LA BOHEME
Presented on 21, 23, 25 May at the Grand Opera House, Belfast as part of the Grand Opera Society of Northern Ireland’s Season
Rodolfo – Umberto Grilli
Marcello – Giuseppe Forgione
Schaunard – Giorgio Giorgetti
Colline – Loris Gambelli
Mimi – Edy Amadeo
Musetta – Valeria Mariconda
Benoit / Alcindoro – Ernesto Vezzosi
Sergeant – Hugh Logan
Parpignol – Herbert Cameron
Conductor – Giuseppe Ruisi
Producer – Enrico Frigero
NABUCCO
Presented on 22, 24, 26 May at the Grand Opera House, Belfast as part of the Grand Opera Society of Northern Ireland’s Season
Nabucco – Paolo Silveri
Abigaille – Francesca Como
Zaccaria – Loris Gambelli
Fenena – Paola Mantovani
High Priest of Baal – Ernesto Vezzosi
Conductor – Giuseppe Ruisi
“C.E.M.A. still to decide on grants distribution – Suggestions that the Government should have a say in the distribution of money they granted to C.E.M.A. were rejected by the Minister of Finance (Capt. Terence O’Neill). Mr. Diamond (Rep. Lab., Falls) had asked for an announcement on the amount of grant by C.E.M.A. for the next season of the Grand Opera Society of Northern Ireland performances in view of the need for early information to assist the Society in making their plans and commitments. Captain O’Neill said that the Government provided C.E.M.A. with a grant, but it did not decide how it should be spent. It was left to the Council to share out their support among competing claims for the different arts.
Last August C.E.M.A. offered the Grand Opera Society certain assistance by way of grants and a deficiency guarantee towards the expenses of its next season, and last November the Society accepted that assistance in principle.
Mr. Phelim O’Neill (U., North Antrim) said that his Information was that the Grand Opera Society received only half as much as the Philharmonic Society. He asked the Minister to look into the matter ‘so that fairer distribution could be obtained.’ Mr. Warnock (U., St. Anne’s) said that while both were good, the Philharmonic was twice as good as the Grand Opera Society. If there was to be a revision he thought the amounts for both should be doubled. Captain O’Neill said that the Government preferred to leave the distribution to experts.” [Belfast Newsletter, Friday, January 19, 1962; Page: 7]
“‘La Boheme’ in opera season – It is good news that we are to have a season of Italian opera again this year, short though the season may be. In May the Grand Opera Society of Northern Ireland will put on at the Opera House. Belfast, Verdi’s ‘Nabucco.’ and Puccini’s ‘La Boheme,’ with an Italian company from Rome supplemented by a local chorus, who are now hard at work rehearsing. Gramophone recitals and lectures are the practical means by which the,local chorus learns its job. The first of these recitals is to take place in the Missions to Seamen’s Hall on March 23, when the lecturer will be Mr. John Cowser, and the opera ‘Nabucco.’ I am told that friends of grand opera will be welcome at the recital.” [Belfast Newsletter, Thursday, March 15, 1962; Page: 6]
“A disc to take care of – The local chorus of the Grand Opera Society of Northern Ireland are enjoying the privilege of learning their parts in the Verdi opera, ‘Nabucco,’ from a disc that is the only recorded version in existence in any part of the world of this opera. In this recording the part of Nabucco is sung by Paolo Silveri, formerly of the Covent Garden Opera Company, who will be singing the part in the Grand Opera Society’s production in Belfast in the week commencing May 7.
Silveri has a world-wide reputation and claims to be the first Italian baritone to sing many famous baritone roles in English.” [Belfast Newsletter, Friday, April 06, 1962; Page: 6]
“Busy week for Italian singers in Belfast – Not very long ago it looked as if interest in grand opera was dead in Belfast, but all the indications are that the forthcoming week organised by the Grand Opera Society of Northern Ireland, at the Opera House, is going to be well-supported. ‘La Boheme’ is of course an old favourite, but a great deal of Interest attaches to ‘Nabucco’ which, so far as can be ascertained, has never been performed here before and is said to be very spectacular.
A busy week of singing is punctuated for the Italian ‘stars’ who will be here by a series of entertainments which include being received at Government House, at the Clty Hall and an expedition to the famous Rowallane Gardens. Although the week opens on Monday with ‘Boheme,’ Tuesday is gala night for ‘Nabucco,’ and the Prime Minister, Lord Brookeborough, as well as Lord Dunleath president of the Society, is to bring a party. Lord Wakehurst is to attend with a party on Saturday night.
Among those who have already been heard in Belfast are Paolo Sllveri, Giuseppe Forgione, Loris Gambelli and Ernesto Vezzozi, but music lovers will be just as anxious to hear the new-comers As a foretaste of what is to come listeners on the B.B.C. Home Service to-night can hear recordings made by the chorus of excerpts from ‘Nabucco.'” [Belfast Newsletter, Thursday, May 17, 1962; Page: 3]
“Impressive performance of ‘La Boheme’ – The Grand Opera Society season at the Opera House, Belfast, opened last night with an impressive performance of ‘La Boheme.’ Excellently sung and acted by the principals, admirably staged and with fine singing by the chorus, it was one of the Society’s most successful productions.
There were some minor Irritations, such as the anachronism of the modern divan, complete with plastic cover, on which Mimi died; the snow in Act III which fell on one spot; the bad grouping of the chorus in Act II — but these were more than compensated for by the singing.
The orchestra, after a somewhat uncertain first act, settled down to give a very good performance. Their cramped conditions no doubt contributed to a certain lack of balance in tone at times, and there were occasions when their playing was too loud for the soft singing, as in the cafe scene.
Edy Amadeo as Mimi was inclined to be rather uncertain in the upper register at the beginning, but later her singing became much better sustained and her death bed scene was truly moving. Valeria Mariconda’s Musetta was a convincing coquette; she sang with warmth and a fine rhythmic sense.
Umberto Grilli, who sang Rudoph, had also a slight roughness of tone at the start, but later was on top of his form, particularly In the last act. Giuseppe Forglone gave a delightful study of the musician Schaunard; he sang with conviction and showed a good sense of phrasing throughout.
The chorus master was Douglas Armstrong, the producer Enrico Frigero and the orchestra was conducted by Giuseppe Ruisi” [Belfast Newsletter, Tuesday, May 22, 1962; Page: 3]
“ITALIAN SINGER ILL – Opera House ‘secret’ revealed – A backstage drama which had been going on since the week-end was revealed to the audience at the Opera House, Belfast, last night before the start of the gala performance of Verdi’s ‘Nabucco.’ Ferrucio Mazzoli, one of the principal Italian singers who was to have sung the important part of Zaccaria, the High Priest of Israel, in the opera was taken i11 at the week-end when travelling with his colleagues to Belfast from Dublin. Shortly after he arrived In Belfast it became evident that he would be unable to sing, this week and it was decided to fly him home to Rome immediately. Meanwhile, in Belfast a hasty re-arrangement-of principal members of the cast was made and Loris Gambelli, who was to have sung the smaller part of the High Priest of Baal, agreed to take over the part of Zaccaria, although he had never sung it before.
After hours of concentrated work he mastered it in two days and last night gave an impeccable performance which won him ovation after ovation from the packed audience.
A member of the executive committee of the Grand Opera Society commented afterwards: ‘It is incredible to think that yesterday Gambelli was still reading the part.’
Among those who joined in the tremendous applause for Gambelli were the Prime Minister and Lady Brookeborough, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Belfast (Alderman and Mrs. Martin Wallace), and the Recorder, Judge Topping, and Mrs. Topping.
Ernesto Vezzosi, one of the principals In ‘La Boheme’ but not one of the scheduled cast for ‘Nabucco,’ took over Gambelli’s original part as the High Priest of Baal.” [Belfast Newsletter, Wednesday, May 23, 1962; Section: Front page, Page: 1]
“‘Nabucco’ a stirring production – As reported in Page 1, the hero of last night’s performance of Verdi’s “Nabucco” at the Opera House, Belfast, was undoubtedly Loris Gambelli, but the amazing high quality of his performance, prepared as it was at such short notice, merely typified the whole spirit of this stirring: production.
The greatest moments In th« opera are choral, and the Northern Ireland Grand Opera Society chorus rose to the occasion magnificently. They were particularly impressive In the song of thanksgiving in the first act, and in the blasphemy scene in Act II, but their finest hour wan certainly in the famous lament of the Jews by the Waters of Babylon which they sang with moving beauty.
The principals were excellent: Francesca Como, a soprano of tremendous range and power, gave a compelling performance of Abigaille. Paola Mantovani’s Fenena had a rich warm quality; she too had power in her singing when it was required, and gave the impression of always being well within her range. Paolo Silveri’s Nabucco had great strength; his acting, particularly in the mad scene, stood out even in a production where acting standards were unusually high.
The playing of the orchestra, under Giuseppe Ruisi, matched the singing in quality. It had a much better balance of tone than on the previous evening and contributed much to the success of a fine performance – J. C.” [Belfast Newsletter, Wednesday, May 23, 1962; Page: 8]
“Opera Society free of debt – The loss of more than £2.000 Incurred by the Grand Opera Society of Northern Ireland had been completely wiped out. This was stated at the annual meeting of the Society at which the secretary, Mr. W. H. Baird, In his report paid tribute to C.E.M.A.’s help and. to UTV’s public-spirited gesture in making a substantial grant to the Society. He added that because the Opera House seating capacity had been reduced it had been necessary to raise lower and intermediate seat prices. This had resulted In a certain amount of ‘sales resistance.’ It was clear no further increases could be made in this direction and additional revenue would have to come” from elsewhere.
The following were elected to the executive committeer:- Mr. J. Patterson (chairman), the Rev. P. J. O’Kelly (vice-chairman), Mr. W. H. Baird (hon. secretary), Mr. F. G. Dougall (hon. treasurer), Mr D. M.Arnold. Dr. R. D. N. Blair, Mr. D. Brown. Mr. J. Cowser, Mr. H Gemmell. Mrs J. Seymour, Mr. K. R. Shimeld.” [Belfast Newsletter, Tuesday, July 03, 1962; Page: 4]
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