THE OPERA.

Evening Star, Issue 3465, 31 March 1874, Page 2

THE OPERA.

Balfe’a opera “The Bohemian Girl” attracted a large audience to the Opera last evening, which probably would have been even more numerous had, the weather been more favorable. We need hardly say a word about the plot, which we dare say most of our readers know is founded upon an incident, real or supposed,(in the history of Austrian Poland’s troubles. The hero is ' a fugitive Polish officer, who, to escape capture, joins a tribe of gipsies; the heroine, the daughter of an Austrian Count, stolen when a child by one of the tribe, and nurtured and brought up by them. Watched over by the exile, they become attached to each other, and excite the jealousy of the Gipsy Queen, who, contriving to have her charged with theft, becomes the unconscious means of rebtoring her to her father, through his being required to sib as magistrate in the case. On the whole, the music is very pleasing, although th»;re are one or two very popular m-lodies that require very good singing to render them effective. There was no reason last night to condemn them on that account. The oast was a good ono. The. representation of the Bohemian girl, Arlino, was remitted to Miss Alice May, and could not have been in better hands, ahe went through her parts throughout, both as actress and songstress, in a manner that delighted every one. Lven that most crotchety ditty, “I dreamt that I dwelt in Marble Halls,’’. .was so managed as t® become very sweet music. Mr Hallam was Thaddeus, and we should think could not have failed to have disarmed “ Histriomastix” of his flagellator. His singing was good, and his acting spirited and pertinent. Miss Lambert, as the Gipsy Queen, was overtasked, specially in some of the recit *tives, which were above the compass of her V'dce, when such notes have to be re-, peated throughout many bars. In spite of this disadvantage she wt-nt through her part very pleasingly. Mr Rainford as the

Count, and Mr Templeton as Devilshoof, left nothing to be desired in the way of singing, and Florenstein, as represented by Mr Vernon, was, as is his wont, exceedingly amusing. These are the leading characters, and of course oa.ll for special comment, but we should in justice observe that they were well supported by those whose parts were equally necessary though less prominent, excepting on some occasions,when the chorus were somewhat at fault. The piece was well put on the stage, and the .arrangements as well carried out. Miss May aud’Mr Hallam were each twice encored, although through some mischance on one occasion, Mr Hallam was unable to, comply with the call, and at the close of each act the curtain had to b,e again raised. The orchestra went through their work very brilliantly. The overture was admirably played, and elicited a hearty burst of applause; a beautiful solo on; the clarionet had to be repeated ; and a violin passage by M. Fleury was performed so sweetly as to secure marked approbation. This‘evening, by request, the “ Lily of Killarney” will be played ; and to morrow evening. Offenbach’s “Barba Bleu” will be given for the first time in Dunedin. The music is light and sparkling, and is considered by many to be Offenhaoh’s best effort.