THE OPERA.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 577, 25 April 1876, Page 2

THE OPERA.

[By Semi-Quaver.]

Flotow’s charming opera of “Martha" was repeated last evening to a very moderate house. The opera went capitally throughout, the principals and chorus working well together. In the character of Martha Madame Simonsen goes in thorougly with a will to please her audience, both in her acting and singing, and last night she was in better voice than on the previous representation of the opera. The nwtif of the piece, “ The Last Rose of Summer," was sung splendidly by her ; being rendered with freedom and absence of ornamentation which made it a very pleasing performance. In the concerted music, esp?cially in the notturno which concludes the second act, madame’s fine voice showed to special advantage, and so also in the finale to the third act, '* Heaven may grant,” wbijh v aa very prettily sung. Miss Lambert played Nancy capitally, singing her music, and acting with much archness and piquancy. She was especially successful in that very comical duet, “ Well, what now?" and in the song “Huntress fair.”

As Lyonell, Signor Morley was very good, and I was glad to notice the appreciation which greeted his really splendid singing in the song “Ah how fair." Mr Barrington as Plunkett also was good, but he lacked expression in “ The porter song,” which wanted a little more life infused into it. Mr Hodgson made a good Sir Tristran, and the choruses throughout went well. The fair scene was exceedingly funny, and Messrs Leopold, Darbyshire, and Markham in their eccentric pas were very funny indeed. Altogether the optra was successfully given throughout.