The Press. — London, England, 1854-06-17 00:00:00

572 the Pitsford performance at Epsom, in the year of grace Eighteen Hundred and Fifty? the quotation of Little Harry being lOst. IMb., beating a field of sixteen, with Kingston to boot, in at Ost., there being only 71b. between them. On Wednesday the Royal Hunt Cup, won by Brocket, 4 years, Bst. 41b., with Alfred Day up, beating the favourite, Alembic, and twenty-one others, 100 to 7 against him at starting : this must have been another good thing for those behind the scenes. West Australian, with Alfred Day up, must have been brought out for exercise in the Fourth Ascot Triennial Stakes, as the odds were 8 to 1 on him. On Thursday Mr. Dorsay Clark had a rare sweetener in the Visitors' Plate, which proved a jujube to him. Alfred Day on West Australian, sport ing the blue and silver braid livery of Lord Londes borough, probably also rendered it a certainty for the Gold Cup on Thursday to adorn his lordship's table. Old Drinkald had a turn in the New Stakes (Alfred up again), with Monge, by Mathematician, a 2 year old colt, 6 to 1 at starting : 40 to 1 was taken about him for the next year's Derby. Look out, gentlemen ! this was a smart spin: it will be no wonder if Drinky keeps him from the public gaze till next May. Mr. Charles Knight, who is always suggesting some public benefit, has privately proposed the idea of throwing light cast-iron bridges over the principal thoroughfares, which we all know are so incon veniently crowded ; and there is no danger to which a Londoner is subjected more frequently, and yet with greater hazard, than that of the crossings ; and this seems a capital notion. It is idle to talk of the imposing and overwhelm ing solemnity of the Crystal Palace on Saturday. Multitudes are always a stirring sight in themselves. Add music, magnificently performed—bowers in full bloom under the glistening arches of a palace such as the world never yet saw. The Queen was visibly affected : several of us saw her tremble with pleasant surprise and emotion. At each stave of " God save the Queen " they fired salvos of cannon, and once or twice the cheers of the people seconded the artillery. Madame Novello sang like a true daughter of England "God save our gracious Queen ! " The manufacturers were but poorly represented on the counters of the building; the terms were too high. The sketches of the Queen's pictures made for Mr. B. C. Hall, on view at Messrs. Cclnaghi's, are very charming. At the sale of the celebrated collection of the late Mr. Woodburn all the prints brought high prices, especially the "Marc Antonios." Messrs. Col naghi bought a " Lucretia " at fifty guineas ; but the whole of the early Italian school excited strong competition. Every man of feeling must rejoice to hear that there is a chance of provision for Nelson's daughter, Mrs. Ward. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the objections were very slight to a Government annuity. There is some talk of a grand theatrical performance for her benefit—Sims Reeves with a budget of Dibdin's ballds. lint Arts. ROYAL GALLERY OF ART. THERE is now on view at Messrs. Colnaghi's a collec tion of drawings, very beautifully executed, from some of the finest pictures in the galleries of her Majesty and Prince Albert. Recognising the able and earnest labours of Mr. S. C. Hall in his Art-Journal and other publications, the Queen and Prince have gra ciously given him permission to engrave the finest works in their collections, and for this purpose the drawings have been made. The plates will be en graved in line by the most eminent engravers, and will be issued in different classes to suit the conve nience of subscribers. From the rare excellence of the pictures, and from the popular character of the enterprise, it is to be anticipated that the work will meet with extensive patronage. The reputation of Mr. Hall is a guaran tee that no pains will be spared to ensure excellence in the several issues of the work, and to make it worthily fulfil the munificent design of her Majesty, to allow, as far as possible, all classes to participate in the enjoyment and instruction which they them selves derive from the "cherished treasures of their several homes." As the collection will remain on view till the end of this month, the London public may for them selves form some opinion of the great beauty and value of the collection, and of the extreme care bestowed upon the drawings. Those from Le Jeune's fine picture of the " Liberation of Slaves among Ancient Jews, " of Frost's " Cupid Sleeping," of Stanfield's "Royal Yacht, Cornwall," of Cope's " Cardinal Wolsey," of Danby's " Seraglio at Con. stantinople," and others, represent the character and spirit of the originals with admirable distinctness and truth. _ _ _ The compliment paid to Mr. Hall is a very high one, but it is well-deserved. It is now between fifteen and sixteen years since he first cemme n ced his ' with the Art-Journal. THE PRESS. During the whole of that period he has devoted himself to its management with a singleness of purpose and honesty of aim,—united with great application,--of which there are few examples in art literature. He has steadily adhered to the design with which he set out, of cultivating a taste for art by popular criticism, and gratifying it by good engravings from great masters. By his labours he has contributed to the formation and success of those vast art-enterprises which form such a pro minent feature in the history of our time. The work in progress is in many respects the most important which he has yet undertaken. The reli ance he bas hitherto placed on the public appre ciation of his enterprise has never yet failed him, and we are persuaded will not do so now. It is gratifying to find that royal patronage, and some thing more—for the copyright of many of the pic tures must be extremely valuable—is so cordially afforded to an undertaking which, under Mr. Hall's management, cannot fail to advance the interests of art, and prove satisfactory to the public. pusit. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. Dunwn the past week Mme. Grisi has been the pre siding genius of this theatre. Supported by the best artists of Europe, she has enacted the heroine in Lucrezia Borgia, one of her most successful parts, perhaps the most suited to the very remarkable physical qualities with which Nature has endowed her. Either from prejudice or habit we have conceived that Lucresia Borgia will vanish from the stage with Mme. Grisi; anyhow, it will be many a long day before we can see the vindictive Italian mother so completely represented. It is bpt justice to say that the general execution of the opera is de serving of the highest praise. DRURY LANE. THE management here deserves unquestionable praise for their revival of Mozart's Seraglio. In the actual dearth of new productions, it becomes almost a duty to look out for the neglected successes of former days—a duty more easily performed by such an establishment as that at Drury Lane than by the more cumbrous and expensive management of the Italian Opera. A well-tilled house and a well-pleased audience were the deserved reward. Nevertheless we cannot say that this production forms an exception to the general rule, that what the world has once thrown away is seldom worth picking up again. The style of The Seraglio is that of its day, when La Serva Padroza rode triumphant on the stage—a style full of phrases and ideas, often excellent, but without the fixity and connection which alone gives them force to modern ears. Like the music, the action is all acci, dent—spirited he: e and there —never sustained. The mind of Mozart, full of melody to overflowing, throws off these same phrases with wonderful and perhaps unfortunate facility, and the consequence is that you wonder why in the midst of so much beautiful melody you cannot persuade yourself to be pleased. You find at last that with all this uniform beauty you want that without which all the rest is as nothing,—interest. The work is like a Cape plain, all heath and geranium. Historically the work is of considerable value. One traces in many passages, the duet at the beginning of the second act espe cially, the germ of the school of Cimarosa and Rossini. On the other hand, the German school peeps out in the long and tiresome yet meritorious solo of Constance which follows. This and one or two more such passages explain the reason why the opera, when first attempted in Italy, was sent back as full of errors of the copyist. The bass buffo song in the third act is the only one throughout which displays the finish and completeness which a very little more practice enabled Mozart to acquire. The story is trilling. A lady and her soubrette, with a knight and squire for lovers, fall into the hands of a pacha and his steward, who become their lovers too, and from whom they alternately escape. The want of landmark in such a story, with the same fault in the music, are, we fear, fatal to any lengthened success. The vocalisation, like the act ing, was sufficiently easy, excepting that the prima donna is rather severely tried in the second act. This part fell to Mlle. Rudersdorff, who acquitted herself to perfection. Mlle. Agnes Bury made a naive and charming soubrette. The weight of amusing the audience fell on Formes, the 'l'urltish steward, to whom the part was adapted in every way, and he kept up the . spirit of tho char ac t er i n fi ne style. The real Christian parts fell to Herr Peaz and Herr Castelli, and that of the pacha to Holzel, who did well what he bad to do, but looked anything rather than a pacha, as, indeed, how could he? What pacha in love would stand stock still for half an hour, while Mlle. Rudersdorff was pouring forth her emotions ? The opera was produced on Wednes day, and repeated last night. SATURDAY►, FRENCH OPERA. THE only novelty this week has been La Proniiiie, by Clapisson, an opera which has had a great rim at Paris, but which seems to us to possess, musically speaking, scarce even a fraction of merit. Mad ame Cabel was the life and soul of the performance ; in. deed we can only ascribe the patient endurance of M. Clapisson's dreary and barren music for threQ hours and a half to her constant presence on the stage. Madame Cabel is one of those singers who fascinates us we scarce know why. Her school of singing is certainly good, but her powers of vocali sation and expression are by no means extraordinary; and her voice, save that fora French one it is rather above the average, would by most critics be held positively indifferent. Yet, for all this, she possesses undeniably a certain portion of that t...lent which can melt the stony hearted; and this heaven -born gift, added to her expressive countenance, intelligent acting, and ease upon the stage, combine to obtain for her that success which has been denied to countless artists of superior genius and intellect. We shall hope to see Madame Cabel in some opera of greater musical pretensions. mina isixtoetai yvtua eiLLILM kW labours in connection wit tilt gram. PRINCESS'S THEATRE. From Village to Court, the notice of which from unavoidable circumstances we were unable to give last week, is a very agreeable little comic drama, in two acts, by Mr. J. M. Morton. As our acquaintance with the French plays of this day is not sufficient to enable us to pronounce this piece to be of foreign origin, we will give the author credit for an original production, well constructed and carefully written, as the spirit of the times demands. 'The principal characters were sustained by Messrs. Murray and Heath, and Messrs. Harley, Fisher, and Cathcart, who all claim a share in the undoubted success ob tained. At the risk of being charged with partiality, we cannot avoid making special mention of Miss Heath, who played the part of Rose Walste in with great propriety and feeling. If this young lady will but study and take pains with herself, we can almost promise her a brilliant future. Mr. D. Fisher, in a part of a broader character than we have yet seen him act., succeeded in keeping his audience in a high state of merriment. Need the same be said of our friend Mr. Harley, whose face we were delighted to seo once more? No; it follows as a matter of course. Credit is due to the management forthe elegant and appropriate manner in which the piece is put on the stage. LYCEUM. ON Thursday last Mme. Vestris, after a long absence, caused, we regret to say, by severe indisposition, re appeared at this theatre in a translation of Le Joie ,fait pear, entitled Sunshine through the Clouds. Though the part originally sustained by Mme. Allan was well played by Mme. Vestris, and the other characters respectably acted by Mr. F. Matthews and the other members of the company, we think the piece is, both practically and theoretically, too French for he English stage. The success of the original in Paris and London must be attributed to the strength of the cast ; and the moment it loses the support of great actors, and the assistance of the foreign language, the barrenness of the plot and its excessive defects of construction become too obvious to enable us to concur in a favourable verdict. STRAND. AFTER an absence (caused by a visit to the United States), Miss Fitzpatrick's presence at the Shand Theatre, on Monday last, was refreshing to those who witnessed her delineation of the very difficult part of Constance in The Love Chase. Since Mrs. Nisbett's retirement from the stage, the merry ringing laugh that was " wont to set the house in a roar" has been dumb. The auditors' ears were once again gladdened by a natural cheerful laugh. Miss Fitzpatrick's reading of Constance, her ladylike demeanour, and exquisite attention to costume, were irreproachable. We sincerely hope that she may not be for ever Stranded, although too much praise cannot be accorded to the Strand management for the manner in which the comedy was tendered to the public, and for the reintroduction to the London stage of an actress possessing great ability united with personal attraction. ARRANGEMENTS have been made by Messrs. Cramer and Beale to give in Dublin, during September next, a series of operatic performances, on a scale of com pleteness which has seldom been seen out of Paris or London. The artists already engaged are Mes dames Marai and Cotti, Signors Tamberhk, Luchesi, Polonini, Tagliafico, and Susini. Mr. Benedict is to be the conductor. The operas to be performed will include Norm a,Il Barbiire,Fidelio, and other po pular works. The band and chorus will be complete in every department, and the dresses and properties will be all from the itoyal Italian Opera, Covent Garden.