Royal Italian Opera Concert Company.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2830, 11 March 1878, Page 2

Royal Italian Opera Concert Company.

The company organised under the above name gave a concert at the Academy of Music oti Saturday night to a very good attendance. The programme opened punctually at eight o'clock with a fantasia (piano) by Mr Turrcil, an Auckland young gentleman, and musician of great promise. Signer Camero followed with a cavatina, and made a most favorable impression. Signora Venosta sang II Segreto from the opera of "Lucretia Borgia," and was encored, her splendid contralto voice and execution of the song being especially pleasing to the audience. She repeated one verse in answer to the demand for an encore. Signor Paladini next appeared and sang the romanso from " Martha," and he too bo plrased the audience that he had to favor them with a repetition of a portion of his solo. He is possessed of a fine tenor voice, and his execution was warmly applauded. Signora CLranti Vita essayed a very difficult passage, the Diva, but was scarcely so successful in elititing the sympathies of the audience as the previous singers. Signor Tessada sang a piece from " Don Giovanni" and was eminently successful. M. Caron played a grand fantasia on the violin, in which the capabilities of the "Sing of instruments" in the hands of a master were ably illustrated. A quartette brought the first part of the programme to a conclusion. Part the second was opened by Signora Tita with the English ballad " Bread and Cheese and Kisses," which was very nicely rendered, but served better to display the fair singer's acquaintance with English than her powers as vocalist. However, as being the only song rendered in English, it was well received, and the Signora had to repeat a verse. Signor Camero followed with another selection of a rather florid character, in which his fine voice was he^rd to advantage. Monsieur Gtron treated the audience to another violin solo, amid the difficult variations; of which could be distinguish: d the air " Yrnkee Doodle." Being encored, he substituted some simple »irs with more brilliant variations, the perfoi Jirnce being beyond all praise. The last act of the opera comique "Pipele" brought the enter* tainment to a close, the most noticeable features of which were the sinking and acling cf Signora Venosta and Signor Tessada, the latter as Pipele being inimitable in the inebriate. stage, reminding one much of Toodles ■in the English comciy of that name. Signor Tessada has a fine baritone voice; he is besides a good comedian, and he amused the audience by the introduction of some " gag "in English. Of the concert: as a whole we way say it was an agreeable treat, although there was nothing of what may be called the popular element in the progrrmme, excepting the one English song mentioned. An English audience is at- a manifest disadvantage in listening to fragments of Italian opera, which is not experienc "d to such an extent when whole pieces are presented, as in the latter case the libretto usually supplied affords an insight to the plot and the sentiments depicted by the artistes. Tie programme was well chosen, however, and those pieces which were best known were most appreciated. Mr Turrell played the accompaniments in excellent style. There is a change of programme to-night. It appears in our advertising colunns.