THE OPERA.

Evening Star, Issue 3718, 22 January 1875, Page 2

THE OPERA.

Martha” was repeated last night to a numerous audience, the forbidding state of the weather cenkifleVed, The opera went with the . utmost smpothiiess from beginning to end, and the several performers appeared to even greater advantage than before. Miss May’s rendering of the “ Last Rose of Summer” 'was simply perfection, and nothing but its repetiticn would satisfy her listeners.

“Maritana” will be played to-night. It is one of Wallace’s best operas, and, although it lias been several times played in Dunedin, a slight outline of the plot may so far assist memory as to leave the mind fully at liberty to enjoy the music. The leading characters are—a sensual king, an unscrupulous prime minister (Don Jose), in love with the queen ; a generous, brave, impoverished nobleman (Don Caesar de Razan) ; Maritana, who first appears as a gipsy fortune-teller; and Lazarillo, o boy. The Prime Minister ’like aR in that capacity of. old, seeks to attain his ends by chicanery. The King, during Holy week, has the death by hanging of any who engage in duel?, fy, disregard of this, Don Caesar, in defence of Lazarillo, has killed the boy’s employer, and, through the manoeuvresof Don Jose, has engaged i to marry an unknown bride, on condition that he is to be shot for his breach of the law instead of being hanged. This bride is Maritana, with whom the kin? has fallen in love. Don Jose knows well that the king has pardoned Don Caisar, but suppresses the communication of the pardon to the officer of the company entrusted with the execution. The latter is, 1 however, saved from death by the skilful withdrawal of the soldiers’ bullets from their rifles. Having previously married Maritana through' Don' Josefs arrangements, the yijjain finds she "is his' own piece, As the marriage was incog, the King plaims Maritana as bit bride, and one ,bf the best and most amusing scenes in the piece is where the King and Don Caisar meet. The/ change characters, the King claiming to bo Don in ignorance of his opponent’s person, and Don Cmaar wittily and impudently claiming to be King. The denouement, as may be expected, sets everyone in his right place. The music is most popular, and the variety of incident gives room for dramatic and stfenic display* Wfl anticipate a full house.