SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 193, 5 August 1876, Page 2

SIMONSEN'S OPERA COMPANY.

NORMA. Last night's whole performance was a marked success, the unflagging energy of the performers and the succession of magnificent airs and concerted pieces in this perhaps the grandest of all operas, roused the crowded house to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. Most of the best known airs were loudly applauded, and at the end of each act the principal porformers received quite an ovation. The part of "Norma" is one especially suited to Madame Simonsen, whose commanding figure and high tragic powers, together with her magnificent voice, enable her to give a most striking representation of the terrible Priestess. Iu " Casta Diva " and •' Deh con te " she excelled herself, indeed the former of these well known airs was the finest piece of singing we have yet heard from her. Adalgisa was very worthily rendered by Miss Fisher, a young lady who, if not absolutely a debutante last night, has, we understand, but seldom taken so important a part; she has a sweet voice of very fair power and range, and sang with great care and earnestness, and these qualities, largely aided by her own great personal attractions, won for her the hearts of the audience at once. The greatest success of the evening, without doubt, washer duett with Madame Sirnonsen " Mira Norma," followed by the allegro " Si fino all' ore." "The exquisite beauty of the ono and the fire of the other fairly carried away the audience, but the length of the evening's performance forbade more than a bow in acknowledgement of the enthusiastic encore. The same ladies with Signor Morley (Pollio) gave the beautiful terzetto « Oh! di qual sei " in the most I

finished style, and we need hardly say that the great duett between Norma and Pollio " In niiaman,' received full justice. Signor Morley we have not heard in better voice; his singing and acting throughout were almost perf ect,and the more we see of him the more confirmed are we in our opinion that he has the bestytenor voice that has been heard here for a long time. • His intonation ia absolutely correct, hia range immense, and the quality of his voice, especially in the higher notes, undeniable. The Company seems weakest in its bassos, however, the great part of the High Priest, " Oroveso," was .filled up in a painstaking manner, and at least, correctly, which is no small matter. The chorus struck us as being less effective than before. The tenors seemed heavy, and some of the male voices harsh, perhaps from the almost incessant straining at the forte passages with which the music abounds. That, however, would not account for their being somewhat untrue, as they especially were iu the male chorus " Guerra, Guerra." The orchestra, as usual, were most efficient, and the opera givea them ample opportunities for display. On the whole, it was a very excellent and enjoyable performance, and we could only iegret that it was the Lost of our short seascin. We should be very glad if the Company could be induced to stay a night or two on their return from Auckland. Itseem3 hard to be obliged to say it, but, after Norma, Madame . Simonsen and Signor Morley, together with Miss Lambert, appeared in the last act of "La Fille de Madame Angot," and the ladies raved and scolded and played their trashy parts as if tragedy and high art were things unknown to them. However, we suppose there must be some who can see in this piece those " brilliant gems " which seem to have so dazzled the vision of the reporter of our morning contemporary, and if they are willing to pay for them there is every reason why they.should be allowed to do so. Of the skill of the performers there could be no question whatever.