A REMARKABLE OPERA TROUPE.

Evening Star, Issue 3499, 11 May 1874, Page 3

A REMARKABLE OPERA TROUPE.

The following is from the ‘Swiss Times’ An extraordinary public entertainment has n^ n Jf? dU .° e • I Lima > Peru > by an Italian named Contanni, who proposes to bring his exWrW Eu i-° pe ‘ He bas taught and trained, oy dint of patience and perseverance, an opera company; made up of thirty parrots''and parroquets, who perform two of Bellini’s operas, Isorraa, and Sonnambula,” on a miniaTil? iv ag f’ WI B ful l dhorus a,nd recitative, inc director and manager accompanies the artists on a piano-harmonium, and the perfection with which each bird sings his part and the excellence of the chorus are 4 prodigious. Ihe debut of his lyrico-ornitholo-pcal company m “Norma” was attended by the wealth and fashion of Lima. When the parroquet that sang the contralto had finished the allegro to the “Salutation tq the Moon ” such was the enthusiasm, the shouting, and the applause at hearing a bird sing the “Casta '• i on 'P an y> affrighted, took and sought refuge among the side scenes. 1 his interrupted the performance for fully a quarter of an hour, and Signor Contarini had to tranquihze the artists” by giving them bread soaked in wine. Thenceforth the expressions of approbation were moderated, in order not to spoil the play. It appears that the bird artists have now become accnstomed to the applause. The correctness and piopnety with whiph give certain, parts of the opera are wonderful. The 'primo tenoro possesses all the airs ami graces of the school of Mario, and tlie lathes of Lima have named the pnma donna Patti, e