madame Simonsen as Anna, in a part unsuited to the display of her undoubtedly exceptional ability, was admirable throughout the opera, and to her its success must in no small degree be attributed. Special mention should be made of her singing of the ballad " My love is like a red, red rose " interpolated at the opening of the third act, rendered with consummate art and rapturously applauded. Miss Martina, Simonsen as jenny gave a piquant and graceful interpretation of the character, and sang with skill and judgment. Her ballad with chorus "From here behold the castle yonder " was one of the gems of the eveniug, and was given with much delicacy of color. Signor Biancbi as George Brown manifested a somewhat exaggerated appreciation of the comic element of his r6le, and would probably have achieved a greater 'measure of success had he been less demonstrative in action and gesticulation. His singing l throughout the opera was careful and correct. Mr St. Clair gave an efficient rendering of the oart of Gaveston, acting with intelligence and singing with vigour. Mr Cram in Dickson found a part well suited to his means, and sustained it with much credit: his share of the dialogue, given in excellent broad Scottish, being a feature in the performance. Miss Fanny Simonsen, in the small part of Margaret, deserved commendation, and Mr Wentworth as the Provost did what little be had to do well. The choruses were all exceedingly well sung, and evinced equally careful rehearsal and training, much credit being due to the chorusmaster, Mr Delaney, therefor. The orchestra, under the able direction of Mr Martin Simonsen, was all that could be desired. The work as a whole was most carefully mounted, the sceneiy being excellent, and the set of the last act, representing the banquet-hall of Avenel Castle, eliciting a round of applause. The dresses were picturesque and appropriate, except that of Signor Biancbi, who, as an officer of the English army in the middle ot the eighteenth century, might have dispensed with boots of the period of Charles the First, and a long white cloak of a still more remote epoch,