The Press. — London, England, 1857-08-15 00:00:00

the strong company at the Lyceum. Was the Handel Festival, absorbing Mr. Costa's time, anxiety, and energy, in the way ? Be this as it may, it is our duty i to point out the gaps, and we regret them. How Verdi's Traviata and Auber's Fra Diavolo were got up—operas also promised in the prospectus—the columns of THE PRESS have duly recorded. Both works were admirably executed, not only as regards principals, but with a perfection in the ensemble which no other opera-house in the world has ap proached ; and Costa renewed in these productions his triumphs of former years. The great mistake was that Era Diavolo came too late, M. Auber having delayed, it is stated, to send the new recitatives at an earlier period. On glancing at the number of times opens have been given, amateurs will be struck by the fact that three works by Verdi had a run col lectively of twenty four eights ; so that, out of fifty one performances, one composer's name occupied the ache nearly half the setsAon. At the other opera house Verdi's works were given seventeen times; so that the critics who have thundered away against him for the last few years have only laboured to increase his popularity. Those journalists who are so fond of proclaiming their own infallibility, and who preach about the omnipotence of the press, may take a useful lesson from the advance in public opinion made by Verdi, who owes little or nothing to jour• nalism in this country. His works have been attacked with unwonted asperity ; but, despite of reiterated abuse, things have come to that pass that Verdi for an operatic manager in London has become what the French call " l'homrne de la situation." Aud, with all due deference, there is no fault to be found with the public verdict; nor can any imputa tion be fairly made on the public taste. In painting, would the world rest satisfied always with the speci mens of the old masters ? Is there not a perpetual craving for works of modern days? And although we have Mozart and Rossini, Beethoven and DJni zetti, Gluck and Meyerbeer, Auber and Bellini, the thirst for novelty still exists everywhere. Verdi came at a moment when there was a musical blight over Italy. He is no doubt the master of lyric art. He is melodramatic and boisterous, but his colouring is vivid and his feeling is intense. The musician who conceived the last acts of Rigoletto and the Trovatore is a genius who is at once recognised, despite of the anathemas of purists and theorists. In addition to the celebrated artistes of former seasons, two débutantes have been brought out this year—Mlle. Parepa and Mlle. Victoire Balfe. The former had acquired some experience and fame in Barcelona and elsewhere; the latter was entirely new to the stage. As a general rule, experimental debuts ought not to be encouraged at theatres where the highest order of matured talent is naturally ex pected; and Mlle. Parepa seems to have suffered more by comparisons than from any great deficiencies on her part, for, although her Elvira in the Puritani was given but once, she proved herself at the Crystal Palace Concerts to be the possessor of no ordinary vocal gifts. Mlle. Balfe's advent was a signal success— more decided in Lucia than in Amina. The amateurs were astonished to find such a thoroughly trained vocalist in one so young ; and the whale question as regards her future career resolves itself into one of phy sical strength. If she gains in volume of voice, she bids fair to take the highest position on the lyric stage. We do not deem it necessary to follow every artist in his or her doings during the past season. The great fact which struck the operatic world with astonishment and delight was a sudden return of the brilliancy of Grisi's magnificent voice. She has been singing gloriously, and her final scenes in the Trovatore and Favorita have been worthy of her best days. Her Donna Anna was another " restora tion " which created a sensation. Mine. Bosio's Traviata and her Zerlina were special events in her brilliant career, her vocalisation being more finished than ever—progress with her being the rule, and not the exception. Didiee has sensibly advanced, both in singing and acting. In the Maria di Rohan she roused her listeners to animated ex pressions of delight; and in Azucena the character assumed more original and decided proportions. In the secondary female parts in operas Mr. Gye's troupe requires strengthening. As a comprimaria Mlle. Marai renders efficient services ; but she ought to have played Lisa. Mario has had his uncertain moments ; but, on the other hand, he has sung at times as only Mario can sing. How he seconded Orisi in the works we have cited all the world knows, as well as his fine achievement in the tenor music of the Traviata. Gardoni greatly raised his singing fame by the Fra Diavolo. Neri-Baraldi, as a sub• stitute for Mario on two occasions, besides his Edgardo, showed how strong the Royal Italian Opera was in tenors. Ronconi created a new part in Fro Diavolo, which will be considered as one of his best buffo delineations, and he was ably imitated by Tagliafico and Zeiger in the two robbers, forming a triad of comicalities rarely seen in one work. Formes was only heard in Leporello, his conception of which was essentially Spanish. Of the orchestral and choral forces it is unnecessary to write. The twelve operas which were given were as THE PEES S, Auc4rugT 15, 1867. usual splendidly executed, under Costa's masterly guidance. When there is a company collected in the habit of playing and singing together for years, the characters being rarely altered, the band and chorus remaining nearly the same, a perfection is insured for the ensemble. But if a troupe undergo constant changes, there must be confusion and dis order, for the amount of rehearsal and preparation in the thick of an operatic season must necessarily be limited. During the eleven years of the exist ence of the Royal Italian Opera the leading features of the establishment have remained unchanged ; hence the coherency and consistency of the per formances, with one mastermind like Costa directing them, which have so won the admiration of the severest judges as well as the general public. Mr. Gye has been tested during the most trying period of a director's career—namely, in the midst of ad verse circumstances of the most disheartening nature—and he has maintained his position with courage and dignity. In now entering upon his new undertaking, he will doubtless ponder well on the experience of the past, for the opportunity will be afforded to him of considering whether the old system of opera management in respect to the admissions before the curtain may not be susceptible of important changes, through which the public will gain materially and the capitalists substantially. We have been favoured with a view of the model of the new theatre. It will be an edifice worthy of the vast ; metropolis, in which such improvements are yearly seen in our public buildings. The future audiences will not sit as in the old theatre, on the south side, with the stage to the north, but they will be placed at the eastern extremity, the stage being on the western side. To effect this variation the Piazza Coffee-house and the houses in Prince's yard, as far as Hart-street, will be pulled down. The Grand Flower Conservatory, extending from the old market by the side of the Bedford Hotel into Bow street, was a colossal ccnception, forming of itself from the rentals the nucleus of a building fund. We understand the only change in the entire theatre will be the Duke of Bedford's private box as the ground landlord. The new opera-house will be opened without incumbrances of renters and other charges, which so effectually ruined the patent houses. CRYSTAL PALACE POULTRY SHOW. THE Crystal Palace Poultry Exhibition has taken place during the week, and has been very success ful. The show of poultry was extremely good, the birds were numerous, and of a high degree of excel lence ; the scale of prizes was liberal, and the facilities for the exhibition were such as the Crystal Palace only can offer. Nearly one thousand pens of poultry, all birds of the present year, were exhibited, and among them were some remarkable instances of what may be accomplished by breeders in bringing birds to early maturity. The pens of bantams, Spanish fowls, Dorkings, Cochin China, Brahma Pootra birds, and Hamburgs, were all ex tremely good and very interesting to amateurs or professional breeders. Among the bantams, a perfect little specimen belonging to the Hon. W. Vernon, of Wolsey-hall, Rugeley, undeniably attracted most attention. Among Dorkings, the birds exhibited by Mrs. St. John (95), Mr. F:ost (50), and the Rev. Stephen Donne (31), were remarkable for their beauty and fine development. The exhibition of Spanish fowls was one of the best ever seen. The Cochin Chinas, and Brahma Pootra birds, freely sustained their high reputation ; while the Ham burgs, with their beautiful gold and silver pencillings and spangles, were as near perfection as could he expected. Ducks and geese, with pigeons and rabbits, supplied a fair portion of the remaining part of an exhibition most snecessfully accomplished, which may now be accepted as a " great fact " in the entertainments offered by the Crystal Palace, and which every succeeding year will gain in interest, and prove mire attractive to the public, as well as advan tageous to the company. Much credit is due to Mr. Houghton for his excellent arrangements and classi fication of the specimens exhibited. CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS, ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—^TIIB performance of this troupe of singers and dancers, whose favourable debut has lately taken place at this popular theatre, would appear to increase in popularity and attraction. A full and, for the season of the year, a fashionable audience attended the St. James's Theatre last Saturday evening. The whole of the performances were favourably received and warmly applauded, and several of the melodies and dances were encored. Amongst the audience we observed the Marquis of Donegal' and party, the Earl of Kilmorey, the Countess of Essex and Miss Johnstone, the Viscount Cranbourne, Sir Henry Webb, Hon. Major Calthorpe, Colonel Martyn, Mr. Sturges, Captain Lyon, Captain Ponsonby, Mr. &c. The performances will extend only over the ensuing week. VIZIER, the greet corniste, has started to the United States,. THE WORCESTER DIOCESAN AND BIRMINGHAM ARCHITECTURAL SOCIETIES held their first joint meeting at Birmingham on Thursday, under the pre sidency of Lord Lyttleton. There were present the Mayor of Birmingham, the Ven. Archdeacons Sandford and Thorpe, the Rev. Dr. Miller, Mr. C. H. Brace bridge, Dr. Badham, Mr. C. Ratcliffe, and a large attendance a clergy and professional gentlemen connected with the neighbourhood. along Rtarhet nnD Citg Inttiligenct. FRIDAY EVENING. Tne return of the Bank of England for the week ending the Bth inst., shows the following ci,auges compared with that for the week preceding : Decrease in Circulation Increase in Public Deposits Decrease in Other Deposits Decrease in Government Securities Increase in Other Securities Decrease in Bullion Increase in Rest _93,663 Increase in Reserve Bullion in Both Departments Circulation, including Bank Post Bills The falling off in the Bullion shown by this comparison is wholly unimportant, and from the increase in the Re. serve the general position of the Bank is strengthened. This is owing to the large addition to the Public Deposits, which now exceed (1,000,0001. The Private Securities now amount to more than eighteen and a half millions, show ing that a considerable demand fur money existed last week. The Monthly Debtor and Creditor Account of the Bank of France, made up to yesterday, the 13th inst., was pub lished in the Monitcur this morning. It is ess favour able in all essential respects than the preceding account for August, which, it will be recollected, created some disappointment, especially at the falling off in the bullion. According to the present return the stock of bullion held by the Bank is 9,800,1071., showing a reduction of 088,8881. during the month ; but the additional liability upon the circulation is only 37,7521., whilst in the preceding month it was augmented by no less than 1,581,0081. The discounts continue to show an increase, but only to the amount of 659,7111., and some addition is made to the aggregate advances on public securities, rail way Oates, and bullion, indicating an increased demand for money. This is proved by a falling off in the private deposits. The Treasury balances stand higher than those of last month, but to no great extent. The following table shows the principal changes in the position of the establishment : Increase in Circulation .. Increase in Public Deposits Decrease in Other Deposits Increase in Discounts Decrease in Bullion Decrease in Advances on Public Securities Increase in Advances on Bullion 16,468 Increase in Advances on Railway Securities _ _ Increase in Premiums on Purchases of Gold and Silver Circulation (August 13) 24,382,780 Bullion (August 13) The following table shows comparatively the several amounts of discounts and advances in August and July AUGUST. JULY. Discounts 424,055,906 X 23,396,195 Advances on Bullion 108,420 91,952 „ Public Securities .. 1,133,692 1,168,176 „ Railway „ .. 1,040,168 803,772 Total .. X 28,340,188 £23,462,095 Deduct .. 25,4132,095 Increase in August .. £878,091 The Money Market is, upon the whole, in an easier condition than it was this time last week, although up to Wednesday there was considerable pressure, and full terms were required. The pressure, however, was not caused by any increased demand on commercial account, for trade is very quiet, but by vague rumours that an immediate loan of 10,000,0001. would be required to enable the Indian government to meet the demands created by the mutiny. This impression, however, was dissipated by the assurances of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons on Wednesday that the resources of the Indian treasury are adequate to the calls upon it—that is, we presume, for the present. The market, relieved by this statement, immediately became easier, and it has so continued ; but it is not in a perfectly settled state. For the present, however, there are no fears of any extraordinary calls upon it, while the supplies in the hands of the banks and discounthouses are ample. Bates are now at five and a half per cent., the best bills having been taken during the last day or two slightly under those terms. The Bank has increased its stock of bullion during the week by purchases to the extent of 237,0001. On the other hand, about 40,0001. have been withdrawn to pay for the silver bought upon the Continent for transmission to India, so that the balance of increase is 197,0001. The imports of the week, which, except a small sum from the coast of Africa, are wholly from the United States, amount to 2.8,8911. The exports, including the sum sent to the Continent for silver, and 61,2501. for Brazil, are about 160,0001., thus leaving a balance in favour of the stock in this country. Against this loissi be placed the teat SW