THE MONTAGUE-TURNER OPERA COMPANY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4248, 2 December 1881, Page 3

THE MONTAGUE-TURNER OPERA COMPANY.

•» " Lucia di La_mbb_oob." last night, at the Theatre Royal, the Montague-Turner Opera Oompany appeared for the first time in Ohristchurch. Tho reports of their performances which had preceded them were of the moat flattering description, but highly coloured as they appeared to be, it is nothing but bare justice to say that they were in no way exaggerated. The opera they had selected for their opening night is one requiring a more than ordinary number of artiats possessed of more than ordinary qualifications ; and nothing but perfeot faith in themselves could render the experiment of making a first appearance in so arduous a work consonant with the dictates of prudence. But evidently the company know thoroughly their own strength, and what would have been to moßt a disastrous fiasco, proved in their case a brilliant success. The advertised title would lead to tho belief that the opera would be sung in Italian, but, as had been announced, this Oompany give all their performances in English ; and this must be understood in its full significance. They do not give a version in broken English, neither do they phrase in accordance with the Italian words, but they render tho translated text with unexceptionable accent, and boldly suit the phrasing to it, the result being a highly artistic and thoroughly intelligible reading. The Oompany is undor the direction of Mr Charles Turner, and M. Leon Oaron wields the baton. The orchestra numbers eleven clever musicians, and the chorus, though somewhat small, compared with the orchestra, is made up of thoroughly efficient singers. The cast of tbe opera of last night was as follows : — Lucy Aahton, Miss Annis Montague ; Alice, Miss _. Williamß ; Sir Henry Ashton, Mr Edward Farley ; Sir Arthur Bucklaw, Mr R. L. Skinner ; Bide, the Bent, Mr J. Gordon ; Norman, Mr Wilson ; Lord Edgar, Mr Charles Turner. Than Miss Montague a finer exponent of the arduous role of Lucy has probably never been Been in Ohristchurch. She posseßßes a pure soprano of great flexibility and charming sweetness, of which she haß absolute control. The florid passages with which the opera so abounds, present not the slightest difficulty to her ; but she gives them with a precision and eaße truly marvellous. Nor is she wanting in the powor of expression : her pianissimo is something to marvel at, and her singing in the mad scene, which is so trying to a prima donna of ordinary physical endurance, was marked by a pathos and energy seldom approached and certainly never surpassed. But it is needless to specify individual scenas ; throughout the opera, Miss Montague enthralled the audience, and at every opportunity the applause was absolutely deafening. At the close of each act — tho opera was divided into fiv6— she was recalled and recoived the mosfc gratifying proofs of the success she had aohieved. Miss E. Williams has not a very powerful voice, but she sings correctly, and fulfilled the requirements of her role satisfactorily. Mr Edward Farley is not a stranger here. His voice is as good as ever, while his style is even improved. Mr R. L. Skinner, too, is an old friend. He had not a great deal to do, but did what he had to do efficiently. Mr J. Gordon, with whom the audienco made their acquaintance last night, has a genuino baas voice of auporior and very evon quality, which has been well cultivated. He sings with perfect ease and modulates his voico so as to fill his part in the concerted pieces without making it too prominent. Mr Wilson has a tenor voice, sweet and sufficiently powerful, and knows how to make good uso of it. Though his role was not bo heavy ai that of Mr Turner, ho left nothing to be deßired in his manner of rendering it. Mr Charles Turnor is last oz the list in the houso bills, and as wo have followed the order on it, he comes last in our notice ; but he mußt not on that account be supposed to be of second-rato importance. His voico iB a magnificent tenor, of extraordinary range, sweetness and flexibility, whilo his exocution is that of a highly cultivated artist. Such declamation as he exhibited in the malediction scena was a treat of the rarest kind, but was only ono of many specimens of his excellence. What has been said of Mies Montague may well bo repeated of him ; the audience applauded him to the echo, and moro hearty enthusiasm has never been roused within the wbllb of the Thea re Boyal than was the case last night. At every opportunity plaudits were prodigally bestowed on him, and he fairly divided honours with the prima donna. From the uniform praise wo havo felt it right (o give to each artist it will readily be understood how delightful must have beon the concorted portions of tho opera ; the duet, the quartet, and tho sestet in tho Becond act, for instance, wero as near perfection us we can hopo for. There was nofc a false note in any ono of them, and tho effect was one not cosily to be forgotton. Where a porformnnce is so faultless as was that of last night, there is no necessity for selecting special beauties ; it is sufllcionfc to eay that from the beginning to the closo, tho composer was dono full justico to. The orchestra may woll share somo of tho credit ; but they wculd havo beon nearer porfectien than they were had they been a littlo lobb loud in somo of what should have been piano accompaniments. Tho scenery and drossoß woro vory good ; but such singing as that of last night would make theso matters of very secondary consideration. To-night tho Company appear in "II I Trovatore."