SIMONSEN’S OPERA COMPANY.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 728, 19 October 1876, Page 2

SIMONSEN’S OPERA COMPANY.

Auber’s opera, “ Masaniello,” was produced last evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall most successfully as regards the performance, but we were sorry to see so few present. Madame Simonseu’s Elvira was a really excellent impersonation throughout. Her singing of her opening recitative and aria, “ When the sigh suppressed,” was very artistic, the difficult music of the piece being finely rendered. So also in the long recitative with Fenella, Madame sang the music with muen success. The finale to the second act with Alpbonso was also well given, and the concluding aria, “ Where now are the bright visions.” The gem of her music however was the cavatina in the fourth act, “ Our woes, our fears,” which was sung with great pathos and feeling. In the fine quartette in the same act Madame Simonseu’s voice was heard to great advantage. Miss Lambert played the difficult part of Fenella well. It is a very hard part to interpret, inasmuch as it all being by signs, the artiste has to convey clearly by gesture to the audience what, under other circumstances she would sing. She was especially good in the scene with Masaniello, where she relates to him the story of her wrongs. Signor Morley, in the part of Mas anielio, has added another to the list of his artistic impersonations. Both in singing and acting last evening, he was excellent. He sang the celebrated barcarole “ Behold how brightly” capitally, the music being rendered with spirit and effect. In the charming aria “ My sister dear,” he sang splendidly, the brilliant finale being taken with much decision and sweetness. He was encored, and responded with the last verse. He was aiuo very good in the concerted piece at the claae of the second act, a id the finale to the third. In the fourth act he sang with great effect the cavatina “ Sweet sleep,” and the stirring recitative preceding it. The finale to the opera, in which parts of the melodies sung in the earlier acts occur, was also well rendered. Mr Hodgson sang the pait of Pietro well, particularly the baracole “Behold far o’er the troubled tide,” which was capitally sung, Mr i'teinbaoh, in the part of Alpbonso, was very good indeed, especially the opening cavatina, “ Oh thou whose heart is breaking.” He sang remarkably well in the quintette and other pieces of concerted music. The chorus deserves special mention for the admirable manner in which they rendered the music allotted to them. They were exceedingly good in the market choius, which was sung with great tire and precision, aud the prayer “ Hear, holy saint,” at the close of the third act The orchestra did their work capitally, the overture especially being rendered in a manner deserving warm commendation. To-night Madame Simonsen takes her benefit, when a most attractive programme will be produced, comprising acts of “ Trovatore,” “Martha," “ The Bohemian Girl” aud a concert. Madame Sirnonsen deserves the snppoit of the music loving portion of the community for her talented impersonatioos of the characters in which she has appeared.