SOLDENE ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1213, 23 January 1878, Page 3

SOLDENE ENGLISH OPERA COMPANY.

GIEOEIE CrIEOPLA. If the Soldene Opera Company are about to afford the public of Christchurch an opportunity of witnessing a series of performances at all approaching in excellence to that which they opened with last night at the Theatre Royal, then the public of Christchurch must be felicitated upon the treat, musical and spectacular, which is in store for them. As a general rule first performances should be treated leniently even by the most hypercritical, but last night’s first performance, though the company had only reached Christchurch in the morning, would bear the most rigid examination. Erom first to last it was an unqualified success. The orchestra was most efficient, and rendered the sparkling music with a crispness which proved their complete familiarity with it. Of the members of the opera company but one opinion can bo entertained. Each has some special excellence, but all are artists. The prima donna, Miss Emily Soldene, in style, execution, expression, force, and dramatic capabilities has few rivals. Her voice is of splendid quality, and has been thoroughly cultivated. Miss Maggie Liddle possesses an excellent voice, of considerable compass and purity of tone. Miss Clara Yesey, though not possessing a powerful voice, is a pleasing actress, and fully able to sustain the part for which she is cast. Mr John Wallace, who personated a strong-minded female with much comic force, and Mr E. Wallace, who represented her hen-pecked husband with equal success, produced roars of laughter by their amusing by-play, which rendered any vocal ability on their part quite unnecessary. Mr C. J. Campbell is a tenor of more than average excellence. His voice, though not very powerful, is decidedly sweet and bis car is perfect. Mr E. Farley is a bass. His voice is not powerful, but is sufficiently resonant and was heard to great advantage in the concerted passages of the opera. The rest of the company call for no special mention beyond that which has already been recorded. The manner in which everyone did his or her business showed to what perfection rehearsals under judicious management can bring even an unusually large company. Last night the groupings on the stage were most effective, and the dresses of gorgeous hues and picturesque appearance were so disposed as to present masses of colours in charming contrast. Added to this was the fact of these colours being kept in constant motion so ns to afford the utmost gratification to the sense of sight. Excellent as is the music, vocal and instrumental, the attractiveness of this company is not enstusted solely to it, the most is made of the charms of female beauty, and the gracefulness of the female outlines is displayed in no niggardly fashion. The scenery too is in keeping with everything elec, and in short no effort has been wanting to ensure completeness in every department. Of the plot of Giroflc Girolla a notion may be given in a few words. The heroines are twin sisters who are about to bo married. Their betrothed husbands are the amiable eon of a rich man, to whom their father is largely in debt, and a truculent Moor, whose irascible temper is a terror to all about him. Unfortunately, on the day when the espousals are to take place, some pirates carry off her frho vnxa destined for the Moor. The

parents are afraid to disclose this fact to the irritable Moor, and so marry one of the twins to both suitors. The fun of the piece of course turns upon the efforts of all parties to make things pleasant, no easy matter, and just as there is about to be a crisis everything is satisfactorily ended by the return of the lost daughter. The audience last night manifested their delight in an unmistakeable manner, and encored several of the vocal gems. They also called the principal performers before the curtain, both after the first act and at the conclusion of the opera. “ Gfiroflc GHrofla ” is to be repeated this evening, and to-morrow, Thursday, “Genevieve de Brabant” will be produced, with Miss Sol dene, the original Drogan, and M essrs Marshall and Wallace, t he original / lendnrnmg.