THE OPERA.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 569, 15 April 1876, Page 2

THE OPERA.

[By Semi-Quavbb.l The production on Thursday evening of Flotow's charming and sparkling opera of " Martha " gave Madame Simonsen an opportunity, of which she availed herself to (h)full, of displaying her versitaltty. Her rendering of the character of Lady Harriett proved conclusively that in comedy as well as tiagedy she was equally the finished musician and excellent actress. The opera also served to reintroduce to us an old favorite in the person of Miss B. A. Lambert, who I am glad to welcome again, and also to congratulate her upon the marked improvement noticeable both in her voice and acting since I last saw her. She, with Madame Simonsen, entered fully into the fun and liveliness which make " Martha " so popular and her impersonation of the mischief-loving teasing Nancy, was most enjoyable throughout from the archness and piquancy with which Miss Lambert invested it,

Before proceeding to speak in detail of the Yarious items, let me give a word of praise to the excellent orchestra, under M. Simonsen's baton, for the admirable manner in which they played the whole of the music of the opera. There is just one little defect, and that probably arises from playing in larger theatres than ours, viz, they are sometimes too loud for the vocalists to be heard. The accompaniment to Madame Simonsen's beautiful song, " The Last /lose of Summer," deserves special mention for its delicacy and sympathy throughout. The voice was supported, or rather aided, not drowned, and the result was a complete success. Of Madame Simonsen's rendering of Lady Harriet it is impossible to speak too highly. Jrom first to last she entered right heartily into the spirit of the opera, throwing into her acting and singing such an amount of Bpirit and arch fun as to make it contagious, and spread throughout the audience, who I may say in all parts of the house seemed most thoroughly to enjoy themselves. Take, for instance, the sceue with Sir Tristan, where the two laughter-loving ladies seek to instruct him in the dance ; could anything be more comical than the expression of Madame Simonsen's countenance at the grotesque capers of the antiquated courtier, and so through all the lighter parts of the opera Madame Siraonsen played with a vivacity and abandon which aided in a great degree to make " Martha " what it undoubtedly was, a complete success The duet in the first act " Of the Knights " went capitally and in the quartette which precedes the finale to the first act, Madame sang well. Of course the air of the opera, so far as Lady Harriett is concerned, is " The last rose of summer," and to hear Madame Simonsen sing that alone was a great treat. Without the slightest attempt at ornamentation, Madame sang the simple melody with such pathos and delicacy as I have not heard equalled, in fact so much so that I believe the audience were too much affected to render Madame the ovation she so richly deserved. I notice at the close of the song Madame has introduced a short second part for the tenor, which has a very pretty effect. In the quartette at the close of the second act, "Good night to thee," Madame's clear ringing notes were heard to great advantage; it was very nicely sang indeed, and deserved the warm recognition it received. In the opening of the fourth act also, Madame sang a charming little air very artistically, and I may say the same of her rendering of " I can abandon." Altogether Madame Bimonsen's rendering of the charaoter of Lady Harriet was such a charming one, that I know I am only speaking the wish of all those present on Thursday evening, when I express pleasure that " Martha" will be repeated again this evening. In the character of NaDcy, Miss Lambert ably assisted Madame Simonsen in making the opera a success. She was full of life and esprit, and she sang the music allotted to her excellently throughout. In the opening duet she sang very nicely; her voice since she was last here has wonderfully improved, being now rich and full, thelower notes especially so. In her acting too she has made great advancemont, and I can congratulate her upon having most successfully renewed her acquaintance with a Christchurch audience. In the concerted pieces in which she took part, she sang well, and she was very good in the solo " Huntress fair," although the music does not afford her much scope. In that most comical of duets with Plunkett " Well, what now," Miss Lambert was irresistibly comic, and she sang the music capitally. Signor Morley's Lyonel confirmed the good opinion of his voice which I had formed after hearing his Edgardo. The opening piece of the part, the duet " From the time of earliest childhood," was sung with much sweetness and taste. In the quartette with Lady Harriett and Nancy, in the fair, Signor Morley showed that he is an actor of no ordinary merit, as well as a singer. In the well known spinning wheel quartette also bis voice was heard to great advantage, and he was very good in the duet which precedes 11 The Last rose of summer." The notturno, •• Good night to the dearest," was splendidly rendered, the tenor part especially so. Signor Morley, however, made his great success in the lovely song, "Ah, how fair," which he sarg with such taste, pathos, and execution, as to elicit a perfect burst of applause and a well deserved encore, which was responded to. In the concerted piece at the end or the third act, " Heaven may grant," Signor Morley sang capitally, and indeed all through the opera, both in solos and concerted pieces, he acquitted himself admirably. Mr Barrington deserves very great credit indeed for his really excellent rendering of the part of Plunkett. He has a very fine baratone voice of great compass and depth, added to which he is a careful and painstaking actor, and when he has had a little more experience of stage business will, I predict, take a high position in his profession. He sang " The Porter Song," which opens the third act capitally, and in the concerted music he was also good. Mr Hodgson made a capital Sir Tristran Mickleford, though I think if he were a trifle more formal and stately it would be an improvement. The fair scene was capitally arranged, and the fun, under the able management of Messrs Derbyshire, Leopold, and MaTkham, grew fast and furious, Master Leopold being very good as the monkey. The chornssea went well throughout, especially the hunting one for ladies' voices; and in the concerted piece finishing the third act the voices went well together. Due notice will be given of the production Of the next opera.