The Press. — London, England, 1855-04-14 00:00:00

APRIL 14, 1855. rUSI ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN. AFTER a protracted recess, the commencement of The opera season was inaugurated on Thursday evening by the performance of Rossini's 11 Conte Ory, the characters being sustained by Mine. Bosio, Mile. Marai, Mlle. Didiee, Signor Gardoni, Signor Tagliafico, and Signor Zelger. With the exception of Signor Gardoni, who happily takes the place of Luchesi, the cast is precisely the same as upon the previous performance last season. The light and sparkling music of this opera, despite much that is meretricious, is yet so fresh and glowing in melody, and so exquisite iu harmony, as to take rank with the finest inspirations of Rossini. It is essentially a master • piece of the Italian school, and, as such, the music proved to be peculiarly suited to the voice and acting of Gardoni. His pure and graceful execution of the brilliant and airy passages was unrivalled for facility and exquisite feeling. The opening aria, " Amici ciel pietoso," was given with the most expressive sweetness, and in the difficult duets with the Countess, especially the " Si, nel socorro mio," and in the finale to the first act his singing was perfect. In the second act, in the unaccompanied prayer, " A to sole, 0 donna," the effect of his sweet, melodious voice was much injured by the coarse and uncertain execution of the chorus, who appeared to have neglected a rehearsal of their parts ; but in the duet, "AM qual rispetto, 0 donna," and in the terzetto, "Di trema," his execution of the florid and difficult passages was of the most refined and expressive brilliancy. His acting, moreover, was throughout spirited and perfect, and we may well congratulate the subscribers upon the acquisi tion obtained to the strength of the company in the engagement of Gardoni. Mme. Bosio, who per formed the part of the Countess, found the rich fl rid music of this opera admirably suited to her powers; nothing could exceed either the delicacy and finish of her execution even in the most rapid and difficult passages, or the excellent taste with which she avoided all extravagance in her delivery of the brilliant morceaux which belonged to her part. In the duet, " Soffrir, penare ognora," and in the soli, " Ancor pavento," and " Venite, ore►l partiamo," in the first act, her singing was remarkable for purity and finish ; but in the " Quel vii the insulta " her exe cution was superb. Mme. Bosio is undoubtedly a most accomplished and conscientious artiste of consummate ability. Her voice is strong and unimpaired, and from the smoothness, delicacy, and perfect finish of her execution we anticipate her achieving great triumphs this season. Both Gardoni and Mme. Bosio were well supported. Mlle. Marai, though with a weak and thin voice, yet possesses great musical acquirements, and performed the cha racter of holier° with every success. She sang the duets with the Count with great taste and expres sion, and in the trio, " Di trema," both acted and sang to perfection. Mlle. Didiee played Ragonda, an ungrateful part, with intelligence and effect, while Tagliafico supported the character of Bairn baldo with great humour and thorough dramatic power. In that difficult aria, "In quel deserto loco," he evinced peculiar skill and talent, and was warmly applauded. Signor Zelger was a fair Preceptor, but the part is rather beyond him. In conclusion we must neither omit to notice the execution of the Evviva l'allegria " and the " Beviam, Beviam di cor," both of which were admirably rendered despite the uncertainty of the chorus—nor the efficiency of the orchestra, which as usual, was perfect. Alto gether the performance was beyond average ex cellence, but the audience were far from enthu siastic. The applause, except that awarded to M. Costa upon his appearance in the orchestra, was meagre in the extreme. Not one single encore was given, and when the curtain fell the singers had scarcely an excuse for coming before it. However, we are glad to see that R Conte Ory is likely to be one of the stock pieces of the repertoire. Though the plot is slight enough, and the libretto possibly about the worst that watt ever written, yet the sparkling melody and the expressive and impassioned beauties of the music will ever obtain for it the character of one of the brightest and most fluent of Rossini's compositions. After the opera " God save the Queen " was sung by the whole company, and in lieu of the new ballet, which the illness of Cerito has unavoidably postponed, the evening concluded with the pretty ballet of Une Etoile, in which the dancing of Mlles. Battalini and Esper, supported by M. Deplace, Mr. Payne, and an efficient troupe of cor)pbees was much admired. The house was fashionably, but by no means fully, attended. II Conte Ory is to be repeated to night, and upon Thursday next Beethoven's Fidelio, in which Mlle. Jenny Ney and Signor Tamberlik will appear, is to be performed by express desire of her Majesty, who, THE PRESS. with her illustrious visitors, the Emperor and Em press of the French, will visit tho house in state upon that evening. MR. CASE'S CONCERT, EXETER-HALL.—Upon Wed nesday evening Mr. Case gave his annual concert at Exeter-hall. The programme, which was tolerably long, included some thirty or forty performances, and presented sufficient variety to satisfy the tastes of the most mixed and unmusical audience. Among the professional names engaged upon this occasion were those of Mlle. Rita Favanti, Mme. Anna Thillon, Mrs. Sims Reeves, Mme. Weiss, Miss Featherstone, Mme. Rudersdorff, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Weiss, Mr. Augustus Braham, &c. The orchestra, selected from those of the Philharmonic Society and Royal Italian Opera, was conducted by Mr. Viotti Collins. It would be impossible in our limited space to record the several performances which took place in a concert of such a length, but we may observe that the opening overture to Massaniello was performed by the orchestra with brilliancy and effect, and that the grand sestet was also highly successful and warmly applauded. Mr. and Mme. Weiss elicited much applause by their singing in the duet, "My Sufferings and Sorrows, " and were equally successful in their respective soli, "The Village Blacksmith" (words by Longfellow), and Moore's Irish melody of" The Minstrel Boy." Miss Poole gave the ballad, " By the sad Sea Waves," with her usual charming expression ; and when we say that Mme. Rudersdorff sang " Quand je quittai la Normandie," from the opera of Robert le Diable, and Mme. Anna Thillon "All lonely now my Flocks I tend," it is almost needless to add that both these ladies ac quitted themselves to perfection. Miss Featherstone sang a new song, " Olivette," composed by Howard Paul, with some feeling, though with very uncertain execution. Mme. Anna Thillon as usual, sang a Swiss melody and "Minnie," a ballad, with the most exquisite feeling and taste, but " Say Yes, Pussy," did not so well suit her style. Sims Reeves in " Oh, 'tis a Glorious Sight to See," from Obe ron, and in the duet "Ah Morir," with Mrs. Sims Reeves, achieved a great success. The duet, one of the most exquisite and pathetic songs, full of feeling, and touching plaintive ness, was wholly unsuited to the audience, who ap peared, t 3 judge from their applause, to prefer noise to melody. Mlle. Favanti, in " Non piu mesta," and " Ah giei soffre," was warmly applauded, but she retains all her old faults of style, without any im provements whatever. Bishop's song "Lo, here the gentle lark " was sung by Mrs. Drayton with too much force, andi Mr. Braham in the " Bay of Biscay" was far too merely mechanical in his per. formance. The third and last part of the concert opened with a grand Marche Heroique, composed by Adolphe Gollmick, which was followed by several songs and ballads, the concert concluding with Weber's overture, " The ruler of the Spirits." In the first part of the concert Mr. G. Case performed a solo on the violin, and in the second a concertina fantasia from Lee Huguenots, both of which per formances were very well received by the audience. The hall was not very fully attended, but the audi enca certainly appeared to enjoy the voluminous programme which Mr. Case had provided. HARMONIC UNION.—HANOVER-SQUARE ROORS.—. The concert next Wednesday will include Men delssohn's Walpurgis Night ; Molique's violoncello concerto, which is to be played by Piatti ; and Men delssohn's music to A Midsummer Night's Dream. Miss Stabbach and Herr Reichardt are amongst the vocalists engaged. Molique's concerto is an attrac tion of great power, and on this occasion will be conducted by the composer. SIR HENRY BISHOP'S CONCERTS.—EXETER-HAI.L.-- The second and last concert of selections from the works of Sir Henry Bishop will take place at Exeter-hall on Monday evening next, upon which occasion Miss Birch, Miss Heywood (her first appearance), and Mr. Sims Reeves will appear, in addition to the usual engagements and the chorus of two hundred. "Be mine, dear maid," and "My pretty Jane," will be sung by Mr. Sims Reeves; while "Tell me my heart," and " Sons of Freedom," will be severally sung by Miss Birch and Miss Heywood. The pro gramme also offers a most attractive selection, com bining many novelties will the usual established favorite glees and solos ; so that Mr. Mitchell may fairly anticipate a crowded audience. The Afternoon Concerts, we are happy to state, will be resumed on Saturday next, the 21st inst., at the Hanover-square Rooms. THE TURKISH -This attractive exhi bition has been visited during the past week by a great number of holiday folks. The wax figures, perfect as works of art, are certainly superior to any thing of the sort, not even excepting Mme. Tussaud's, yet exhibited in this country. The most complete acquaintance with the manners and customs of the Turks may be made in a few boars' study of the contents of this admirable museum, and the faithful representation which it gives of Turkish life 361 tends to fix indelibly upon the mind all that we have read of this singular nation. After a second and third visit we can cordially recommend this insti 'ac tive exhibition to all who desire to combine some little profit with a good deal of pleasure. zlie puma. Planche's Spring Meeting, though without much plot, is exceedingly well written, and full of good jokes and better puns. The subject in the main is the great reform movement of the age, as applied particularly to the good city of London. The extravaganza commences with a view of the Guildhall, in which London (Mrs. Caroline White) is seen fast asleep, and aroused by Time (Mr. Chippendale), who, after rating her for her indo lence, and recommending her to correct the error of her ways, after some little altercation, departs. London, in disgust, appeals in vain to her old friends Gog anu Magog to assist her, but at last the Lord Mayor's Fool (Buckstone) makes his appearance and cracks so many good jokes upon the civic body that he half convinces London of some little re form being necessary. He shows her the Lord Mayor's Procession in a fog, and in a fine day, suggesting, en route, that for the future it should take place on the Ist of April in preference to the 9th of November; and then he appeals to the kindly influence of My Lord Moon, who advises London to take a page out of the book of her progressing sister Westminster. As Westminster (Miss Gor don) shortly after calls, she is admitted to an interview with her sister London, and induces her after much persuasion to come out beyond Temple bar, and observe the improvements of the West. Belgravia and Tyburnia, the adopted daughters of Westminster, are also introduced, and the whole party start upon a tour of inspection. The various places of amusement are visited, anti their attractions duly sung by their representatives, but the Eagle Saloon certainly carried off the palm, and obtained an undeniable encore. After this the Spring Meeting is attended, and when the theatrical favorites have been trotted out for inspection, the Yellow Dwarf, Janet Pride, Perea bir:•na, &c., and their points duly descanted on, they take a gallop, dance a hornpipe, and the curtain falls upon a bril liant representation of the Grand Stand, in which Buckstone appears to be backing his favorite to an enormous amount to win the race. The piece is so very slight that it would scarcely have proved a decided success had it not been for the admirable manner in which Mrs. Caroline White, Miss Harriet Gordon, and Mr. Buckstone performed their respective parts. Mrs. White's personation was graceful and effective, while Miss Gordon was equally felicitous in her representation of the younger and more adventurous sister. The scenery, by Messrs. Calcott, Morris, and O'Connor, is designed and executed with great taste and skill, and the dresses and other accessories are rich, picturesque, and effective. The curtain fell amid the unanimous plaudits of the house, and Mr. Buckstone, who appeared much flattered by the reception of his favorite, announced that it would start every evening during the season. Perecess's.—The Easter piece at this theatre ie an adaptation from the Mule tier de Tolide, which was brought out at Christmas at the Thkitre Lyrique. With a threadbare plot, very obvious in trigues, and a dialogue as dull as a dull dialogue without one good joke in it can be, the interest of the piece is centred solely in the delicate and grace ful acting of Miss Leclercq, who with infinite vivacity and liveliness sustained her character under its various disguises. The story, soon told, is that of a Queen of Murcia (in the days when Spain, like Ger many at present, was split up into petty kinglets) being engaged to a brother of the King of Castile, and hearing that her intended is about to travel to the Court in disguise as a Muleteer in order first to assure himself of his bride's character, she assumes the garb of a peasant girl, and meets her lover at a posada on the road. A variety of romuatie adventures, of course, ensue, and with some little interruptions the Muleteer turns out to be, not the King of Castile's brother, but the King of Castile himself, and the curtain falls upon their merrier. The villain of the piece—for any piece at the Prin cess's would never be complete without a villain of the deepest dye—is a cousin of the Queen, who is perpetually plotting and counterplotting to get pos session of her Majesty's person, and force her to a marriage ; but, of course, he is always defeated by the unexpected appearance of the Muleteer, and finally utterly confounded by the matrimonial catastrophe which destroys his hopes for ever. The character of the Muleteer was supported by Mr. Walter Lacy with great energy and spirit, while Mr. Harley, in sky blue tights and flesh-coloured . silk stockings, plays the part of a pompous and servile old courtier better than any one we ever saw, who had not one good joke or point to make in the whole play. At the fall of the curtain the applause was very per, and