OPERA CONCERT.

Evening Star, Issue 4095, 11 April 1876, Page 2

OPERA CONCERT.

A concert was given in the Queen’s Theatre last evening by the members of the Simonsen Opera troupe, in aid of the Jewish this occasion ence of the season, the house being crowded m every part, owing to the object of the concert and the excellent programme that 7. U P- T ue overture, to “William Tell,” splendidly played by the orchestra, opened the concert successfully. Mr Barrington gave “ L’hermita,” and Madame Simonsen followed with Offenbach’s pretty air “ C’est I’Espagne.” This was so much appreciated that an encore was demanded, upon which Madame Simonsen gave “Cornin’ through the Rye,” with great naivete and expression. A violoncello solo on “ The Last Rose of Summer,” “7 Mr J• Thompson was very well received, and Mr Florence gained an encore for his rendering-of “Nina,” substituting “Alice, where art thou?” The sestette from Lucia di Lammermoor,” with full chorus, brought the first part of the programme to a close. The second portion consisted of the Stabat Mater,” which magnificent work was, on the whole, well rendered, the fine instrumental portion of it being well played by the orchestra. The beautiful tenor solo, Cujua animam,” was expressively sung by Signor Carmino Morley; the duet, “Qms est Homo ?” u ell rendered by Mdme. Simonsen and Miss Lambert; and “ Pro peccatio ” faithfully by Mr Richardson, though this gentlemans voijee was rather wanting m power. The third part of the entertainment was, perhaps,the most successful. Signor Morley created a perfect furorehy his fine delivery of Reichardt’s popular song “ Thou art so near, and, being encored, made a still S eater sensation by giving “The death of elson splendidly. M. Simonsen played two of his inimitable violin solos, which were, it is needless to say, loudly applauded. Miss Lambert received an encore for “By the sad sea waves,” and Mr Foster’s pianoforte solo “The dying poet” was muchappreciated. The whole performance conclu<“f, r Wl^ l the grand finale to the third act of Martha,” which was admirably performed. During the course of the entertainme£t * Simonsen thanked the Dunedin public for the patronage bestowed upon the troupe, and intimated that before returning “0 Victoria they would revisit Dunedin and perform eight or nine new operas.