ENGLISH OPERA IN WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 3640, 22 October 1874, Page 3

ENGLISH OPERA IN WELLINGTON.

■Allens company appear to have been even’more successful on their return than on their visit to Wellington. “ Million prices ” and the production of some favorite operas such as ‘Martha,’ ‘ Faust,’ ‘Trovatore,’ an’ ‘ Der Freischutz,’ have contributed to that result. The season closed on Saturday ; aud for some nights previous the company had been taking a round of benefits. The principal of these was Mr Ballam’s, on Friday, the house being crowded to excess. On Friday. Miss May gave a performaa e for the benefit of the local fire brigade, when she presented brigade with a banner of blue ricH}y trimmed with scarlet;gnd gold, a w £csripg a suitable incriptipn. ‘Trovatore’ Mias May’s benefit, aud agam pn jijie closing night; but it proved rather .beftvy for, _ her, , She was fairly exhausted when tlje curtain fell, and, in atto sing the National Anthem,, in conclusion, nearly fainted. The compauy sailed on Monday for Wanganui, where they perform for tennighta ; then return- to Wellington to give two concerts one sacred th'other'operatic tod ballad; and proceed thenc© to Christchurch, where Mr Raphael, the.wtot, is how arranging for a season! Something like, an ovation was paid to Miss Jfaij J>3T the Wellingtoniana on Saturday P%ht, The occurrence being thus de-

scribed by the ‘New Zealand Times.’ At the close of the performance at the theatre on Saturday night, the numerous audience, instead of dispersing as usual, waited a hour to wiHus-h the torch-light pro-cfes-iou which was ; u • o-cedto take place a .\ a ‘d the * ■i ni and admiration whirl tho Central Volunteer Fire Brigade held for Miss Alice t the prima-donna. Hy halt-past 11 o’ct*,.. everything was in jeauuicsrs, and the crowd which lined each side of 'he street and blocked up the road was something immense, thousands beini* in wditmg to witness the affair. At the time mentioned, the memV-i-s ©f the brigade formed, carrying the Handsome and richlyworked banner wbu*h May had presente#! to them on the wi-casion of the benefit for their sick fund. ‘y.-artcd by the Artilierv Band, playing a Im ly air, the procession started at a quicH march up the street, with lighted tnrcii“N pickling Miss May m a carriage orawia oy a pair of greys, and driven by a member of the Brigade, with another on the ho? holding torches. A stream of foot passene- r* and numerous carai|d cabs accompanied the procession, and the street presented a most imposing and novel sight, which was c ’ led to in effect by the variea lights from the torches. As they proceeded, Mias May bowed hsr acknowledgments to the crowd, who continued to cheer loudly all tie way up the street. Opposite the E mpire Hotel another large crowd awaited the arrival, and the balconies and upper storey windows in the neighborhood were crowded, s Miss May descended fr m the carriage and bowed her thanks, thiee ringing cheers were given by the Br gade and hearily taken up by the crov.d, until the air rang again with the entnudastic ,shouting. The affair was a complete success. The compliment is one of which Miss May may indeed be proud.”