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Guglielmo Lardelli, who "occupied a prominent position in Sydney for many years" prior to the premiere of Katherine, first premiered his musical score for the opera at a private performance in the salon of the Continental Hotel, Wynyard Square. Among the forty or fifty people attending were Henri Kowalski and W. J. Wilson. At the conclusion of the evening the composer announced that it was his intention to place the opera before a London audience some time later that year. The Sydney Morning Herald critic writes of the evening: 'Signor Lardelli, who, in addition to his gifts as a pianist and singer, has the power of droll expression, took his audience through the two act opera with surprising vivacity (11 May 1895, p.7).
Mr Bruce Smith, in his address to guests following this private performance is quoted as saying that 'he was authorised to say the book was the work of a lady resident in the colony' (Browne was then living in Drummoyne) and that 'her libretto was so sparkling that he could only hope that such a female "Gilbert" might long collaborate in unbroken amity with the "Australian Sullivan"' (p.6).
Reviews of the Town Hall premiere indicate that the production suffered from the 'necessarily incomplete nature of the performance' having been 'brought forward, as all new pieces are at London matinees, more or less "in the rough" [and that it had yet] to undergo the process of remodelling bestowed upon every musical comedy during rehearsal at the theatre.' The Herald's critic was nevertheless impressed with the work of the librettist and composer, writing: 'There are heaps of good things in the work. Mrs Margery Brown's lyrics are excellent.. and Signor Lardelli's music shows a true melodic gift, all the romantic numbers are taking, and the second part of the opera is musically strong" (17 May 1895, p.3).
Songs and musical numbers known to have made up the score are: "The Katherine Waltz;" "Now Rides the Night" (sung by Katherine); "Semper Fidelis" (Wizard); "Night is Coming" (duet between Katherine and Archibald); and "Eldorado" (Archibald). The libretto, written by Mrs Margery Brown, later to write the libretto for Alfred Hill's comic opera Lady Dolly, is said to have in no way detracted from the composer's "very genuine success" in scoring a work described in the paper as "tuneful, animated and always to the point" (Sydney Morning Herald 22 March 1895, p.6).
Mr Bruce Smith, in his address to guests following this private performance is quoted as saying that 'he was authorised to say the book was the work of a lady resident in the colony' (Browne was then living in Drummoyne) and that 'her libretto was so sparkling that he could only hope that such a female "Gilbert" might long collaborate in unbroken amity with the "Australian Sullivan"' (p.6).
Reviews of the Town Hall premiere indicate that the production suffered from the 'necessarily incomplete nature of the performance' having been 'brought forward, as all new pieces are at London matinees, more or less "in the rough" [and that it had yet] to undergo the process of remodelling bestowed upon every musical comedy during rehearsal at the theatre.' The Herald's critic was nevertheless impressed with the work of the librettist and composer, writing: 'There are heaps of good things in the work. Mrs Margery Brown's lyrics are excellent.. and Signor Lardelli's music shows a true melodic gift, all the romantic numbers are taking, and the second part of the opera is musically strong" (17 May 1895, p.3).
Songs and musical numbers known to have made up the score are: "The Katherine Waltz;" "Now Rides the Night" (sung by Katherine); "Semper Fidelis" (Wizard); "Night is Coming" (duet between Katherine and Archibald); and "Eldorado" (Archibald). The libretto, written by Mrs Margery Brown, later to write the libretto for Alfred Hill's comic opera Lady Dolly, is said to have in no way detracted from the composer's "very genuine success" in scoring a work described in the paper as "tuneful, animated and always to the point" (Sydney Morning Herald 22 March 1895, p.6).
Notes
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According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Lardelli almost suffered the catastrophic loss of his only copy of the orchestral score. The paper's "Musical and Dramatic Notes" column reports that a friend of Lardelli's who had been entrusted the score lost it somewhere on the road between the city and Redfern a few weeks before the Town Hall premiere. Luckily, a gentleman driving his buggy along the road several hours after the score had been dropped picked it up, took it to his home at Cook's River and then returned it to the composer several days later (27 April 1895, p.5).
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Interest in the opera was generated in response to Bruce Smith's post-performance comment that it 'was a sad reflection that few works of art, music or literature were accepted in Australia until they had received the seal of approval of recognition in England. Smith went on to name several novelists who he claimed had been driven away because of the "mental attitude of the average Australian"' (Sydney Morning Herald 22 March 1895, p.6). In the same paper the following day the "Musical and Dramatic Notes" columnist wrote at length on some of the aspects raised by Smith - suggesting that while Smith had "neatly expressed" the problem, the fact was that producers could hardly be blamed for wishing to avoid the risks associated on chancing a four week season on untried productions when they could avoid such risks by purchasing a big London success. The writer concludes, however, by suggesting equally that "the great mass of concert-goers and the great theatrical public of Australia are remarkably fair and intelligent in their verdicts, and care very little for 'the seal of English approval' (23 March 1895, p.4).
Production Details
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1895: Continental Hotel, Sydney; 21 March [concert version] - Musician/Singer: Signor Lardelli (piano).
1895: Town Hall, Sydney, 16 May. - Conductor Guglielmo Lardelli; Orchestra Leader G. Rivers Allpress. - Cast incl. Violet Birkenhead (Katherine), Mrs Charles Edwards (Hecate), Frank Adams (Archibald), H. Weir (Wizard), Fred Leston (Poet), Harry Leston (Doctor).- Madame Lardelli was originally cast as Katherine but fell ill shortly before opening night. Her understudy, Violet Birkenhead (who was to have played Dame Darling) took on the role instead.
- The orchestra is said to have comprised some 20 musicians, while the chorus comprised over 200 singers (Sydney Morning Herald 11 May 1895, p.7).
- Selections from the opera were played by the City Organist at the Town Hall during an afternoon recital presented the day before the premiere (Sydney Morning Herald 16 May 1895, p.6).
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Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Last amended 26 Nov 2011 13:44:01
