The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-02-06
OPERA

The presentation of the opera Mari
tana' last evening was a delicious
musical treat. Not in every detail, but
taking the whole production, ii is not
extravaganza to say that musically no
opera has ever been given better in the
Hawaiian Opera House. In some re-
speCts none has ever been given as
well. Never probably has there been
as good a chorus, strong in number of
fresh, unabraded voices singing with
and con amore.
1t is not intended to be said that last
nights presentation equalled or ex-
ceeded as a performance. judged by
the rules and standards of operate
the best professional oper-
attic performances the Hawaiian Opera
House has witnessed. Such excellence
in an amateur performance except un-
der most exceptional and extraordinary
circumstances is not to be expected.
Neither is it intended to say that for
an amateur performance, it was good.
AS a musical production, considered |
absolutely and not relatively, it was
excellent and thoroughly enjoyable. 1t |
was in the dramatic element, and in |
that not universally, but generally |
speaking, that it fell most short of |
what might be called a standard per- |
Torrance, and in this dramatic element, |
quate conception nor intelligent treat
ment, but the technical skill and eX-
perience which the very fact that the
performance is amateur, preCludes one
from expecting.
Considered unsteady, in solo, and
duet, in chorus and orchestral work, it
was a revelation of the musical and
musicianly material, cultivation and
capacity there is in Honolulu. Mrs.
Apnis NTOntap11e Turner who conceived
the idea of giving the opera, and who
carried the idea into execution, may
well feel, that in the results achieved,
in the coordination of many independ-
ent factors, in the selection of princi-
pals, in securing the enthusiastic CO.
operation of such a chorus, and such
an orchestra, in carrying on the neces-
sary work of training and practice, and
| in achieving such final results as the
stage gave last night she has scored
one of the most satisfactory triumphs
| of a life in which artistic triumphs
| have been many, and has added great
! ly to the vast sum of wholesome pleas
ure and happiness which it has been
| hers to create.
Mrs. Turner as Mariana" was in
splendid voice, and in dramatic hand
| ling of the part made every hand clap
she received, which were many, enthu-
sastic and sincere, well deserved. j.
| LoVette Rockwell, as Don Jose de
| Santarem," a part requiring dramatic
skill as well as eXacting vocal ablllty,
was master of the role. In his singing
he gave his friends new cause for re-
sentiment that he sings so little in pub
lie of late. Charles Elston as Don
| Caesar de Bazan,' showed good con-
ception of the swashbuckling, yet gem
erous character, a good deal of dram
attic skill, and in his pure tenor voice
gave the solos of the part most beau
tiful expression.
The most brilliant vocal gem of thu
evening the solo most sweetly sung in
purest voice, was that of "Lazarillo,
in the prison scene in the second act,
by Mrs. Charles Elston Nothing could
exceed the furore of enthusiasm II
aroused. If there could have been jus
titication for the very wise prohibition
| of encores Mrs. Elston's singing of
this solo would have been that justiti-
cation.
AS the Marquis de Moretefiori" AL
Ian Dunn was most excellent, and gaN Z
to the whole performance one OF ITS
best dramatic touches. Mrs. Percy
Benson as the "Marchioness de Morete-
fiori" showed much dramatic ability,
and was wholly satisfactory. Ernest
Ross sang the part of Charles ii,
King of Spain" in a beautiful, re5O-
nant voice that was thoroughly enjoy
able OF the others in the cast Wi.0
rose to the distinction of individual!
parts, George Kunkel was the "Alca-
de-" Hugo Herzer, the Captain of the
Guard" Lieutenant Harry Newton,
the "Old Gentleman" and {. II. Tracy
the Young Soldier"
Too high praise cannot be given to
the orchestra, the symphony Society
With instruments which for the most
part have the highest quality, played
with that which is the very soul OF
music, the love of it for it's own sake
this part of the performance alone
would have been well worth an even
ing spent in listening to it. w. f.
Jocher, as the conductor of the orcheS-
ira, showed a skill even his friends had
not credited him with. Without being
6orid or self aSSertiVe, he was vivid
in results, and helpful in his leadership
to both Vocalists and Observation-Disclosures.
A great deal of sincere praise might
be bestowed on the chorus. There was
a great deal of earnest work, ana an
almost entire absence Of that self
consciousness which is so often the de-
tracing feature of amateur opera Choir
uses. The stage scenes and the stage
pictures, the chorus made or filled out,
were we'll handled. When the guard
came in to arrest Don Caesar some
of the members Of the guard failed in
the soldierly exercise of eyes front
but who could blame them when there
were so many pretty girls to be loohed
at on the other side of the stage! The
dresses and gowns that We're worn on
the stage last night, not by the prin-
cipals alone, but in the chorus, might
easily make a fine-goOds exhibit worth
going to see. Mrs. Turner in the first
part of the opera, where she appears
as the Gitana in the streets of Madrid
wore a dashing, dazzling, gipsyque
costume, and in the later acts, white
l gown of ravishing beauty. Mrs. Percy
Benson as the "MarchOness de More
tefiori," was very handsomely gowned,
and in the ball room scene the ladies
| of the chorus almost if not quite out
shone the principals in vesture.
Sometime during the evening big
truck loaded with flowers must have
driven up to the opera house, for leis,