ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 78, 22 September 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

(MISS ROSTNA BUCIvMAN IN "LA TRAVIATA."

The Sydney-Telegraph writes enthusiastically'of the production of "La Traviata" by Madame Mclba and her brilliant company, Miss Rosina Buckman being included' in the cast. The critic writes:,:"Tlie occasion was historic. It revealed Madame Melba not only as the prima donna in a production unrivalled in this country, but as the dauntless organiser, the inflexibly-determined and brainy woman, who, with the assistance of the J. C. Williamson firm, has resolutely carried to success this enormous project, the magnitude of which justifies one in hailing it as the most important in the annals of the stage in Australia. She has done many great things. She has reigned for more than 20 years-the queen of opera in Europe and America; she lias smashed completely by her gifts of voice and dominant personality the anti-British antagonism in the operatic circles, of the Old World, and two years ago she came in tlie plenitude of her vocal powers to sing in the obscure country towns and hamlets of Australia, as well as in the big cities, just as .lenny Lind returned to the Scandinavian farming villages when she, like Melba, was captivating the great art centres. But all M-elba's other personal triumphs were excelled now, as she herself admitted, for this was the realisation of her chief ambition—to bring Covent Garden to Australia.

Reflections like these may have surged through the mind of the famous singe! herself, as they certainly inspired the people to this warm-hearted demonstration. Indeed, for the moment she appeared quite, startled by the enthusiasm. She advanced to the footlights, the centre of the group of principals and chorus, and the applause went on. She bowed repeatedly; then caught Flora (Miss Rosina Buckman) by the hands with a nervous gesture. She was anxious that the interrupted performance should continue. . . . Miss Rosina

Buckman entirely justified her inclusion in the cast by her admirable performance as Flora. Iter readiness and resource assisted the gaming scene materially. . . . Many impressions re-

main of this unforgetahle performance | of "La Traviata," but dominating every other is that of this wonderful voice. It is, after all the years—such is her art of bid canto—as fresh as ever, whether in sostenuto on the one hand or the elaborate vocal gymnastics of "Scmpre libera" on the other. ''La Traviatn," one of the operas which Verdi wrote before lie came under the influence of Wagner, is of the old [talian school, in which prominence was given to the singers above all else, and the new methods of orchestration were unknown. .Madame Mclbn, could not have selected a better vehicle for the display of her vocal attainments (ban the shadowy arias of | Violetta.