THE OPERA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4125, 10 June 1874, Page 3

THE OPERA.

SATANEIXA, OP. THE POWER OF LOVE. This Opera was repeated last night, and it must have been highly gratifying to all parties concerned, and particularly to the artists engaged, that on the second night, “Satanella” drew a house which was full in every part. Thi9,undoubtedly,isduetothe excellence of the music throughout, and especially to the efforts of Miss Alice May. Lost night she exceeded herself. In the third act, more particularly, she literally fascinated the audience with her song “ ’Fascination,” and the beautiful melody which follows. On the fall of the curtain at the close of that act, she was most enthusiastically recalled, and most considerately brought forward with her Mr. Lvans (the Grand Vizier), and his amusing black slave—a small, but apt boy, picked up from among the youth of Wellington—the latter to make his first obeisance to an audience in a real theatre. The corps da ballet are unusually handsome and graceful in their movements, and have again to be complimented on the elegance of their performance in the dance introduced in the Slave Market scone. “ Satanolla” has been an undoubted success. This evening the company will perform Aubor'.s grand opera of ERA DIAVOLO, with the following cast :—Zerlina, Miss Alice May ; Lady Allcash, Miss Lambert ; Fra Diavolo, Mr. Hallarn; Lord Allcash, Mr. Vernon ; Boppo, Mr. Kainford ; Lorenzo, Mr. Templeton ; Matfceo, Mr. Lester ; and Giacomo, Mr. Levison. The opera is a brisk one in its action, and full of spariding music. The scene opens in the porch of an Italian inn, kept by Matteo, where a party of carbineers are carousing, to the chorus, “Drink ! for, joy bestowing, around the wine is flowing.” They are in pursuit of Fra Diavolo, the King, of the Banditti, for whose capture a large reward is offered. Matteo invites the party to the wedding of his daughter Zerlina, on the following day, to a rich young farmer of a neighboring village. Lorenzo, the leader of the soldiers, and the lover of Zerlina, hears the announcement with despair, and after a brief interview with Zerlina, in which he sings “ Vainly, alas, thoud'st soothe the pangs 1 feel,” is about to hurry with his troop to the mountains in search of Fra Diavolo, to capture him or die. Lord and Lady Allcash are English—as the name, of course, signifies. They are on their travel.-., and enter at the moment. They have just escaped from the banditti, after being robbed of the lady’s diamonds. They claim the help of the soldiers, who depart at once for the mountains in chase. Lord Allcash draws up a proclamation offering a large reward for the capture of the robbers, which is posted up in front of the inn. A cavalier (Fra Diavolo) has followed the carriage of the English strangers for some days, to his Lordship's great annoyanca, and has made some slight impression

upon her ladyship by his attentions and his efforts to teach her a barcarole. A dispute on the subject leads to a fine duet, “ I don’t object,” between my lord and my lady. The noise of an approaching carriage is then heard, and “the Marquis” (Era Diavolo in disguise), the stranger who lias annoyed Lord Allcash, enters, and reestablishes Ids acquaintance with my Lord and Lady. This leads to the quintette “Oh, rapture unbounded.” At the supper which follows, Mattco relates to the Marquis and the English strangers the story of Era Diavolo, ancf at the request of the presumed Marquis, Zerlina sings a song composed in honor of the bandit—the well-known “On yonder rock reclining.” Giacomo and Bcppo (members of Era Diavolo’s band) enter disguised as pilgrims, claiming shelter, and when refused free shelter by Matteo, arc entertained and lodged at fne expense of tho Marquis. Whenthe English strangers retire, IMattoo and Zeldina leave the inn to the cave of tho servants for the night. Bcppo and Giacamo then relate to 1 ra Diavolo how, acting upon ids information, they had robbed my lady of her jewels, but were unable to find a casket containing twenty thousand gold pieces which his lordship was carrying to bank at Leghorn. Era Diavolo resolves to find out what has become of the gold, by means of a few more ducts with her ladyship, who, leaving his lordship, and going out for a short stroll iu the evening air, is intercepted by tho Marquis. They renew the lesson of the barcarole—“ The Gondolier, fond passion's slave.” Seizing tho opportunity, the pretended Marquis makes a passionate declaration of love, but the tete-a-tete is interrupted by the appearance of Lord Allcash, and in the dialogue which follows the Marquis draws from them that the gold is sewn up in my lord’s coat and my lady’s sleeve. Lorenzo and the soldiers return to the iim, with Zeidina, Lorenzo relating how the robbers Itad been attacked and had lied ; but not before one of them had been shot, on whose body was found the stolen diamonds, which he returns to Lady Allcash. As Lorenzo is about to depart again iu search of Fra Diavolo, Lady Allcash ohers him the reward announced for the discovery of her diamonds, which he refuses, but Zerlina accepts, that, now richer than his rival, he may successfully claim her hand. The second act opens with an excellent duet between Lord and Lady Allcash, “ Let us, I pray, good wife, to rest.” As they retire, I’Ta Diavolo enters, followed by Bcppo and Giacoma, who intend to rob the sleepers, but disturbed by the approach of Zerlina, hide iu a room, which turns out to be her chamber. They watch from a closet door, while Zerlina singing, and resolving to renounce her village lover, prepares for rest. The robbers resolve to murder her iu her sleep, but she unconsciously murmurs a prayer. While they hesitate to strike, loud knocking is heard at the door. Lorenzo and the carbineers have returned ; they cuter, and the Marquis is discovered. He pretends that he was visiting Zerlina, and the jealousy of Lorenzo is amused, but to save the reputation of Zerlina he consents to be dumb. In the opening of the third act Fra Diavolo sings “Proudly and wide my standard ilies.” He has arranged' a meeting with Lorenzo in a secluded spot, where Beppo and Giacomo have been hidden for the purpose of seizing Lorenzo. That accomplished, Fra Diavolo proposes to secure the diamonds and the gold, and to invite Lady Allcash to accompany him to the mountains. The plot, however, is discovered, and all ends happily. It will be seen that while the burden of the opera will again he on Miss May’s shoulders, and Mr Hallam has a very fine part, Mr. Templeton will also have a better opportunity than lie has yet had of showing the ability lie undoubtedly possesses both as a vocalist and an actor. The opera should go well.