OPERA GALA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 455, 10 September 1928, Page 14

OPERA GALA

“IL TROVATORE” TO-NIGHT A TRAGIC STORY For the gala performance of the Fuller-Gonsalez opera season this evening Verdi’s “II Trovatore” will be staged. The opera was first produced at Rome on January 19, 1853. The first performance in London was at Covent Garden in 1855. As befits a tragic work “II Trovatore” opens in an atmosphere of romance and mystery. The situation, when the curtain rises, is explained by the soldier Ferrando (bass), who tells the story of Azucena’s mother being burnt alive as a witch after having cast a. spell on di Luna’s children. With her dying breath she begged her daughter Azucena to avenge her. The gipsy Azucena having stolen Manrico, (tenor) as a child has brought him up as her son. Manrico’s real brother is the Count di Luna, though neither knows it. Manrico and the Count (baritone) both love the Lady Lenora (soprano). Manrico is serenad- j ing her when the Count appears. They ' fight and the troubadour escapes, j though badly wounded. When act two opens Manrico is with j his supposed mother recovering from his wound. He learns that Lenora... supposing him dead, is about to take the veil. He hurries off and outside the convent encounters di Luna and his soldiers. This time Manrico routs di Luna’s forces, and penetrating into the convent, clasps the intended nun to his heart. Lenora is then for the veil j of a bride, not that of a nun.

Learning that Azucena is the mother of his hated rival the Count captures her and orders her to the torture chamber. In the midst of the wedding festivities Manrico and Lenora hear of this, and Manrico, girding on his sword, leaves his prospective bride to rush to the rescue.

This time he is captured and condemned to death. Lying on his prison floor Manrico hears the prison bell toll and the weird chanting of the priests praying for his soul. It is then that he and Lenora, who is waiting outside the prison, sing the famus “Miserere.” In desperation Lenora seeks out di Luna and offers to give herself to him if he will release her lover, Manrico. The Count Is delighted and agrees to her terms, but Lenora, however, presses a poisoned ring to lier lips to escape him. Wild-eyed and dying she seeks out Manrico and dies in his arms. Di Luna, incensed and furious, orders Manrico’s instant execution. It is only when too late that the horrified Count learns from Azucena that lie his killed his own brother.

The cast this evening will be as follows: —Lenora, Signorina Rosita Silvestri; Manrico, Alessando Rota; Azucena, Signorina Nina Algozino; Count di Luna, Signor Franco Izal; Ferrando, Signor Ernesto Fumagalli; Inez, Signorina Matilda Pfrimmer.