THE OPERA.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 574, 21 April 1876, Page 2

THE OPERA.

[By Semi-Quaver.] The success of the Simonsen Company as artistes was assured last evening by the admirable manner iu which Verdi's opera of "II Trovatore" was presented. To produce this successfully, and in the excellent way in which it was done, shows that the company have both force and musical talent. I do not remember ever having seen a Christchurch audience more enthusiastic than they were last night both towards the Leonora and Manrico of the evening ; and deservedly so, for we have not had such singing here before.

Madame Simonsen as Leonora was grand in the extreme. Her Binging and acting waE alike excellent, and she gave a life like representation of the hapless maiden wbose love was so ill starred. Her singing of the difficult and florid music of the aria "Di tale amor," stamped her as a musician and lyric actress of high order. I look upon Madame Simonsen's Leonora as worthy to rank with„her Lucia, which is saying a great deal.

As Agucena Miss Lambert labored under the double disadvantage of having an unthankful part, aud one in which the orchestra is against her all through. Despite this, however, she sang and acted well, though, of course, unable at times to cope thoroughly with the heavy music of the part. She sang " Stride la vampa" well, and her acting of the part entitles her to praise. Miss Fisher was the Inez, and did well, though there is an appearance of restraint as if from nervousness, which prevents her making the best display of her really good voice. Of Signor Morley's Manrico it is impossible to speak too highly. From first to last it was a grand performance, and to hear him sing "Ah si ben mio" was a rich musical treat; evoking as it did a perfect ovation. His rendering of "Ah che la morte" too was perfect. Signor Morley last night achieved an undoubted and signal triumph, and I congratulate him upon having proved, our Dunedin friends to the contrary notwithstanding, that he is a thorough artiste. Mr Richardson as the Count di Luua lacked fire and energy. There was an absence of the fierce spirit of reveuge which actuates the haughty Italian noble and I cannot say (though he sung it with perfect correctness, and in the original key) that I liked his " II Balen." A word of praise is justly due to Mr Levison for his really capital rendering of the arduous part of Ferrando. He both sang and acted weH. The choruses were excellent throughout, especially the double cuorus for male and female voices. The orchestra as usual were most efficient, and tbe opera was magnificently mounted iu the way of dresses.