SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3040, 24 March 1881, Page 2

SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

LA TBAVIATA. A comparatively small audience issembled last night to hear this beautiful opera. It is to be regretted that Mr Simonsen did not see his way to produce the opera in its entirer>ess, or to announce his intention to curtail it. There was much left out that those who are acquainted with the opera might reasonably have expected to. hear. Nothing was heard of the Gipsies' and the Matador's choruses in the the third act, and several other portions, among the most beautiful in the opera, were omitted altogether. Mies Martina Simonsen was in splendid voice, and sang with great sweetness and expression. Her acting in the closing scene was most admirable. The scene is a trying one for the heroine, but it was performed without the slightest attempt at exaggeration. Signor Pallidini was in . good vaice but at times slightly fla*. His rendering of "Softly sweet with magic spell" wai singularly sweet and effective, and in the duet with Violetta, " Parigi o Cara," he sang with considerable power. The Germont of Signor Luisetti was a quiet careful piece of acting and vocalization. Signor Riccardi as Doctor Grenvil waa again relegated to a parf in which there was no scope for his abilities. Miss Carrie Godfrey played and sang well as Flora. To-night " Norma " is to be produced, and as the character of Norma is one in which Madame Simonsen displays all her great power, both as a vocalist and actress, and one for the acting of which she has received a large amount of praise from the press in every part of the colony, it may be expected that a large audience will greet her appearance in, Bellini's grand opera.