The Press. — London, England, 1857-05-02 00:00:00

438 (though not a first-rate man) acted an eminent part in America, Ireland, and India, and at eventful periods. His correspondence was extensive , but we surmise that some of the pens Ind interest in it has been forestalled by `• Tue Malmesbury Papers " and " Castlereagh Despatches." A new volume is also to appear from the pen of the unt►ring Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, " The Lives of Lord Chief Justices Kenyon, Ellenborough, and Tenterden " (Murray). This will probably be the most valuable of all the volumes in his judicial series, as the ground to be traversed is unbroken, and as the noble and learned lord will have to produce original matter. A " Life of George Stephenson, the Railway maker," is also announced from Albemarle street. In Paternoster-row a work of first-class artistic and literary importance is announced by Messrs. Longman. Its title is, " The History of Our Lord, and of his precursor St John the Baptist; with the Personages and Typical Subjects of the Old Testament, as represented in Christian Art." This will coin plete the whole series of " Sacred and Legen dary Art," by Mrs. Jameson, and will be one of the most important volumes ever issued by its gifted authoress. The same eminent firm announces " Travels in the Free States of Central America, Nicaragua, Honduras, and San Salvador," by Dr. (.:arl Scherzcr. A new " History of France," by E. E. Crowe, is also advertised from this firm. This work is not a new edition of the same writer's favourably known publication on French history in the " Cabinet Cyclopedia," but is to be a completely new performance. . . Among essayists, Sir John Herschel is to reprint his contributions to the Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews (Longmans). " Vacations in Ireland," by C. R. Weld, and " Memorials, Scientific and Literary, of Andrew Crosse, the Electrician," by Mrs. A. Crosse, are works likely to he interesting to scientific readers. Ample amusement appears to be provided for the lovers of fiction. Messrs. Hurst and Blackett are more than ordinarily strong in novels of promise. "Nothing New," by the author of "John Halifax," will probably belie its title, and display the originality of its author's peculiar mind. "The Two Aristocra cies," by Mrs. Gore, is suggestive of strong social contrasts. " A Woman's Story," by Mrs. S. C. Hall, will be looked for eagerly by that laiy's numerous admirers. " Cuthbert St. Elmo, M.P., or Passages in the Life of a Poli tician," sounds favourably. Political novels are generally too narrow in their subjects, and they require great animation to be readable. Mr. George Borrow stands in a class by him self, and his announced " Romany Rye " (Murray), which is reviewed in the present Quarterly, is of a very mixed character. In Mr. Bentley's list, " Lily. or the English Governess in Russia," by Mr. G. A. Sala; "Pillauf from Stamboul" (with illustrations), by Mrs. Hornby ; " China, Australia, and the Islands of the Pacific in 1855-a," by J. D. Ewes, Esq., are books which promise well. " The Professor," by Cuii'er Bell, is pro minent in Messrs. Smith and Elder's list, and after the recent biography of the authoress it will excite additional curiosity. " A Visit to Salt Lake, and to the Mormon Settlements," by William Chandless, is announced by the same house ; and the lovers of the humorous will be glad to hear of " The Militiaman at Home and Abroad," illustrated by Leech. After the lenten fare which the lovers of literature have had to endure during the recent " hard times" of political excitement, they have here a carte which promises a feast. 9IR. W. 11. RUSSELL'S LECTURES commence on Monday, May 11, at Willis's-rooms. Mr. Russell will commence the delivery of a personal narrative of the campaign in the Crimea. The narrative is to consist of three parts—the socnnd and third to be respectively delivered on the 14th and 16th of May— and will comprise every event of importance from the departure of the army to the evacuation of the Crimea. According to the prospectus, many subjects which could not have been judiciously communicated to the world during the continuance of the war will be described for the first time in the lectures, and a comprehensive sketch will be given of the private life and interior economy of the armies and the camp. THE PRESS. Dusir. HER 'MAJESTY'S THEATRE. MLLE. ORTOLAN' made little impression at her first appearance in this country last Tuesday night. Elvira, in Bellini's Puritani, is totally beyond her powers, vocal or histrionic. Such a character requires gifts and capabilities of an extraordinary degree ; those which she possesses are very circum scribed. Her figure is slight and fragile, and the facial expression is remarkably deficient. The voice is a pure soprano of limited power, and its compass is confined chiefly to the upper octave; in qua'ity the organ is thin, wiry, and hard. Her musical education appears to have been prematurely stepped. Her scales are not neatly finished, although thiere is no lack of ambition in essaying distant intervals and mounting to the extreme altitudes, such as going up to D; but then the intonation not being just de • stroys the charm of such gymnastic graces when given with truth and brilliancy. Mlle. Ortolani is another instance of the defective training of artistes in Italy in these days. It is to be presumed that she was engaged on the recommendation of Signor Bonetti, the musical director, who was for some time in Spain ; but it' lie had but inquired amongst the cultivated amateurs patronising last season the " Oriente " in Madrid he would have ascertained that her popula rity, even in that capital—to which it is so difficult, on account of the climate, to lure first-rate prime donne—was slight. By her side was then singing Mme. Penco, a really clever artiste, worthy of any director's seeking. Giuglini has fully maintained amongst the connoisseurs, by his assumption of Arturo, the glory lie has gained in La Favorite, and in La Traviata. PRESS remarked last week that whatever he undertook would be attended with more or less success, but that he would always charm his auditory, and it was just this in the Puri tarsi. He would think that anybody was laughing at him who put him on the same level with Rubini and Mario, supposing he had heard those two matchless tenors, and his undoubted triumphs will safely permit the truth to reach his ears, espe cially as rumour states him to be a modest, unassum ing singer. His Arturo is not a great performance, nor was his Fernando in the Favorita ; but he has displayed such accomplishments that afford a mate rial guarantee of a future greatness. Some friend conversing with Rubini on the night of his; farewell heard with a little astonishment the exclamation from him, " I am quitting the stage just as I was learning how to sing!" Now, Giuglini charms, but never astounds. It is absurd to style his voice " wonderful ;" it is not. On the contrary, it is wanting in timbre and in power ; but he sings with sentiment ; his embellishments are often elegant, and sometimes novel. We did not like his version of "A to o care," and the house was of our opinion, for the encore did not emanate spontaneously. The duo with Riccardo wns feeble, but in portions of the final act he won his honours deservedly. 1i his repertoire be care fully studied, and he be not overworked, he will be a permanent treasure to Her Majesty's Theatre. Admirably as Belletti always sings, be was quite out of place in Giorgio, and Beneventano was boisterous and blustering as Riccardo. Where is Signor Corsi, the new barritone ? He is an artist. Alboni has arrived. What a luxury it will be to listen again to her incomparable organ and perfect method ! ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. GRIST AND MARIO have been again exciting the Lyceum audiences prodigiously. After they had produced such sensations in the Troratore, to follow immediately in the Favorita, without a break, was venturesome ; but their temerity was not misplaced, and that terrible fourth act of Donizetti, so massive in its proportions, and so profound in its pathos, was listened to with the greatest emotion last Tuesday. But the whole rendering of this act is deeply impres sive. True, it is deprived of Grieve and Telbin's celebrated cloister scene by moonlight. Who can forget that work of art at Covent-garden Theatre ! The chapel lighted up for the ceremonial of the initiation of a novice—the ruined roof, through the rafters of which the sparkling stars were seen—the arched corridor in the distance, dimly lighted with lamps ! Beverley can only make use of limited means in the temporary opera-house, but he, in conjunction with Mr. Harris, the stage-manager, has contrived to construct a scene of much beauty; and as the curtain rose on the gigantic figure of the priest Balthazar (very artistically depicted by Zelger), and the monks crossed the stage to dig their graves, the old thrilling feeling was revived, which became stronger as the choral chant was heard, so admirably was it executed. The masterly orchestral accom paniments of this act, blended with the solemn tones of the organ, are indescribably beautiful. Costa has one of these great opportunities of colouring the SATURDAY, musical action so rarely to be found, but which when found no conductor but himself can develop with greater point and intensity. In the original opera the ending is abrupt, but, with a kindred feel ing to that which suggested to Donizetti his sublime conceptions in this marvellously dramatic act, Costa bad added the deep-toned chants of the monks over the bodies of the unfortunate lovers, the funeral bell tolling as the curtain slowly is let down. It is then that the excited hearers take a long breath, and, getting rid of the choking sensations caused by the lyric scene, cannot separate without a special ovation to the prima donna and tenor who have acted and sung with such transcendent vigour. Or the truth of the current remark in the lobbies as the com pany left, that "Mario never sang more finely in his life," there can be but one opinion. His " Angiol d'amore " was perfect in the phrasing and delicious in the tone which he produced, and the whole may safely be pronounced to be one of the most finished displays of elegant vocalisation ever heard from mortal lips. Mario's whole soul seems to be in this melody, and his voice soars above the exquisitely orchestral undercurrent, with almost superhuman feeling. The redemand for the romanza was irresistible. It would occupy no small amount of space to follow the details of the acting and singing of Grisi and Mario in the death dun. Her recognition of the voice of the monk Fernando, who has just pronounced the vows which separate her for ever from the world—the prostration of Leonora at the foot of the cross—the gradual relent ing of Fernando when he learns that Inez was charged to have communicated to him the position of "La Favorite "—the passionate burst from him, "Io t'amo "—the momentary delirium of transport that they are all to each other—the recollection at length coming across them that they are on the earth for ever separated—the last pangs of the breaking hearts—why reiterate all these fine points ?—the whole is overwhelmingly oppressive and soul stirring ; and afterwards in cold blood ono is lost in admiration at the consummate skill of the artists who can thus transport you to a strange land and identify you with their imaginary miseries. Take it all in all, this act is assuredly one of the grandest lyric representations ever heard. ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC. IT is gratifying to find that there is considerable movement in this institution, and its ancient popu larity will no doubt be soon revived. It is bad enough not to have one national theatre for the drama and for the opera, but it would be still more disgraceful if wa could not support one musical educational establishment. There was more than average ability displayed by the pnpds at their second concert. Miss L. Fosbrooke (pupil of Schira), and Miss de Courcy, a promising contralto, pupil of Mine. Ferrari, are both entitled to eulogium for their singing of the duo from Tancredi. Neyerbeer's terzetto, " Giovo netto Cavalier," from II Crociato, sung by Manuel Garcia's three pupils, the Misses Aylward, Whyte, and Forster. was one of the good things of the pro gramme. Miss Clara Mackenzie, another contralto, is worthy of honourable r ecord. Miss Louisa Van Noorden and Miss L. Fosbrooke gave favourable notions of their executive capabilities. Mr. Pettit, in a skilful violoncello concerto, by his master, Mr. Lucas, and Mrs. Thompson's clever pupil, Miss Guivier, in the first movement of Beethoven's pianoforte concerto in G, must have pleased their instructors as well as their friends. A MS. overture by a student, Mr. Turner, a pupil of 3lacfarren, had some passages of merit, erring, perhaps, on the side of scholastic elaboration. Owing to the decease of the Duchess of Gloucester, the fancy ball, which it was intended to have given in June, has been post poned to a later period. There is some intention of getting up a concert on a large scale, with first-tate artistes, vocal and instrumental, in aid of the funds. Such an undertaking, or any one which will tend to give vitality to the Royal Academy of Music, is worthy of the support and patronage of all true amateurs. CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERTS. To the frequenters of the Opera-house the pro gramme yesterday presented no novelties, but as no doubt a large proportion of the company consisted of residents in the suburbs, who will not venture, out at nights, the selection proved highly gratifying. There was no end of encores. Two or three points call for attention. The first is, that the voices of Mme. Rosa Derries and Mlle. Menu are heard to peculiar advantage in this vast space. Grisi, of course, in the " Intlammatus " from Itossint's Stabat Mater, could have been heard at the railroad station. Mine. Didiee created a marked s. nsation in the second air of Gondi from Maria di Rohan, and was encored. If this line contralto were to study the English language, she might gain a proud position as an oratorio singer. We should like to hear her in