THE OPERA.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 135, 5 November 1874, Page 2

THE OPERA.

“MARI I'ANA.’’ Last night Mr Allen’s company repeated “ Maritana,” which was given, by the way, a goodly number of times during the last visit of the company. 'The production of this opera, under a slight alteration of the cast by the substitution of Mr Templeton for Mr Rainford as Don Jose, Mr Levison taking the part of the King, was a great success, going smoothly from first to last. Miss May played Maritana, as indeed she does all her parts, excellently, her rendering of “ Beenes that are brightest” more particularly striking me as being thoroughly artistic. In the duet with Hon Caesar and the orison duet with Lrtzarillo she was also exceedingly good. Miss Lambert, as Lazarillo, seemed to be more at home in the music than in the part she played in Satanella.” All through the part she was good, more especially in “ Turn on old time,” and “ Alas those chimes,” which she gave very sweetly and with much expression. Mr Hallatn sang the music of Don Caesar carefully, and well throughout. In “There is a flower that blooraeth” by the use of a judicious crescendo he got over the harshness which used to mark his rendering of this song last season. In the concerted piece “ See the culprit” his voice was heard to advantage, and he gave with becoming dignity, the stanza commencing “Know, sir,” in which he announces his name and title. In the second act Mi Hallam sang his part in the trio, “ (), turn on, old Time,” very effectively, and the whole of the voices blended well. I liked Mr Hallam’s rendering of “Let me like a soldier ;” there was quite sufficient power in it, and it was sweetly sung. The gem of his part, however, was to my mind the duet “I’m thy husband," which deserved the applause accorded to it. Mr Templeton as Don Jose surprised me by the ease with which he sang through the part. His rendering of the music throughout left nothing to be desired, but in the martial aria “Go with courage” he hardly put life enough into it. Indeed, this is the one fault I have to find with Mr Templeton’s singing; it is most pleasing and correct, but there is a want of fire in it at times, a sort of laissez fairc disposition which detracts somewhat from the undoubted success of Mr Templeton's singing and acting. I admired his Don Jose last night with this one exception, which, if altered, will, I feel sure, make him even more generally a favorite than he now is. Mr Levison deserves every credit for his rendering of the music of the King, and for his appropriate and handsome make up for tlie part. He sang the only two solos worth anything in the part, viz., “ Hear me gentle Maritana,” and “ The mariner in his barque,” capitally. His voice is a full rich one, with good power and expression, particularly in the middle register, and he acts weil, which is a great thing. I hope to see Mr Levison more prominent than was the case last season.

The small part of the Marquis was filled by Mr Vernon with his accustomed dry humor. The other characters were all very well sustained.

The choruses went fairly. There was a little indecision at the end of the first act owing to the chorus having got almost out of hearing of the orchestra, but this was more than atoned for by the way they sang “What mystery.” The tarantella in the first act was nicely given by the Misses Lester and Johns, but the stage is almost too small to allow of fancy dances being seen to advantage.

The orchestra played the overture and throughout the opera excellently, but there is a hiatus owing to the absence of the clarionet, which I hope Mr Allen will see his way to fill up. At present the flute is not sufficient to soften the string portion of the orchestra, and in many solos the clarionet is also indispensable. While on the subject of the orchestra, let me pay a tribute of praise to Mous. Fleury s excellent violin solo introduction to “ The mariner in his barque,” which was nicely given. To night Flotow’s opera of “ Martha ” will be produced ; and in addition to the music of the opera itself, Miss Alice May will sing “ Robin Adair,” a treat which it would be worth while going a long way to hear, I hope the house will be filled on this occasion as the opera is one well worthy of patronage. SEMIBREVE.