THE OPERA.

Evening Star, Issue 3722, 27 January 1875, Page 2

THE OPERA.

M mfeana ” was repeated at the Princess Theatre last evening, and was performed with great success before a good attendance. Miss Alice May and Mr Hallam, who took the principal parts, were both in splendid voice, and the latter s character-that of Don Caesar de Bazan suits him admirably. His delineation of the reckless, careless Don was very natural, and the martial air, “ Let me like a soldier fall,” was given by him with great fire and spirit. Bliss May shone more especially in the solo “Scenes that are brightest,” and the long but sweet and pathetic duet between Maritana and Lazarillo (Miss Howe). Bliss Howe received a hearty encore in ‘ Alas, those chimes,” which was well' deserved, Mr Templeton was scarcely at home m the part of Don Jose, the music not suiting his voice. To this perhaps we may attribute the lack of energy which characterised his delivery of the fine air “ Now, my courage,” Mr Levison made a tolerable king, and the other characters were well represented. To-night Weber’s opera “Der Frieschutz” will be given for the first time in Dunedin. Lew of our younger population are aware of the sensation this opera created in the musical circles of Europe fifty years ago, for it is now just turned half a century since it was first piayed m London. The composer, Weber, was hardly known in England prior to that time, and was farst introduced to notice in England by Sir George Smart, although his brilliant career as an artist was nearly closed; for he died a few years afterwards after finishing “ra 6 v” a ?', on ,? . 01 ’ two favorite operas. ■ J n . eschutz 18 f° ui *ded upon one of those weird legions of the Hartz Blountains that are preserved among peasants living in romantic districts subject to occasional remarkable atmospheric phenomena, which their superstition attributes to supernatural agencies. The leading characters are not very numerous, and may be said to be Max and Caspar, two wood rangers, to the former of whom Agatha is on the eve of marriage ; a circumstance that excites the jealousy of the other, and leads him V “ ea 9ures which he intends shall cause the death of Agatha and the present and eternal destruction of Max. To accomplish this end he leads Max to enter into a compact with Zamiel to supply him with charmed bullets, six of which shall do the work intended by the possessor, but the seventh is at the command of the demon Zamiel, who. by the way, has a claim upon Caspar, whose term of life is about completed, and who, m addition to the revenge he purposes, presents Max as his substitute, and thus a further respite of three years. This slight story of love, jealousy, and revenge is finely worked out, and affords opportunities foi artistic situations, dramatic, musical, and scenic, that, combined, produce very fine effects. The story ends in the discomfiture of Caspar and the final happiness of his intended victims. Ihe other characters incidental tc the piece are Agatha s sister Anne, a sharp-witted bridesmaid, Kilian, Kuno, the Hermit, and Zamiel. The caste for this evening is a good one, the characters being so allotted as to suit the peculiar talents of the different artists. Miss Alice May will appear as Agatha, and Mr Hallam and Mr Templeton as Max and Caspar. That Messrs Willis, Huntley, and Briggs have charge of the scenic and mechanical arrangements, is sufficient guarantee that they will be appropriate; and we know of no opera in which they are required to give the appearance of truthfulness to a story more than “Der Freischutz.” The reports of the manner in which it has been given by the company in other parts of the Colony leads, we think, to a well-founded expectation that to-night s performance will be a great treat 10-inorrow evening a late special train will leave town immediately after the close of the opera for the convenience of residents at the Jl orfc*