THE OPERA.

Evening Star, Issue 3715, 19 January 1875, Page 2

THE OPERA.

The Princess Theatre was crowded in every part last night, when Flotow’s pretty opera of “Martha” was produced. Wo were glad to find Miss Alice May so far recovered as to be able to take her part in a piece in which she appeared to so much advantage, although her voice has scarcely recovered its former compass. Yet so skilfully did she manage the music that fell to her lot that the difficulty of using the higher register was scarcely perceptible. The leading characters in “ Martha” are few, and were well allotted. _ Miss May sustained the part of Lady Harriet, Miss Howe that of Nancy. Mr Hallam appeared as Lyonnel, Mr Templeton as Plunkett, and Mr Vernon as Sir Tristan. Miss May’s Lady Harriet, considered either as a dramatic or vocalistic effort, was a fine performance. Her conception of the character was good and well carried out. She does not disregard small matters in her representations, but introduces little appropriate fancies in good taste and naturally. The beautiful ballad “ The last rose of summer,” the love-song of the opera, was sung so charmingly that she was invited to repeat it, and obligingly did so. Miss Howe was placed at some disadvantage through not being gifted with a contralto voice, but she managed her part carefully and acted with spirit and the abandon incident to the character. Mr Hallam’s Lyonnel proved what he is capable of. both as an actor and singer. He was loudly and frequently applauded, and in the aria, “ Ah, how fair,” was recalled. Mr Templeton as Plunkett both sang and acted well, and Mr Vernon did full justice to the part of Sir Tristan Muckleford. The piece was admirably put ou the stage. Many who are going down “ the vale of life ” will readily recognise the humors of an English Statute Fair as it used to be, in the country dance and accompanying flirtations, the puppit show, brown bear in leather armor prepared for being baited, and the presiding mayor. The scenery is beautiful, albeit in one instance rather too Alpine for Richmond Hill; bub this is pardonable ou account of its sin en'or beauty. Many of the situations form splendid tableaux vivants. The only drawback was an occasional clashing of the chorus with the orchestra, the members of which, skilled musiciaaa as they are, found the task of humoring the ■formes - hcypjid their ability. This occasional defect will no d-Pubt be rectified before . this evening. Sparkling p,s are Offenbach’s burlesque dramas, however well performed, they never can take the place such charming operettas as “ Martha,” and we bruit, now that Christmas is passed, burlesque will he superseded by a succession of operas of a hfglwp class. “Martha” will be repeated this evening.