WORLD’S FINEST OPERA STAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1928, Page 4

WORLD’S FINEST OPERA STAGE

FLOATING- CLOUDS AND TWINKLING STARS.

R-OAIE, AI arch 10. To-morrow the Teatro Reals dell’ Opera or Royal Opera House, formerly known as the Teatro Costaitzi, will be reopened to- the public with a gala performance of Arrigo Boito’s “Nerone.” This is the first opportunity the Roman public lias had of admiring this opera, which is generally cancelled to be one of the most spec-

tneular entertainments ever staffed. "With the opening of flic Tcatro Rente d-ell’Opera, Italy acquires what is claimed to be the most perfect opera stage in the, world. The transformation of the stage has been supervised by Pcricle Ansaldo, the son of Giovanni An.saklo, the chief technician of the Sen I a of Milan. Young Ansaldo has installed in the Tcatro Beale dell’Opcra a semi-rigid “panorama” of hi.s invention. It consists of a curved screen occupying, the whole of the hack of the stage. It is painted sky ldiie and by a suitable arrangement of lighting gives a perfect illusion of infinite distance. A special lantern causes life-like clouds to float across the “panorama.” while another special apparatus imitates tho twinkling of stars for night scenes. SWITCH THAT FILLS A BOOM. Directly under the stage is a colossal switch which regulates the lighting on the stage. When all the lighting is fully on 1,000.000 candle power is concentrated' on the stage. The switch has 260 stops corresponding to an equal number of intensities and glaciations of light. The second largest switch of this sort in the world is in Hamburg n.nd has ISO stops.

The switch is so enormous that it. occupies the whole of a large room. It is connected to the stage by means of ii loud-speaker, which permits the operator to follow the opera and produce the lighting effects ns they are needed.

The management of the theatre has been taken over for four years by Signor Ottavio Scotto, who lias built up a great reputation as an opera impressario in the Argentine where.lie managed the Colon Theatre in Buenos Aires. Ho has engaged some of the best known singers in the world to perform in Borne this winter. They include LauriVolpi. Tittn Schipa. Toti dal Monte, and Claudio Muzin, all of the Metropolitan Op-rtu House of Yew York,