SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3035, 18 March 1881, Page 2

SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

MARTHA. At the Theatre Royal last night the Simonsen Company produced Flotow's opera " Martha " to a good house. The plot and music of " Martha " are so well known to lovers of opera that they require no notice here. Previous to the commencement of the opera it was stated that, although Miss Godfrey was still indisposed, she would fill the part set down for her, and the audience were requested to be indulgent under the circumstances. The character of Martha is well adapted to Madame Simonsen's powers of both acting 'and vocalization. There was a sparkle and a zest throughout the performance of last night which must have given the audience some idea of the versatile powers possessed by this admirable vocalist. Throughout the opera she sang with a grace and delicacy offiaish which were most enjoyable, and which frequently provoked loud applause from the audience. The duet "Of the Knights so brave and charming" was admirably rendered by Madame Simonsen and Miss Godfrey, the latter showing little trace of tbe indisposition from which she was suffering, and singing in a way to confirm the pleasant impression made by her singing in "Maratana." In singing " The Last Rose of Summer," of course, Madame brought down the house, and a fuller and sweeter rendering we have never listened to. Signor Bianchi filled the role of Lvonel with care and correctness, singing remarkably well in the duet " From the time of earliest childhood," and again in the duet with Madame immediately following " The Last Rose of Summer." Signor Bianchi has done much to remove a °somewhat unfavourable impression created on the first night's performance by the company. His acting is always good, and his voice, when not overstrained, is sweet and effective. Mr St. Clair's ".Plumkitt" was a remarkably careful performance. All tbe other parts were well filled, and the choruses were, as usual, admirably done.

To-ni„ht Maillart's romantic opera "The Hermit's Bell" will be given. "Les Dragons de Villars," translated into English by M. Baildon under the title of " The Hermit's Bell," like most French operas, is light and sparkling, and affords numerous opportunities for tbe display of great versatility of acting. The story is simple. The soldiers, pursuing the Calvinists, enter the farm of Tbibaut where the fugitives are hiding. Thibaut deceives the quarter-master of dragoons, Bellamy (who has expressed his determination to take up his quarters in Thibaut's bouse) in the hope of ridding the place of the soldiers. Bellamy, however, discovers Georgette, Thibaut's wife, and takes her clandestinely to the Grotto of St. Gratien, where it is supposed a hermit once lived, whose effigy now rings his bell upon the approach of two persons of opposite sex, who may be unaccompanied by a third person. Rose Moineau, a frequent visitor to the Hermitage, observes the two approaching, and proceeds to the belfry to watch them. Just as Bellamy is about to snatch a kiss from Georgette, Rose rings the bell and supports the legend, much to the dismay of the guilty pair. As the soldiers show no sign of departure, and the pages are guarded, Rose undertakes to conduct the fugitives over the rocky pass to the frontier by a dangerous path, known only to herself, and thus they escape from their pursuers.