THE OPERA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4139, 26 June 1874, Page 2

THE OPERA.

CINDERELLA, OR THE LITTLE GLASS SLIPPER. Kossini has turned the old merry story of the pariah of the kitchen, transformed by fairy love into the peerless Princess of the Glass Slipper, into opera, and it was given for the first time last night. There was, as usual, an excellent house, but—for the first time also—the performance was disappointing. It was apparent at a very early stage that it had not been properly rehearsed; artists are not less susceptible to the influence of bad weather than ordinary mortals, and the malign influence of the late cold weather and rains was noticeable in the enforced re-arrangement of the orchestra in the absence of Mons. X'Meury, and in the perceptible colds from which more than one of the company were suffering. Occasionally the voices wore completely drowned by the orchestra, and in other instances they were in very manifest discord ; while the assistants behind the wings were unusually noisy ; what should have been whispers and asides, to say nothing of the prompter's treble, were much too audible in the dress circle, and there were unnecessary waits for which some one should be held responsible. With all these drawbacks, however, “ Cinderella” was attractive. Miss May played the part of the heroine very charmingly. The disagreeable sisters were well represented by Miss Howe and Miss Lambert, the latter especially deserving a compliment. Miss Howe spoke her part as if she had been running a race, and had scarcely a breath left—a mannerism that it would be as well to avoid. Mr. Bain ford surpassed himself as the Laron Pompoline, extracting a great deal of humor out of the part ; while Mr. Vernon’s Pedro was a piece of thoroughly good acting. Mr. Templeton’s “ Dandiui ” was also excellent. Mr. Hallam looked the 11 Prince,” and sang in very good voice, but the want of study of the part was again painfully appax-ent. Mr. Levison’s “Alidoro” was carefully played. bliss Kate Lester looked the fairy queen, hut recited the pretty lines given to her to repeat much too mechanically. The tenor (Mr. Hallam) omitted the song “ Of beauty rarest,” but made some amends in the duet with Cinderella, “ Let thine eyes on mine mildly beaming,” which was deliciously sung by both artists. The scenery was very beautiful. The Fairy Haunt, in the opening scene, was a pretty piece of work, and though the transformation scene—the pumpkin into a coach, &c. —was greatly bungled, the coach was at last despatched with its fairy transformed passenger with much eclat. This evening “ Cinderella" ■will bo repeated by command, and we have no doubt will go as

satisfactorily as the most fastidious patron o the opera could desire. F riday is a fashionable night, the late trains will run to the Hutt, and we have no doubt that there will be a large attendance. In the course of the evening. Miss May will, we believe, be asked to accept a souvenir of her visit to Wellington, subscribed for by a few of the citizens, who appreciate good music, and who eould not fail to appreciate her talents and her efforts. The form which the present will take had not been determined last night, the full amount of the subscriptions not having been ascertained, but we are assured that the gift will not be unworthy of Miss May’s acceptance. Nor had it been arranged which of the subscribers should be asked to make the presentation ; but we have been requested to state that the gift will probably be offered at the close of the first act, and that all the subscribers will be welcomed on the stage. On Saturday night the season will terminate. The performances on that night will comprise “ The Daughter of the Regiment,” and the amusing trifle “Tlie Rose of Auvergne,” and within an hour or two after the close of the performance, the company will be on their way to Nelson.