GRAND OPERA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 13 August 1907, Page 2

GRAND OPERA.

"LOUEXGIUN" AT THE THEATIi ItOYAL.

"Lohengrin," Wagner's famous nrusiednuna, was produced in the Theatre Koyal last night by Mr George Jdusgrove's Grand Opera Company, Tlusre was a fairly well filled house, and Jie audience seemed fully to appreciate the wondrous music, superb acting, dazzling dressing, and perfect staging. "Lohengrin" comprises a beautiful legendary story, a digest of which is as followB; Elsa of Brabant is charged by Frederic of Telramund with the murder of her young brother Gottfrcid, who has disappeared, Telramund being urged on by his wife Ortrud, a pagan sorceress. Jn a dream Elsa sees a Knight of the Holy Grail, who promises to be her champion. And ne arrives in the hour of need, landing from a mystic barque drawn from ocean to shore by a white swan. A duel between Telramund and the stranger (Lohengrin) ends in favor of the latter, hut he spares the life of his foe. Frederic and Ortrud plot to defeat Elsa's happiness. Lohengrin and Elsa are married in great pomp ind stylo, he exacting from her a promise not to ask his name or whence he eame. This is Ortrud's opportunity. On hr suggestion Elsa, just after the wedding, pleads for this information, and i'e gives it, thus breaking the magic sp>ll and causing his departure in the same mystic craft, again drawn by the swan, who is really flottfreid, transformed by Ortrud. Before leaving, Lohengrin restores the swan to his human form.

The famous prelude was a wondrous epitome of sound, from the opening] piarrissimns of the violins and flutes to' the grand orgvn swell which heralded the arrival of Lohengrin. It was vi;id with art and emotion. The whole performance was on an exceptionally high standard of excellence. Madame Sara Anderson was a delightful exponent of the part of Elsa, a very voluminous part, full of emotion and dramatic fervor. Her stirring recital of her dream, the dramatic balcony scene, and the love scene between herself and Lohengrin in the Bridal Chamber during the third act, were parts that showed her dramatic instinct and versatility, whilst every opportunity was given for the display of her marvellously rich and flexible soprano voice. Frautein .Tohanna TTeinze, a dramatic mezzosoprano of great power, could hardly have been better cast than as Ortrud, her part was perfectly conceived, giving great opportunities Of whiehshe fully availed herself. In the second act she rose to the greatest height of art, more especially in the vehemence of h"r declaration to the gods. M. Massimi played "Lohengrin," the title role,which required an artist of exceptional ability. He possesses a tenor voice of magnificent nimge, and displaying a wealth of culture that was of immense advantage in such scenes as just prior to his lepnrluro and in the duet with Elsa in the third act. Herr Julius Rungcr,who mnry be styled the "villain," was seen to great advantage as Frederic of Telramund, playing with telling dramatic force and showing his baritone voice to perfection in his different solos. 'As King Henry, Herr Hans Mowhinkel carried himself throughout with kingly dignity, and made the most of his character, whilst Herr Fritz Rupp was equally successful as the King's Herald. Every chorus was a treat in itsMf. Perhaps the Hiest were "Now, Lord, Make Known," and the "Bridal Chorus" nt the opening of Act 111. As was intimated earlier, the dressing and staging were on an elaborate scale- The musical director, Herr SlapofTski is to he heartily congratulated on the orchestral and vocal effects, which made "Lohengrin" a performance to he remembered for a. lifetime.

This evening, the world's favorite opera, Faust, will ho given.