THE OPERA.
B.ollim’s masterpiece in its English dressing, is barely recognisable. We just know it by the music that falls tq the lot of Amina, which, in Miss May’s hands, is done Justice to. Indeed, when nor short acquaintance \vith the lyric stage is considered, it must bo acknowledged that her performance is a most creditable one, and one which, whether from a musical or dramatic point of view will compare very favorably with the representations of other artists who have been heard hero in the same role. From the opening cavatina “Oh, love I? r power” (Come per me serreno) to the brillsant finale “ Do not mingle” (Ah non gpmge) she displayed such correct and fluent
vocalisation as both to charm and surprise her hearers. Equally, marked was her acting by its naturalness. Added to a call before the curtain at the eud of * each act, Miss May received a deserved round of applause for her rendering of “Oh, I cannot give expression.” The only fault we could find with her' performance as a whole was that stye poijld have had heart to rob the finale of half its charms, when, as we think, she could have well given it ip its entirety. Of the other characters we cannot say so much, nor speak of them with equal pleasure. They are all overweighted. Mr Hallam is conscientious aud faultlessly correct, and is to be commended for the endeavors he made to carry lus part through. He exerted himself a little in 1 .Still so Gently,” and was rewarded tor his pains, but unwittingly fell into the error of supposing that the continued applause was intended for him, and appearing a second time to bow his acknowledgments. The compliment was meant, in the second instance, for Mr Wil-
hs, who produced a very effective scene m the third act. Miss Lambert introduced an air in the second act, which she sang well, but was woefully deficient in the text, which she once muddled so badly as to throw the whole scene into inextricable confusion, Mr Riinford, as the Count, sang “ As I view these Scenes Bo Charming ’ very fairly. A word of praise is due to Miss Hpwu, wficrwas ex9eUent as Dame and showed how, by careful ftctitfg and confect
singing, even a very minor part can be brought into prominence. To-night, Benedict’s “Lily of Killarney” will be-produced. The plot so closely resembles that of the drama, as to render a description of it quite unnecessary.
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Evening Star, Issue 3453, 17 March 1874, Page 2
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416THE OPERA. Evening Star, Issue 3453, 17 March 1874, Page 2
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