SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3038, 22 March 1881, Page 2

SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

LUCREZIA BOHGIA,

The performance of Donizetta'e £reat opera drew one of the largest houses the Simonsen's have had since their arrival in Napier, and those present were amply repaid. A. more thorough and spirited rendering of the opera has never been given in Napier. Madame Simonsen in the title role was simply all that .we would expect Madame Simonsen to "be. The character, arduous as it is in performance, was represented with subtle ease and grace in the pathetic parts which attracted sympathy almost against the will, and a passionate power of expression in the tragic portions which we have never seen surpassed. In the scene at the close of the first act, where the Borgia receives the taunts of Orsini and others for crimes from which they have suffered, Madame Simonsen exhibits a power of rapid transition from humility to defiance, and a power of expressing both, that gave the audience some idea of the versatility of the artist. In the interview with Don Alphonso when, after pleading for the life of her son, she exclaims "Learn thou has with ' the Borgia * to deal," the intense power to display passion waa shown in a marked degree. Of Madame Simonsen's vocalization we need Bay nothing; it tias been displayed night after night in constant change of character, and ha? always evidenced the finish of the true artist. Miss Lenora Simonsen as Maffeo Oreini was admirable ia every reepect, and her singing only made us regret that we have heard her so seldom during the present season. The Don Alphonso of Signor Riccardi was what might have been expected from co careful and thorough an actor. We have seen nothiug finer than the acting of Signor Riccardi in the scene where Don Alphonso compels "the Borgia" to administer poison to her son. His singing of" Too slight the cause " was magnificent, and received a thorough recog-

hitiOn from the audience.. Senior l?a!a-------dini'a representation of the character of Genaro showed clearly what the performances of last week lacked. His singing in the scene where he tells the mournful story of his life wa3 admirable, and there was a quiet dignity about his acting which at once placed him on a favorable understanding with his audience. The other characters were all well sustained, and the chorus did their work efficiently. To-night the company will produce Verdi's opera "II Trovatore," and as they are to be strengthened by the appearance of Signor Liusetti an enjoyable representation of one of the most popular of operas may be expected.