The Press. — London, England, 1856-06-07 00:00:00

JUNE 7, 1856. The hero thus describes himself, in answer to Gesler : Ges Who are you, ruffian, thus to speak to me ? TeU. My name is TeU—lel que je suis je auis. An old Swiss tamily known very well; Mv sisters keep the Rigi Kulm Hotel; My nieces sing the Ranz des Vaches when coll'd, Up to the table d'hotes at Grindelwald. Div nephews carve in wood, and make those things Which every tourist hack to England brings, And gives as souvenirs to those relations From whom he thinks he's any expectations. My uncles are all guides—ne'er at a loss Tu climb the Jungtrau or the Grimsel cross. in chamois-hunting some their time employ, And this (pointing to Albert) is the original Swiss boy. Some smart writing and good singing, especially by Mr. Holmes, some capital acting by Miss Rosina Wright, who proved her powers for something beyond pantomime, an amusing pas between her and Gesler, and a terrific combat between Gesler and William Tell, helped on the introduction, and at a fitting period the transformation took place, Mr. Lane coming as Harlequin, Miss Rosina Wright as Colum bine, Mr. Robins as Clown, arid Mr. Arthur Smith as Pantaloon. The " comic business" then commenced, and though cleverly enough performed as far as it went, it was neither very novel nor very comic. if this were the " old style of fun," as some of the daily journals have characterised it, all that we can say is, that to have been amused with such fun augured our grandfathers and grandmothers greater fools than we usually rate them. We do not find fault with the individual efforts of any of the amateurs engaged, bat the "comic (?) business " they had to get through was too stale and heavy. The only chance of a little Inn and novelty lay in the "Fair scene," and that chance, for some unaccountable reason, was thrown aside to exhibit feats by acrobats and dancing dogs, much more tiresome than entertaining. The whole affair was terminated by a "finale," written by Mr. Shirley Brooks, and spoken by Miss Oliver as the Spirit of Pantomime, and Mr. Charles Cole, the latter made up as Shakspeare, to whose portrait he bears a singular resemblance. The bard of Avon approves the efforts of the performers, though he could give them no assistance : I could not help you. Ariel ne'et did try The magic '• in yon (points at HARLEQUIN) Bat's back " that doth lie. " 'Twas meat and drink to me to see a Clown," But not a (points at CLows) fat one, always tumbling flown. I wrote not of that (points at COLUMBINE) lady in my line, " I am that 9 ,wer—that mint—that Columbine." Nor bid sad Jacques drone his solemn tune, Tone!dog (point 4 at PANTALOON) this lean and slippery Pantaloon. He attributes their success to their having worked for it in earnest : And those who'd win their best account will find, In keeping what Charles Dickens says, in mind : " If you've but got a plank to swab, this do, Swab it as if Old Scratch ' was after yon." Spi. I hope we've swabbed these planks (points to stage) to your content. Sha. Much was well done, and all things were well meant. And Pantom,..is at every folly catches— It is, in fact," a thing of shreds— Spi (points to HARLEQUIN) and Petchey's." And the audience are dismissed with thanks. The Amateur Pantomime will be performed a second time this year in about a fortnight at Drury - lane Theatre. Already the applica tions for seats are most numerous, and, as the prices will be lower than on the previous occasion, a crowded house is anticipated. We believe that !he proceeds of this and any subsequent performances (some of which, at large provincial towns, are in con temptation) will be devoted to the foundation of a charitable fund, to be called " The Fielding Fund," for the immediate relief of. destitute literary men. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE, it is very currently re• ported, and we believe with great show of truth, will by next season he rebuilt and completed. The building is very far less injured by the recent fire than is generally supposed; the external shell will need vet) , little renovation, and the basement vaults, of great extent and utility, are almost unharmed. ITALIAN OPERA AT THE SURREY THEATRE Will next week be added to the list of our operatic perform ances. The series of operas announced for perform. ance give so much promise of excellence in regard t) the artistic arrangements, that the undertaking bids fair to be successful. The season will commence on Monday, and the following operas are already in cluded in the repertoire :—II Barbiere di Siviglia, Norma, Lucrezia Borgia, La Sonnambala, and an Italian vers on of the Bohemian Girl ; whilst the list of artistes comprises the names of Mme. Gassier, Mme. Rudersdorff, Mme. Lnrini, 111 me. Caradori, Sedlatzek, Mlle. Rudersdorff, Mile. Bregazzi, Signor Luchesi, M. du Laur e ns, Signor Lorini, Mr. Swift, Signor Fortini, Signor Pierini, M. Gassier, &c. The director of the music is to be Mr. Alfred Mellon, and there is to be a ballet on each evening after the THE PRESS. opera, supported by Mis Rosina Wright, Mlle. Marie, and Mlle. Agnes. As this is the first time such an experiment has been tried in this locality, the novelty will contribute ess ntially to the success which the speculation deserves. Rlusit. HER MAJF.STY'S THEATRE. Ix Mme. Albertini, for the genera repertoire, a prima donna has been secured who is likely to prove more useful than Piccolomini. The career of the latter, it is to be feared, will begin and end for the present in La Traviata ; and it would be prudent to reserve her, as such dramatic instincts as she has exhibited may be turned to the best account if ac companied with vocal capabilities. Mme. Albertini, with many faults, is at all events a singer. Her mezzo soprano voice, when not strained, is sym pathetic. She clvi sing her scales—she phrases well, and her shake is neat and finished. Albertini's mis• fortune has been to sing recently in a very large and new theatre at Florence, where she had to scream through the Verdi operas. She is an Englishwoman by birth (Miss Aitcheson), and for four or five years in Italy was deservedly popular. Her vocal declama tion requires much amendment. She may thereon take a lesson from Piccolomini, whose enunciation is most exquisite. In Leonora, in the charming work the Trovatore, Mine. Albertini had the disadvantage or having had Mine. Ney as a standard. Baucarde, without reference for a moment to Tamberlik, was not adapted for illanrico. In the adagios the French tenor displays sweetness, but in the stirring cabalettas his organ shows that it has been worn by over-exertion. The drawling delivery of Benevantano in the popular air " II balen " was evidence of a fatigued voice. Alboni's Azucena was sung most charmingly, without effort, without Forcing. She could no more look the withered hag than L iblache could the starved apothecary in Romeo and Juliet. The ballet has been strengthened by the welcome return of Marie Tagil ad, so long the star of Borliti, where she has gained experience and im- provement. the next debut of note gill be Johanna Wagner, as Romeo, in the Capuletti, on Saturday the 14th. Great curiosity is expressed to witness this fine actress. ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. DONIZETTI'S Favorita is one of his finest works, and has become one of the permanent operas in the reper toire of continental lyric establishments. In London it has met with a chequered career, both at Her Majesty's Theatre and at the R , yal Italian Opera, although produced at the last-mentioned establish ment with unparalleled effect, Costa not only having taken especial pains with the score generally, but having arranged the denouement with the singing of the " Miserere " by the Monks a. , the curtain slowly descends on the dead body of Leonora. The repul siveness of the libretto has had much to do with lie unpopularity of the Favorita, and it reflects credit on public taste in this country tha' operas and dramas, however great may be their intrinsic merits, find so little favour if objectionable on moral grounds. For the past three or four years, however, such have been the singing awl acting of Grisi and Mario in the last act of La Favorita that the opera draws crowds. Even in Luerezia Borgia these two great artists are not seen to In aiter adva stage. Grisi bears down all physical defects in her singing of executive passages of difficulty. Whether her scales be roughly or smoothly handled,there she is for the catastrophe with all the passionate intensity of her dramatic genius, and all the vigour of her vocal powers. And the exquisite charm of the mellifluous tones of Mario in this work is beyond all description. He has been the last fortnight in his best voice—what that is everybody knows full well. To hear Graziani with his fine and sympathetic baritone sing the "A Canto amore," always reilemanded, almost reconciles the auditory to his awkwardness and coldness as an actor. Zelger's Monk is a study—broad and large as are his physical proportions ; and the music of the part having been written by Donizetti for a French basso, is adapted to his style. The management of Ole ensemble by the conductor throughout the opera, especially in the soul-stirring finale, is one of those triumphs the monopoly of which rests solely with Costa. Even within the limited Lyceum area the delicacy of the orchestral accompaniments was most captivating to the ear. Her Majesty, Prince Albert, and the royal visitors were present on Monday night. The "realist " Cerito, as she was called in the days when the ballet was supreme, is dancing with her usual graceful impulsiveness this season. Now Carlotta Grisi has retired Cerito ranks the first of her class, but whether that class be the first, the ad mirers of the Taglioni and Fanny Elssler dispute. MUSICAL DOINGS. The second series of " Orchestral Concerts " com menced by Mr. Mullah at St. Martin's-hall, bid fair 547 to be as successful as the former ones. The director appears to be aiming at novelty in his programmes, principally resorting to reviv sls of the old masters. In the fine bravura song of Medusa, by the French composer Lulli, there was an admirable exponent in Viardot. The second morning concert of the "Orchestral Union," conducted by Mr. A. Mellon, leads us to hope that the professional combination may become permanent. The execution of the symphonies and overtures is now the highest enjoyment which can be attained in London as an accurate delivery of the instrumental works of the great masters. At the fourth of Dr. Wylde's evening concerts, Herr Otto Goldschmides own pianoforte concerto in E flat was n►cely played. Of a much higher class of composition was a duet for pianoforte and orches tra, performed by the composer, Herr Silas, in mas terly style. There was decided original►ty in the work, but objection may be taken to the term " duet." It was properly a concerto. There was also a violin concerto by Herr Kettenus, but it was placed so late that the composer and player did not receive a fair hearing. Hen• Von der Osten, a German tenor, and Mlle. Jenny Bauer were the vocalists. Mr. Jacques Blumenthal's matinee musicale at the Dudley Gallery in the Egyptian hall last Wednesday was a fashionable overflow, and there was a musical duel which excited no small sensation. Mr. Blu menthal and lime. Viardot were the combatants. First the pianist commenced with a charming melody, which he sung on the instrument admirauly, and then, when lie had finished, V►ardot to. up the theme, and treated it with variations of consummate sk►ll. It was a drawn battle, in which the lionouts were to both belligerents. Herr Pischek, Ringing his very best, was heard at this matinee. Who will secure his Don Giovanni? Mr. Lumley or Mr. Gye? It is worth fighting for, now that famburini is not here. The three brothers and the three sisters forming the Brou,il Family, now to he heard at the Gallery of Illustration, are exceedingly clever, especially Bertha, the violinist of fourteen years, and Alban, the violoncellist. We hope the musical Irecocity has not been attained by the forcing system. Last Monday was a rerular field-da3. In the morning Mohque, the classic composer and ad mirab:e violinist, had a morning concert at the Hanover-square Rooms, which were fillet with fashionable company. In the evening there wets the concerts of Mr. and Mrs. A. Gilbert, at Willis's rooms ; the final concert of the amateurs at the Hanover-square Rooms ; Mr. Surman's annual night at Exeter-hall, of the London Stirred H.trmonic So ciety, Judas Maccabeus being the oratorio; and the concert of Mr. Willing, the organist, at the Music hall, Store street. Last night's performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah, at Exeter hall, under Costa's directi ii, with N iiie. Novell°, Mme. Viardot, Mr:. Lockey, Mr. Sines Reeves, and Herr Formes as principal singers, and yesterday's Crystal Palace morning concert., completes a week's music of extraordinary extent, variety, and amount of attraction. It would take three or more continental capitals to supply either in quantity or quality so much music of every school. lint arts. THE Crystal Palace proprietors have at length opened their long-promised Picture Gallery. The gal lery is not intended to be a permanent resting place for rejected paintings. The pictures exhibited may he bought, and the more sold the better fur the gallery. The left wing has been devoted to the purpose, and when all preparations are completed it will form a most agreeable lounge. There are four rooms in tl.e suite, devoted to the English, French, Belgian, and German schools of art, with separate rooms for the works of our own Royal Academicians, and for water colour drawings. The pictures already up muster some eight hundred, and are mostly works of fair average ability, with a great work scattered here and there. Par exemple, in the French room we have Rosa Bonheur's "Charcoal Burners," Beard's famous "Shipwrecked Crew ;" a horr Deaths of the Christians in thi Here ; and some excellent genre Lehmann, Ticart, Marony, Beret German room there are some Kindermans, Bodoni, and Wel battle-pieces by Norther and fine mountain scene which gained year at the Exposition. In the has sent his well-known " Grout some good landscapes, and capit to the fair reputation of the room works of Leslie, Picketsgii Inskipp, Frost, A. Cooper, &r. &e. contributions from the first art , If good pictures are only colic it will be one of the most attracti Exhibition. At present we nip re c l oli p se ic u t m ure ily ‘ L ‘ eul- e ictures by Resume, erchere, &c. In the good landscapes by eber ; two excellent Leasing, and Gude's fined the medal last o Belgian room Leys up of Soldiers," while tel animals, do justice a c hcol In our own gilt, O'Neil, Herring, Sec., are exhibited, and artists ere promised. lected in this gallery, motive quarters in the rust say the directors