NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 106, 8 May 1875, Page 12

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The Choral Society gave their f outh concert of the season on Thursday evening, the 29th ult., Wallace's opera of " Maritana " being selected for -the occasion. Judging from the daily papers there would appear to "be some slightdiversity of opinion among the critics as to the merits of the representation, and while scarcely going to the extreme lengths of condemnation of the one, we cannot endorse the high laudations bestowed by the other. The opera of " Maritana" is of such a nature that the great burden of its labors fall upon Don Caesar and Maritana, and where the representations of those characters are not equal to the task imposed upon them, it were vain to hope for success. Were the other characters perfection itself, and Don Caesar not to the mark, the representation of the opera would be as the play of " Hamlet" with the part of -the Prince of -Denmark omitted. That this gentleman, who assayed the part of Don Caesar, was immeasuraby overweighted there will be found none to deny, and to the unitiated it is somewhat surprising why such a very difficult part should be entrusted in such indifferent hands. The song of "Farewell, my Valiant Captain," which is supposed to be rendered with vivacity and a spirit; of recklessness, was given with an lugubrious wail, which could easily "be imagined to be a lament for him despatched to his long home. The lady who appeared as Maritana suffered considerably from -. nervousness in the commencement of the evening, and from that cause the rendering of " There was a Knight of Princely Mien " suffered considerably, For this, however, she made ample amends, and the plaintive melody of " The Harp in the Air," entitled her the highest praise. In the closing act, also, her rendering of " Scenes that are Brightest " met with deserved recognition, it being given in a manner which left no room for adverse criticism. Ihe music allotted to the character of Don Jose was fairly exe-

cuted, if we except < the recitative, which on each occasion was sadly deficient in spirit and animation. It was to be regretted that the representative of the King — of course in correctly sustaining the character — should appear so little before the audience, as without doubt, of the three gentlemen who took part in the • opera, he was by far the most efficient, and was vociferously encored for " Hear me, gentle Maritana." The lady into whose hands the part of Lazarello had. been entrusted proved herself " equal to the task, and in the plaintive aria " Alas those Chimes," was most effective. The duet between Maritana and Lazarello of " Sainted Mother," in the closing act, was one of the greatest successes of the evening, and amply proved that if the society be somewhat weak in its male members, the same cannot be said of ' the lady portion. The choruses were worthy of particular mention, " The Angelus " and " Pretty Gitana " both being given in a most effective manner. In Opera di Camera, where the want of ' appropriate dresses, scenic effects, and other necessary accessories,, place the charactsrs at a decided disadvantage, it is more than even necessary that those brought forward to sustain the leading • parts should have some claim to the position, and, when such is not the case, no other result can be looked for than that whatothervrise might prove a success wiJl turn out to be the very reverse. Following the example of his predecessor, his Worship the Mayor entertained a number of his friends at dinner at Jones' Hotel, on the evening of the 30th ujt. Among the guests were theSpeaker of the Provincial Council, several members of its Executive, the City Members and the City Council, -the Mayor of Port Chalmers, as also a few members of the Bar and the Press. His Honor the Superintendent was not present, owing to his recent domestic berea'vemeut. The usual loyal toasts were proposed and done honor to, and several amusing speeches made by the City Fathers on the water difficulty. The evening was a most enjoyableone, full justice being done to the ample spread by the caterer. H.A.C.B.S.— The Contingent Lodge of this Society will hold their monthly meeting, on Monday evening, at 7.30, in the schoolroom.