THE OPERA.

Evening Star, Issue 3454, 18 March 1874, Page 2

THE OPERA.

The English Opera Company continues to draw good houses to the Princess Theatre, notwithstanding the learned conclusions in our two morning contemporaries. We attribute this popular condemnation of their suppressive dicta to the sound national appreciation of the adaptability of the English language to music; although it suits the snobbery of half-musical amateurs to profess to have their cars offended by its nasal terminations, forgetting the chirping and hissing of the chee—sesanclthe se—ses of the Italian, and the hardness of the kee—ses. Young ladies who, according'to the critic of tho ‘Daily Times,’are tolerated in their clumsy drawingroom efforts to give expression to Italian libretto, will do well to take example from Miss Alice May and otherleading artists, and to put down such ill-man-nered criticism by encouraginganationalschool of music pleasant to listen to because of its tendency to the diffusion of national thought, and pleasant to cultivate because of the healthy influence of national senti* nrent, participated in by all classes, exerts in the direction of the unification of society. We are not unmindful of the advantage of the Italian language in its adaptation to music, through its many open vowel terminations. Singers must open their mouths well to pronounce them. If, therefore, English songs are to be equMly effective, on account of the increased ainiculty greater care is necessary in reuaemig them, aud consequently greater credit is due to those who sing them well. On these consider the observations of the Daily limes critic out of place. He should confine himself to saying whether what he heard was well done; aud not parade his inkling of knowledge of other schools for the purpose of giving weight to ill-formed opinions regarding one he professes to despise. Our task of exprei sing our appreciation of last night’s performance of “ The Lily of Killarney ” is on the whole a pleasant one. The story is wellknown. It is the “Colleen Bawn” adapted to music : tne latter by Benedict. We cannot say we admire it as a musical composition. It is not flowing. There are few arias likely to become popular, and the choruses are complicated. There is a straining after effects that are not realised. Perhaps we ought to modify this opinion, so far as the composer is concerned, by stating that some of the members of the orchestra appeared to be so absorbed in reading their separate parts as to forget they were to accompany- —not to forestall the singers. Familiarity with the text will do much to rectify this ; for it inevitably leads to confusion if the band is sometimes half a bar before,' sometimes half a bar behind the voices ; aud this occurred more than once last evening. The cast was a good one. To Miss Alice May was alloted the part of - Eily. O’Connor. Miss Lambert appeared as Ann Chute, Mr Hallam as Hardress Cregan, Mr Vernon as Myles na Coppaleen, Mr Templeton as Danny Mann, and Mr Rain ford had to fulfil the duties of Father Tom and Corrigan. The other characters essential to the piece were sustained by Miss Howe, Miss Lester, Mr Lester, and : Mr Benham. Of the singing by the; leading characters there was but one opinion : it was good; aud seldom is better acting witnessed. The bacchanalian song imd quartette in the first act, “ The Cruiskcan Lawn,” was faultlessly rendered, and encored, and in the last act Miss May sang the ballad “ I’m alone ” with power and most touching patljos. This was, perhaps, her most finished effort, although throughout the piece she sang the solos incident to her part with charming appropriateness arid effect. Mr Templeton, in his first solo, “ The Moon has raised .her lamp above,” carried the house with him, nor did ho flag throughout the evening. His acting as Danny Mann was equally effective. The same remark applies to Mr Vernon, who thoroughly identified himself with his part, and sustained the character of Myles in its true spirit. The cavern scene created intense interest through the force which both Miss May and he threw into the situation, .Mr Haliam sang several of the songs exceedingly well, and Mr Rainford went through ills double duty With ability. When first we were privileged to witness opera, his Majesty used to dispense with scenery and effects as not necesssary where such artistic talent as then graced, the boards discoursed music so sweet in strains so ravishing. Accordingly the Italian Opera House often looked veiy dreary. A change has come over men’s mirids since then, and, wc think, much for the better. Appropriate scenery and dresses are considered indispensable. In this respect the manner in which the “ Lily of Killarney” was put on the stage is worthy of the highest praise. There were some beautiful tableaux vivants, among which we may mention par excellence the hunting breakfast and tho cavern scene. The latter was singularly beautiful in. its moonlight effect, which was well managed, and in the rescue of Eily by Myles. The picture of the latter clinging to the rock nearly exhausted, supporting the senseless.girl, scarcely saved from drowning,: Was an artistic study. The curtain fell before it, but had to be raised again, and Mr Willis, the scenic artist, received the well-deserved compliment of a call. To-night, the “Rose of Castile” is announced.