THE MONTAGUE-TURNER OPERA COMPANY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4126, 31 May 1892, Page 3

THE MONTAGUE-TURNER OPERA COMPANY.

"Montana," WEfiiNGTON, Tuesday. A bouse orowded to the doors greeted the Montague-Turner Opera Company in their opening performance last-night in Wolhngton of Wallace's romantio and melodious masterpiece

" Maritana." It was n house to do a manager's heart good, and the scene from the orchestral stalls looking at the crowded aud brilliant dress circle, the seething m.ms of people in the pit, and the crush in the stalls and family oirole, whs indeed gladdening, Who has not heard of Miss Amiis Montague and Mr Charles Turner ? These names alone aro sufficient to " draw," but when such an excellent combination presents itself as the members of'.the Montague-Turner Company,, and in Rood old tuneful English opera, too, the result must be bumper houses if the" soul of musio" in English people is not yet dead. ■ As to the ojtorajtseif, who dues not know " Maritana" ? composed, 'tis said, by Wallace in the solitudes of the great Australian forests, Miss Montague was. at her best and sang and aoted most charmingly in tbej tiik role, her most successful effoitl being the delightful romance •' The Harp in thsAir,"" Scenes that are Brightest," and the duet with Lazarello in the lust act " Sainted Mother. In the concerted pieces Mi«a Montague's fine voice was heard with telling emphasis. Taken all in all Miss Montague's acting and singiug was the life and soul of the Opera. Mr Turner has a fine and powerful tenor voice, and is particularly strong in the upper register. His most noteworthy efforts were " Farewell my gallant Captain,"" Turn on old Time," " There is a Flower that Bloometh"; and ho also came out particularly strong in that stirring air "Let me like a Soldier Fall," for which he received an emphatic recall. Mr Turner, euacted the gay rollicking and reckless Don Crasarde Bazan to the life, but is rather apt in places to " gag" and slur his lines a little. Mr Farley, who was cast for Don Joa6, has arich and resonant baritone of extremely pure tone, but is rather lacking in the-fire necessary for the declamatory music he has to sing, nevertheless his singing was much admired and of the solos allotted to hn part, his rendering of" In Happy Moments" and" Now my Courage" left nothing to be desired, Lazarillo waß sung by Miss Lambert, who is always a firm favorite with New Zealand audiences, and her singing of" Alas those Chimes " and in the duet "Sainted Mother" with Maritana, met with the warm approbation of the audience. To Mr Fred England was allotted the important role of The King of Spain. He sang his music admirably, and acted with the grave dignity that befits a King, The minor characters were well filled, and the chorus was deoidedly above the average,, eviucing Very careful training on the part of the conductor, The orchestra was most efficiently presided over by Mr Harcourt Lee, and the mere mention of his name is enough to guarantee its excellence, in fact the accompaniments Were quite a feature of the performance, The opera waß capitally dressed by principals and chorus alike, but it would be well if a little more attention were' paid to stage accessories, No doubt the management will remedy this when everything is firmly settled down for the season. Taking Maritana as a criterion, we may look fprwaid to a I pleasing and artistic opera season, and we triut that the Montngue-Turner Opeia Company will receive the' support they heartily deserve from the music-loving people of both town andcoun.tr},