THE OPERA.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 571, 18 April 1876, Page 3

THE OPERA.

[By Semi-Quaver.] The management, I think, did wisely in selecting Balfe’s favorite opera “ The Bohemian Girl ” for performance on Monday evening. The opera is a well-known one, the melodies are almost as familiar as household words, and it is one which the general public appreciate thoroughly. Generally speaking, with one or two exceptions, it went well, and to these I will refer presently. Madame Simonsen played and sang the music of Arline excellently throughout. Her acting was natural and unaffected, and her singing marked with that artistic excellence and finish which, as I have before remarked, is the characteristic of all her impersonations. She sang “I dreamt that I dwelt” excellently, without any affectation or sign of wishing to display, and the final cadenza was nicely and crisply taken by her. In the duet which follows, “ The wound upon thy arm,” sang with much force and expression, particularly in the later passages, and the florid music, which concludes it, with the intricate runs, was taken with decision and clearness. In the solo and chorus, “Come with the gipsey bride,” Madame’s clear notes came out in bold relief. The charming quartette, “From the valleys and hills,” went well, the burden of it, however, being on the soprano and contralto. In the trio, “Through the world,” Madame Simonsen sang with much success, and so also in the scene with the Count, where she confesses her love for Thaddeus. The trio, “Let not the heart,” and the concluding, aria “Oh, what full delight,” were also well taken. Altogether, I can congratulate Madame Simonsen upon having achieved a genuine success in the part. Miss Lambert had the uncongenial and unthankful part of the Gipsey Queen, which did not afford her any opportunity of displaying her voice at all. She did the best that was possible with it, singing and acting with spirit, but it, as I said, is hot a part which gives a lady any opportunity of making a hit. The opera introduced a now candidate for popular favour in the person of Mr C. Florence, who made a success in the part of Thaddeus. He sung, “ When other lips” capitally, so well as to cause the audience to re-demand it, and he sang the second verse. When Mr Florence gets over the nervousness, which is inseparable from early appearances on the stage, he will be a decided acquisition to any company. He has a clear sweet voice, well under command, and with great melody in it, I shall be glad to hear more of Mr Florence, who, I believe, makes a very good Don Cassar de Bazan in “ Maritana.” Mr Hodgson as Count Arnheim appeared terribly overweighted, and though doing his best I cannot say was a success. With the memory of Mr Rainford, and later Mr Templeton’s excellent rendering of “ The heart bowed down,” Mr Hodgson cannot wonder at the coldness with which the song was r'ecervefi’ ikvff evening; Plorenstien in the hands of Mr StefS? each also was not a good performance .meither as regards the singing aor tn 6 acting. Mr Levison as Devilshoof was capital. He sang the little music he has, mostly difficult, well, and his acting was excellent. The choruses were fairly taken, though there was a want of spirit and alacrity in taking up the time during the opera. The Leopold Family, including Fraulein Fannie, Miss Leopold, Mr and Master Leopold, and the other ladies of the corps de ballet, danced very nicely. The performance concluded with a ballet, in which the artistes above mentioned appeared, and was a very great treat ; the dancing of Fraulein Fannie, Miss Leopold, and the others being graceful in the extreme. I hope the management will give us more of them during the season.