The Press. — London, England, 1853-08-13 00:00:00

who profess and cherish it already to spread it over the whole world. Groups of men and women are depicted on that part of the frieze which extends to the altar. On the hemispheric surface of the abside appears the figure of Jesus Christ, in a sitting pos ture, with en angel at each side, iu the act of bless ing the world. The size of the principal figure is about twenty-five and that of the angels is ten to twelve feet. Notwithstanding the multiplicity of de • tails, the pictures of Picot and Flandain in St. Yin cent de Paul breathe a great repose and unity of com position. For the sake of avoiding the uniformity of a prooession of persons marching one after the ' other, the artist has availed himself of some an- ' cient models—for instance, the pieture of St. Apollinarius at Ravenna. The works (if M. Signal in the Eglise St- Eustache next call for notice. This gentleman, far from following or abiding by the trivial taste of the rulguire, endeavours constantly to satisfy his conscience I IS an artist, and the taste of the most refined. The fres coes alluded to are placed at the entrance of the Chapelle des Catechistnes. To the left is the infant Jesus teaching the Doctors, and above this panel the personification of Theology. In the middle of the vault is a circular opening, whieh lights the peristyle, and in the four divisions of this vault are the four Apostles, and the emblems of the first Communion and the Confirmation. It is with respectful awe that one looks at these paintings ornamenting places of wor ship, where the holiness of the place admonishes the U•ne artist of his great scope and vocation. But the more tangible qualities of the pictures of M. Signal in St. Enstache are also of a high order, as the infant .Jesus atnidst the learned exhibits a happy mixture of sublimity, and mild, innocent nature. Thus, whatever distaste and frivolity may rule at the French Exhibition, there is yet in reserve a sacred battalion of artists, as it were, who, in the silence of their ateliers, or on the walls of holy shrines, or other places devoted to serious thought., or even to recrea tion, do not forget the high vacation of the painter. —[ Abridged from an article by M. Delecluze in the Journal des Libats.] Ikt glrama. Autintt TnEAyttr.—The farce What! no Cab? produced here on Monday last, is a mere vehicle for the exhibition of what we presume Mr. Webster would term the " genuine " Adelphi humour of MOWN. Paul Bedford, Honey, and Co. The piece itself is a wretched production, very indifferently acted. LYCEUM THEATRE.—Mr. Allcroft commences a short opera season on Wednesday next, Mr. and Mrs. Sims Reeves being the principal singers en gaged. We shall be glad to have au opportunity of again hearing Mrs. Sims Reeves ' whose absence from the concerb•rooms this season has been a great loss to lovers of good musie. PutscEss's.—Sardanapolux still continues to draw great houses. Mr. Kean, it would seem, has decided upon keeping his theatre open for some time longer. It is reported Ord The Honeymoon is to be revived again next week. ~~ USIC. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. MERE can be no question but that the incapacity of the modern Italian composers has been of advan tage to the public in this eonntry, in that. it has re sulted in driving the opera managements to produce works of the Berman school of a high order of merit; and thus the lack of original talent in the land "of song" may fairly enough be said t) have, in some measure, assisted the advance of the musical art in our own. To this dearth of ability we are in debted for the production of Nleyerbeer's operas, as well as those of Beethoven, Weber, Spohr, and other classical writers, upon the Italian stage; and we really seem to lave made a serious step towards establishing, upon the ruins of the Italian school, a lyric theatre which has some other °Wert in view than to tickle the ears of fashion, and be the lounging place for dandies, and the fountain-head of slip slop. This year we were, amongst other things, promised the opera of Jessonda, and though, as we are told, unavoidable circumstances have combined to prevent its production during the sojourn of the illustrious composer in London, the opera was brought out on Saturday last. The plot of Jessonda, though in point of construction and imagination much superior to that of Faust, is uninteresting and without much pretensions. Sutliee it to say, that the heroine is the widow of an aged Rajah, and being young and beautiful, and moreover in love with a Portuguese officer, has an excusable repugnance to be burnt alive with the remains of her husband, and that she is ultimately saved from the flames, and united to her lover, through the agency of a renegade priest, who betrays the city to the Portuguese army. The music of this opera is exceedingly beautiful, and THE PRESS. well worthy of the composer's great reputation : a certain degree of monotony inseparable from Spohr's mannerisms, difficult style of writing, and want of the power of dramatic construction, is per haps its only fault. But any defects which it may possess are forgotten in the masterly instrumentation and flow of original and lovely melody which pervade the whole. work. No one will deny Spolir's genius as a writer of orchestral and concerted music ; and, in our judgment, the song of Jess(mda in the first act, the duet between Jessonda and A mazili in the second, as well EIS the songs of Tristram and Nadori, deserve to be numbered amongst the best compositions for the voice that have ever been written. The first act is unquestionably the best of the three ; and it is a matter of regret that, as the opera proceeds, the interest should fall off; indeed, the finale of the last act is singularly abrupt and poor. The execution by the orchestra was all that could be desired, but we can by no means speak as favourably of the vocalists. Mine. Bosio has ob viously but little intellectual power, and seems in capable of singing music which requires thought as well as mechanical dexterity. Her performance of Jessonda was throughout ineffective and without meaning ; and the unanimous demand for the repeti tion of the larghetto movement of the principal song, as well as the general applause she obtained, were more dm to the beauty of the music than to her in dividual exertions. Signor Belletti was admirable as Tristrano. He seemed thoroughly at home in the music, and he sang his aria in so excellent a manner that it was instantly redemanded. Signor Lucchesi, as Nadori, exerted himself in a praiseworthy manner, but he has neither ability nor physical power to master the difficulties of a part which demands talent of the highest order. Mine. Castellani and M. Formes acquitted themselves respectably as Amazili and Landau. The chorus wax weak and unsteady, and seemed imperfectly acquainted with the music. We do not presume to venture an opinion as to whether Sp►hr's operas will ever be popular in this country, but it is perfectly clear they never can become so unless all the characters be performed by competent singers. A great work, to be understood by a general public, requires to be fully developed in all its parts; and it follows, therefore, that, if the vo• enlists are incapable of interpreting the ideas of the writer, an untoward result must follow. With the exception of the llayuenots, the Prophet, and the Mayie Flute, the German operas have never been produced at Covent Garden with efficient prime demur; and the consequence is that they have not attained that success to which their musical and dramatic excellence entitles them. It is quite a mis take to suppose that good music is damaging to the performer ; on the contrary, the greater the merit of the work, the more the talent of the singer will shine forth. The conduct of the Italians in invariably en deavouring to shuttle out of every part which involves the study of classical or intellectual music shows a distrust of their own powers as well as a want of true feeling for their art. fortign Yittrani anb rtistic Qsossip. Tim Pr Kr.. or SAXE Coet:ao has just completed a new opera, under the title of Santa Chiara, the translation of which into French has been entrusted to a young Belgian littkatear. Da. V HJ.ENEUVE. member of the Academy of Medicine at Paris, died some days ago. THE NESTOR OE FRENCH JOURNALISTS, M. JACQEES COSTE. formerly director of the Constitutionnel, under whom M. Thiers, and most of the present French statesmen, made their debuts in politics, has recently resumed his long-relinquished pen, and writes for the Estafrtte financial articles, apropos of which he indulges in long excursions into the domain of polities. Tut: I.rninvav t'oxEnt r at Spa has dissolved. Jules Janie has returned to Paris; is travelling in Germany; and the numerous satellites of the two states are scattered to all the winds. Miss Emmy VANDEamr.Eascii is now at Spa, and proposes to visit successively all the bathing-places in Germany. M. SCRIBE has just returned from the German Spas to Paris. Before leaving for his estate of Ler-- court he was present at the last rehearsal of his Nabob, with lialevy's music, which is to be produced at the end of the present month. M. Scribe fur nished also to Meyerbeer the libretto to the opera combine• of which the celebrated master wrote the principal part for 3lme. Charton Demeur. The piece will have for its title The Star of the North. M. Scribe is occupied with finishing several produc tions left incomplete by his nephew, the late M. 13ayard. M. Cotat abandons decidedly the direction of the Italian Opera at Paris. This is the third failure in a very short time. He took the direction amidst many drawbacks, among which was the circumstance that he did not speak a word of French. Al.►%oNi, recently married, has decided on quitting the theatre with a moderate fortuue, though she SATURDAY, does not seem to have encountered iu America the productive successes once hoped for. Will Mario and Grisi, whose speedy departure is announced for New York, be more fortunate ? Jenny Lind and Sontag have considerably exhausted the generosity of the Yankees. and America begins to become quite as much an artist-ridden place as any country of old Europe. THE THEATRE FRANcAIR seems to seek success in a collection of pretty women. This is perhaps the best way to restore to comedy and tragedy a portion of the vogue which has abandoned both these many years. To Mlles. Denali and Merie, the director, 31. Arsene Houssaye, has recently added Mlle. Valerie, from the Varietes, and Mlle. Savary. ctitsiastial. The foundation-stune of a new church at Werneth, a dis trict of the nkanufacturing town of Oldham, Lancashire, was laid on the Ith, by the Bishop of Manchester. The population of Werneth is about 4,550, for which there is no church ac commodation, if a small mom capable of holding about fifty persons is excepted. The estimated cost of the build ing is 2,11501., and the grants and subscriptions at present amount to 2,1951. The church will probablybe completed in June next ready for consecration. The style is to be early English. A commission of clergymen has recently held an inquiry at Merthyr Tydvil, iu Ulamorganshire, touching cer tain charges which have been brought by one clergyman against another. These charges had been made in the columns of the Cymru newspaper, by the Rev. G. C. Har ries, curate of Brecon, under the assumed name of " Eglwysdd," against the ltev. W. Rowlands, curate of Merthyr. They were-Ist. Allowing Sunday - sc hool pupils to recite chapters in the parish church. 2nd. Allowing a Dissenter to pray on the burial-ground atfu-r service was over. The commission sat for some hours with closed doors, and then reported that the charges were not proved by the evidence. The Bishop of Llandall has, however, expressed disapprobation at the irregularities which have occurred in the administration of public worship, and at the mode in which it. was brought before the public. His letter was read to the parties by the Archdeacon of Llandat!, in the presence of the members of the commission. The following resolutions will be moved in the Lower House of Convocation, on its reassembling, pursuant to ad journment ou the 113th inst.:- 1. That it appears to this house that the education and training of eanditintes Mr holy orders is very generally defective and Ma , dequate, especially in respect of a course of theological reading and practieal preparation for sonic time previous to their pro. seining themselves to the bishop to be examined and inquired of, with a view to ordination. 9. That this house do make a humble representation to his grace the zuvlibishop, and the lords, the bishops, the tipper House, respectfully calling their attention to the urgency of the case, and praying their concurrence in appointing committees of both houses to consider conjointly of the best means of remedy ing this defect, and supplying this want in our Church system. 3. That a committee of this house be now named, with instruc tions to prepare a draft of such representation, and to submit it to this house for approval at their next session. The London Gazelle of Tuesday night contains an order in council directing that the sum of 4751., clear of all deductions except income or property tax, be paid to the governors of the bounty of Queen Anne, out of the re venues of St. Andrew Undershaft with St. Mary Axe an nexed, for the purpose of distribution amongst the follow ing new parishes and districts :—St. James the Great, Bethnal-green, new wish, 25/. ; St. Simon Zelotes, Beth nal-green, new parish, 501.; St. Andrew, Bethnal-green, chapelry district, 50/. ; St. James the Less, Bethnal-green, chapelry district. 501. ; St. Philip, Bethnal-green, chapelry district, 501. ; All Saints, Mile-end New Town, chapelry district, 25!.; St. James, Ratcliffe, consolidated district, 50/. ; and St. John the Evangelist, Limehouse, intended district, 1751. According to the requirements of the act, the consent of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, and the rector of St. Andrew tindershaft have been obtained to this arrangement. PREFERMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS. The Rev. J. Wynne, ILA» to the Rectory of Weruford, near Bishops Waltham, Hampshire. The Rev. Henry Anthony Plow, M.A., to the Incumbency of Weill, to be held w ith the Rectory of Bradley, Hampshire. The Rev. Hugh M. Sorley. M.A., to the Chaplaincy of herMa• jesty's store•ship Tortoise. at the Island of Ascension. The Rev. Jonathan Tucker. 8.A., to the Curacy of Wyeredale, near Lancaster. The Rev. J. 11. Noyes. MA., to the Curacy of All Saints Church, stamfatrd. The Rev. 6. T. }Undo% of Trinity College, to Pyworthy Rec• tory, Devon. The Itcv. H. Alford, M.A., of Trinity College, to be Minister of Quebec Chapel, London. The Rev. C. W. Underwood, M.A., has been appointed Vice• Principal of the Collegiate Schools, Liverpool. The Bev. Knight Gale, M.A., to the Incumbency of St. An• drew's, North Horton, Yorkshire. The Rev. Edward J. Phipps, M.A., Rector of Devizes, to the Rectory of stanstield, near Clare, Suffolk. The they. P. Wood, M.A., Rector of Staines, 'Middlesex, to the Rectory of Devizes. Thu Rev. W. Morton, M.A., to the Incumbency of Peukbull, near !ttoke•upon•Trent. The Rev. Alexander Bratidell, DA., to the Vicarage at St. Mar. tin•at•Paluce, Norwich. The Rev. Francis Edward Arden, B.A. to the Incumbency of West Beckham, near Holt. The Rev. John E. Addison Fenwiek, M.A.. to the Incumbency of Christchurch, Needwood, near Yoxhall, Statlonishire. The Rev. John W. Lester, 8.A., to the Incumbency of Mitten Hayes, near Chester. The Rev. Peter Jones, 8.A., to the Incumbency of Hiudley, Cheshire. The Rev. James Anntuid Seller has been preferred to a Can• uoury in Perth cathedral: and to the McMillin of the Cathedral idratmar Ochotok