“LOHENGRIN” TO-NIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 473, 1 October 1928, Page 15

“LOHENGRIN” TO-NIGHT

WAGNER’S FAMOUS OPERA A MUSICAL EVENT There were two performances by the Fuller-Gonsalez Company on Saturday, “The Barber of Seville” being presented in the afternoon and "Carmen’' in the evening. Both operas were largely attended and were accorded very attentive hearings. This evening “Lohengrin," one of tho most meiodious of Wagner's great works, will be presented. In "Lohengrin” Wagner has further developed tho beautiful idea of the motif, associating certain characters with particular themes. Probably it is the most popular of Wagner’s operas. The story tells of the mystification of thp people of Brabant concerning tho disappearance of their young Duke, Godfrey. His sister, Lisa, is accused by Telramund of being the cause of his death, and he claims the dukedom. Henry, the King of Germany, is asked to arbitrate. Lisa, bewildered in the presence of the King, sings the famous 'Lisa s Dream.” Elsa is to be tried by combat and the heralds call for a champion to defend her against her accuser. .As the heralds' trumpets ring out for the third time a boat, drawn by a swan, is seen approaching - the shore. Therein stands a strange knight m silver armour. He thanks the swan that brought him and then offers his services to Elsa. She throws herself at his feet, and would thank him by name. It is then that he tells her that he can only stay by her so-long as she agrees never to ask his name or whence he comes, and wins her promise.

In the “King's Prayer” the King bids the two knights prepare for combat. I lie stranger's s-word strikes Telramund to earth.

Telramund and his wife, Ortrud. are disgraced, but plan vengeance. Elsa and her still unknown knight are to be wedded, and the King and the people Brabant assemble for the ceremony. Ortrud taunts Elsa that she does not know who the bridegroom really is. Elsa is troubled by this, but the wedding ceremony is performed. In the bridal chamber, howevet-, Elsa begs tho knight to disclose his name and native land. In a frenzy Elsa cries out the fatal question, “Who art thou?” In the final scene, once again on the banks of the Scheldt, the knight sadly answers Elsa’s question. He is Lohengrin, the son of Parsifal, the Keeper of the Holy Grail. As he speaks these words the swan appears with the boat. It is at this moment that Ortrud, running to the swan, calls out that it is none other than the young Duke Godfrey who, by her magic, has been transformed into a swan. The swan thereupon sinks into the river, and Godfrey rises from the water. Lohengrin bids farewell to Elsa and kneels in prayer. A dove gently flutters down from Heaven and guides the boat that carries Lohengrin away down the waters of the broad river.

A strong cast will include Margherita Flor, Kina Algozino, Brandisio Vannucci, Franco Izal, Ernesto Fumagalli and Francesco Federici. The opera will commence at 7.30 p.m. but will not end until 11.40. Special arrangements have been made, however, for late trams and ferry boats to run after the performance. Patrons are warned to be seated by 7.30, as no one will be admitted during the play,ing of the famous orchestral prelude. “La Favorita” will be presented tomorrow evening, and the remainder of the season will be taken up with repeat performances of the most popular operas. “BRANDED SOMBRERO” AT EMPIRE Buck Jones has a very difficult role in “The Branded Sombrero,” which is now being shown at the Empire Theatre. As Starr Hallett, the adopted son of John Hallett, Buck relinquishes his entire inheritance so that his brother, Lane, will have an unobstructed field to win the girl he loves. His fight against tremendous odds wins Buck the friendship of the townspeople, who are organising to rid the county of a band of rustlers. The cornered rustlers put up a stiff fight, but are overcome by sheer grit. Some of the rustlers make a break for freedom. Among them is Lane, Buck’s brother. Buck gives Lane his freedom and takes his place as a member of the gang. Fighting every inch of the way, Buck proves his innocence in a smashing, tearing manner. “That Certain Thing,” the second feature, stars Viola Dana and Ralph Graves. On his return to America from England, Ronald Colman admitted that as a result of conferences he had in London with Samuel Goldwyn, “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” another Baroness Orczy novel, was under consideration as one of his first starring pictures. Baroness Orczy, a Hungarian and now 1 a resident of Paris, is the author of i “Leatherface,” from which “Two j Lovers” was adapted as the last coj starring picture for Mr. Colman and | Vilma Banky. “Two Lovers” was shown her at a private screening pwhile Mr. Goldwyn was in Paris.