The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1896-03-11 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

OPERA AT THE ROYAL COURT.  Special interest wee attached to the production of the "Bohemian Girl" on Saturday evening in view of the fact that it was announced as the only performance that would be given of Balfe's popular opera this season, and there was an enormous attendance, notwithstanding the very unpropitious weather. Madlle. Relda was a very pleasing Arline, The Thaddeus of Mr. M'Guokin i.e. familiar figure, and the popular tenor was more thanusually successful in his singing of "Then you'll remember "and "When the fair land of Poland." Mr. Alec Marsh was a dignified and not too forlorn Count. Be sang "The heart bowed down" excellently wetland with great feeling, the demand for an encore, which very naturally followed, being undeniable. Kim Francess Graham. aa the Gip:ay Queen, sang with mach taste, and gained cordial applause. for her artistic rendering of the interpolated air,. "Love smiles but to deceive." Mr. Winckworth was an ideal Devilshoof and thoroughly delighted his audience with his whimsicalities. His tambourine dance was an especially clever performance. In the bands of Mr. Funk Wood the part of Florealine was made lees ridiculous and more comprehensible than metal, and he deserves high commendation for Ilia thoughtful study and especially for hie clear enunciation of patter which an a rode is so garbled and indistinct. There was again a very crowded auditorium on Monday evening when two popular operas were inoluded in the programme, these being Leoncavallo's " Paglisoci„' and Maacagni's "Rosa* Ohivahry," both of which were conducted by Mr. Claude Jaquinot. In the first produetioce the faithless Nedda was ably impersonated by Mies Esty, who made the peat one of quite irresistible winsomeness. In the Way within a play she wee seen tegreat advantage, and her efforta in the tea& seen* were ably seconded by Mr. Barton M'Onokin. Nothing wield exceed the sublime effect produced by his spoken announcement, "The comedy is over," as the curtain descends after he has in his ftencty murdered Ws wife and her lover Silvio. The latter pare, in the hands of Mr. William Paull, was presented with unusual earnestness, his impassioned singing being especially to be commended. Mr. Alec Marsh and Mr. Frank Wood were alike aucceseful in their respective parts, the former being heartily recalled after his finished declamation of the prologue, and the latter giving exceptionally distinct utterance to the serenade which forms the chief number of his part. The artistes were all called before the curtain at the close of the performance. With such artistes as Miss Russell and Mr. Herb mooch entrusted with the impersonation of the chief characters in "Rustic Chivalry" the excellence of the performance may be well imagined. The popular prima donna was in magnificent voice, and it was largely owing to her superb vocalism, although the members of the chorus also deserve high praiee, that I the singing of the Easter hymn figuratively "brought I down the house," a repetition having to be conceded. Mr. Hedniondt never sang or acted better, and this representation of the opera haa seldom if ever been surpassed by the company. Mr. Paull was an 'insufficient and thoroughly impressive Alfio, while Miss Heenvn and Miss Williams were satisfactory in their respective parts. The orchestra acquitted themselves admirably, playing throughout with the utmost precision and taste. The familiar intermeneo, which after being hackneyed and having its day, was again heard with delight and fresh interest by everybody, was superbly played and enthusiastically redemanded Mr. Jaquinot bowed his acknowledgments, but wag constrained to afford a second hearing of the musics. Last night M. Godard's opera "The Vivandiere" was given its first English performance with Madlie. &lie de Lussan and Mr. Hedmondt in the east, and the production naturally aroused much Interest.