OPERA IN ENGLISH
TATION 1YC. gave us a treat recently with its broadcast of the National Opera of Australia’s opening presentation of The Barber of Seville. Whatever purists may say, I’ve no doubt personally that; if an opera libretto is any good at all, singing it in English greatly increases the listener’s enjoyment. The story of The Barber may be thoroughly familiar, but the sprightly translation this Company sang made much of it, especially the somewhat tiresome recitatives, delightfully new, Since the players worked the opera "for laughs" as energetically as they sang, this resulted in a performance which was as entertaining as it was musically sound. The nasal whine of Almayiya in his disguise as Rosina’s singing-master, and the Figaro’s pert asides were among the many inspired comic touches. The audience’s laughter and applause confirmed my impression that this was an unusually gay and lively show. I readily believe the story I was told of a man who, dragged unwillingly by his wife to this performance, inquired anxiously of a friend during -the interval: "Is this Grand Opera?", and, on being assured that it was, said, in a tone of astonish-. ment, "But I Jike it!"
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19540326.2.18.1
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 766, 26 March 1954, Page 10
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197OPERA IN ENGLISH New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 766, 26 March 1954, Page 10
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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