THE OPERA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1838, 13 January 1880, Page 3

THE OPERA.

East night a very good house greeted the opening performance of the season by the Eyster Opera Company, the wort selected for the occasion being Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Masehera.” Among the performers are several familiar faces, who established themselves firmly in the estimation of the public some years since. Signora Tamhurisi Coy, to whom the part of Adelia was assigned, showed by her careful and conscientious rendering of the same that the prestige she earned here has not diminished. Her singing of the terzetto " Della citta all’ occuso, ” in which she was supported by Signora Venosta as Ulrica, and Signor Tamburini Ooy as Riccardo, as well as the air “ Ma dall’ arido,” and the duet with Riccardo, “Non soi tu ohe sc I’anima,” being especially worthy of notice. Madame Rose Heraee, in her debut before the Christchurch public as Oscar, displayed a voice of no great calibre but of exquisite purity, and although her role did not give her the opportunity of exhibiting her best, she nevertheless secured a favorable reception in the quartette “ Ve’ee di notte,” and especially in the air " Sapor vorreste,” in which the audience testified their satisfaction by genuine applause. Signor Tamburini Ooy seems to have decidedly improved both in voice and acting, more especially in the latter, since our previous acquaintance with him, and has lost much of that restraint that was formerly prejudicial to his success. He gave with much effect the romanza “ Ma se m’e forza,” and in the duet with Adelia “ Amo si t’amo” he received a well merited applause. Signor Verdi is an artiste new to the Christchurch public, and in his opening parts of the evening we were disappointed with him; but in the fourth act, where he had greater opportunity, he left an impression that brought the conviction that he possessed the power to arouse the enthusiasm of an audience. Madame Venosta, who is so well known in Christchurch that it is needless to comment on her capabilities, gave tbe music in the Sybil’s Cave scene, and throughout the opera, in a manner that evinced an intelligent appreciation of her part. Signor Pavas as Samuollo, Mr Templeton as Tomaso, Mr Levison as Salvano, and Mr Johnson as II Q-uidice, completed the oast. As a whole the performance was highly satisfactory, but the opera is one which is not familiar to the Christchurch public, and, moreover, does not appear to contain much that is calculated to create a desire to be more familiar with it. The orchestra, under the able baton of Signor Zelman is rather a powerful one, the introduction being spoiled by tbe clarinett, which was painfully out of tune. To-night “The Bohemian Girl” is to be given, and being a favorite opera a good heuse may be predicted for the occasion.