"Orpheus" which was first performsd in Mantua in the year 1607 is one 5f the great landmarks in musical ref history, and is a work which no one who is interested in music or drama Volsky's Í should miss, Part of the opera was performed in the firn version of "Anthony Adverse." It will be direct-Jed and produced by Mr. R. L. Stuart will be Sung in English, the tra lat made by him O: M dure "Ihe Oxford revival of 1925. e with modern instruments effect of Monteverde's orchestra.
libretto, ascribed to Alessandro 0, follows faithfully the classi-story of Orpheus and Eurydice pt as regards the ending. In th Orpheus is torn to pieces by n' women, enraged at the cian's indifference to their In the opera he i5 persuaded his father, the God Apollo, who -down from Olympus for the the Greek Drama, announces in long recitative which in restrained dramatic intensity is unparalleled in the history of opera, the tragic news of the death of Burydice and its attendant circumstances.
The part of Orpheus is extremely difficult to fill, and again the Shanghai Players have. been -extremely fortun nate in obtaining the services of Mr. Corrie Andrew, second-class yeoman of the U.SS. Luzon, who is the possesser of a wonderful baritone voice which has earned him the sobriquet in the United States of "the song bird of the American Navy." As has already been announced Mrs. Ruth Fullam will appear as Music, Mrs. Sonia Kucej as Proserpina and Mr. Vladimir Shushlin as Charon. None of these singers need any introduction to Shanghai audiences. The part of First Shepherd and Apollo will be doubled by Mr. J; M. E. Lopes, another "find." Mrs. Dixie Umpleby will appear as Second Shepherd, Miss Winifred Allan as Eurydice and Mr. Y. K. Sze as Pluto. These three rigers played important parts in the recent production of Mr. Luigi de Luca's opera "Willow." The parts of Third and Fourth Shepherds will be taken by Mr. F. J. Lopes and Mr. Jack Chadderton respectively.
The ballet which is an important §|feature of the opera is in the hands of Miss Ann Summers. Those taking part in it are Miss Suzette Arnhold, Mrs. E. L. Bennett, Mrs. Bonnar, Mrs. D. M. Butt, Miss I. Chien, Miss Mary Clifton, Mrs, C. T. Crowe, Miss Tommy Hawkings, Mrs. G. M. Horey, Miss Marian Kiefer, Miss Dallas Franklin, Miss Irene Noon, Miss Rutherford and Mrs, Watkin Williams.
The chorus of nymphs, shepherds and infernal spirits includes Mrs. Aiers, Miss Patricia Allan, Miss Mildred Cooper, Miss Rosalind Cooper, Miss Huxley, Miss Jean Kale, Mrs. Peggy Johnson, Mrs. de Pooh, Miss Alice Morris, Mrs. May Pecaric, Miss Pocetta Sanders, Miss Isabel Watt, and Messrs. Bertram Russell Brown, W. K. Corneck, da Costa, James M. Dunlap, Ernest Fensham, Ronald G. Fuller, Tommy Huxley, Tony Home, H. J. Lubeck and Bobby Woodhead.
Cyclorama to be Used The dresses are designed by Mrs. Peters and Mr. Edmund Toeg. The stage manager is Mr. Gerald Horey, the lighting will be.by Mr. F. M. Howard. In the latter connection it is believed that this production will -|be the first in which a cyclorama has been used by foreigners in Shanghai. There will be a symphony orchestra of 38 musicians consisting partly of members of the Municipal orchestra who are generously giving their services and partly of talented amateurs. "The import part of the "continue" originally intended for harpsichord will be rendered on the pianoforte by Nodine de Leuchtenberg Beauharnais, Mr. R. J. E. Price has kindly cond to act as business manager of the production and assistant producer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.