Spreading the News
HOWEVER measured a critic might be about its artistic achievement, there is no doubt that the production in Wellington of Madam Butterfly was a truly exciting event. We are inclined to take for granted that what happens in Wellington is quickly known throughout the country. But this is not so. Congratulations, then, to the NZBS for
spreading the good news that with this smoothly professional presentation the New Zealand Opera Company has settled in and seems set to stay. The form of the programme on making the opera was not always effective: it gave us too long a look behind the scenes
at the problems of stage construction. Although John Duff spoke fluently and well, these are difficult matters for the layman to visualise from the spoken word, Perhaps we should have heard from the creative artist here, the designer. The programme succeeded best when John Hopkins, Vincente Major and John Thompson spoke of the study and complexities in performing an opera and how much the music is the master of all. However the programme left the listener with an impression of quiet pride in achievement in spite of the jarring switch at the end to the superlative clichés from members: of the audience. A much better conclusion would have been producer Stefan Haag’s "It
can be done."
N.L.
M.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19591030.2.23.1.4
Bibliographic details
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 41, Issue 1053, 30 October 1959, Page 17
Word count
Tapeke kupu
223Spreading the News New Zealand Listener, Volume 41, Issue 1053, 30 October 1959, Page 17
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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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