The Press. — London, England, 1855-05-12 00:00:00

MAY 12, 1855. glusir. [ln the absence of our musical critic we make up a few notices of the novelties of the week from the daily papers.] ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. LasucErz the great reappeared at this theatre on Saturday night, as Dulcamara in Donizetti's melo dious little opera entitled L'Elieir d'Amore. He was suffering from cold, which slightly damaged his still glorious voice. But what then? Lablache is never at a loss. 11l or well, in voice or out of voice, his ready wit and sound musical knowledge are ever at hand to help him out of difficulties, and, one way or another, he always succeeds in delighting his audience. He was enthusiastically welcomed, warmly applauded throughout, and called for, in conjunction with the other principal singers, at the conclusion of the opera. So admirable a Nemorino as Signor Gardoni, who appeared in that part for the first time on this occasion, has not, been seen at the Royal Italian Opera. Both by his singing and acting he gave an interest and importance to the love-sick rustic that rendered him one of the leading features of the piece. The pretty romance, "Una furtive lagrima" (the bassoon obligato to which was most expressively played by M. Baumann), could not pos sibly have been more sweetly or tastefully executed than it was by Signor Gardoni, who won for it a rapturous encore ; and, indeed, all his efforts elicited demonstrations of approval, cordial and unanimous, as they were well merited. Mme. Bosio's Adina is a very familiar performance, and, therefore, in saying that it again presented all its well-knowfl excellencies, we bestow all needful criticism. Her brilliant deli very of the introduced air, " Prendi per me sei libero," was received, as usual, with acclamations, and she was honoured throughout with applause of the warmest kind. Signor Graziani acquitted himself creditably as Bekore, and Mlle. Bellini did ample justice to the small part intrusted to her. The house was crowded. The great success which attended the production in Paris of Verdi's II Trovatore placed it before the directors of the Royal Italian Opera as one of their n welties for the present season; and its first per formance on Thursday night gained for it a reception not merely brilliant and enthusiastic, but so genuine and honest, that we cannot but predict for it a pros perous career upon the Anglo-Italian stage. The plot of the Trovatore is somewhat complicated. The Count di Luna has had a brother slolen in infancy by a gipsy, and he has solemnly bound himself to his dying father t recover him, if possible. He is deeply smitten with the Duchess Leonora, but the lady's heart has been already won by a troubadour. An accident brings the rivals together in her castle, where the Count compels the troubadour to unmask. The latter avows himself to be Manrico, one of the Bohemians, whose life is already forfeited to the laws, and both the rivals quit the stage sword in hand. The second act discovers Manrico in the midst of a gipsy tribe, one of whom, named Azucena, tells a story, from which we learn that he is the daughter of the old gipsy who stole the young Count, with the further fact, that when she heard her mother's cry for vengeance, through the flames that consumed her, she attempted to thrust into the fire the infant Luna, but by mistake destroyed her own child instead. Manrico now learns that the castle of Castallan, the residence of Leonora, is occupied by an armed force, and that she, believing that he is dead, is about to take the veil. The Count attempts to carry her off, but is com pelled to fly before Manrico. However, the victory is but temporary, and Manrico and is reputed mother, Azucena, both fall into the hands of the enemy. While in prison, his expressions of love for Leonora, as well as the funeral service of the priests, are overheard by the young Duchess as she lingers by the prison window. In an agony of grief and terror she throws herself at the Count's feet, and offers to become his wife if he will save Manrico. The Count, delighted with the proposal, retires to give orders to the guards ; but in the meanwhile Leonora puts a poisoned ring to her lips, and falls. Sh€, however, retains life enough te, visit Manrico in his prison, tells the price at which she has purchased his safety, after which she dies. The Count now enters the dungeon, and his men-at-arms lead off Manrico, who is supposed to be executed behind the scenes. In the meanwhile Azucena, who is sleeping in the same dungeon, awake, and asks for her son. The Count draws her to the window, and shows her the execution, but is horror stricken at her tri- - ohant - 11; tati( - that Manrico is his THE PRESS. by Mlle. Ney in the first act is charmingly sweet, and a trio between her, Tamberlik, and Graziani, very dramatically worked up; a song,•" 11 balen," in the second act, given with the most perfect finish by Graziani, is full of tender melody ; a subdued chorus in the same act, undeniably novel and graceful; and the opening of the fourth act., in which the wailings of Manrico and Leonora are mingled with the distant " Miserere," may for effect bear comparison with almost any similar effort. Dramatically, the weight of the performance fell upon Madame Viardot, who was warmly welcomed back by the audience. Her impersonation 3f the gipsy woman is startlingly wild, and, like everything she does, elaborated and thoroughly artistic. It may be considered as one of her most impressive assumptions. Of the other principle performers, Signor Graziani deserves par ticular notice for the exceeding grace with which be sang throughout. The scenery exhibited some of Mr. Beverley's most charming touches, and the dressings and groupings were very pretty and tasteful. The crowded audience, as we have said, gave the per formance a most cordial reception, and we have very little doubt that II Trovatore will prove one of the most popular operas produced in this country for some time past. HARMONIC Umoti.—The concert of this society, at the Hanover-square Rooms on Wednesday con sisted of a selection of miscellaneous pieces, followed by Acis and Galatea. The first part of the concert consisted of Bennett's overture, The Naiades ; the great scene, "Si, lo sento," from Sphor's Faust, sung by Mme. Rudersdorff; and Beethoven's sym phony in A. Molique's reading of Beethoven's symphony was very judicious; the equisite allegretto was finely played, but the execution of the first movement and the finale lacked spirit. Mme. Rudersdorff sang Spohr's scene (the same she sang a few week's ago at the Philharmonic Concert with such eclat) magnificently, and was much applauded. Acis and Galatea was performed with Mozart's accompaniments, which are almost new to the English public, having been brought from Germany (where they were lately discovered) by Mr. Benedict, and performed for the first time in this country at a concert of the Harmonic Union last season. They are full of taste and delicacy, and add greatly to the interest of the work. The solo parts were sung by Mme. Rudersdorff, Herr Reichardt, Mr. Miranda, and Mr. Weiss. Mme. Rudersdorff was very suc cessful; she has evidently (as she has shown by her appearances at Exeter-hall) made a study of Handel's music, and understands his style. She warbled "Hush, ye little warbling choir," and "As when the dove laments her love," delightfully. Reichardt, too, acquitted himself excellently, espe cially in the fine song "Love in her eyes sits play ing," which ho sang with tenderness and passion. Weiss's Polyphemus is an admirable performance. LYCEUM THEATRE.---Mme. AIMS Thillon com mences a farewell engagement next Monday, when she will appear as La Caterina in the Crown Diamonds, and her admirers will have an opportu nity of hearing and seeing this charming actress and songstress in ono of her best characters. Mme. Thiilon'e engagements is for six weeks. Ett frama. HAYMARKET THEATRE.—The new version of M. Victor Hugo's drama of Angelo, adapted by Mr. Buckstone as the Actress of Padua, has proved highly successful. The men in the drama are in. significant to the last degree, but there is a fine scope for female acting. Miss Cushman seizes on the part of La Tisbe in the right spirit, interpreting the character as that of a woman who would put no restraint on the utterance of any one passion, but would be equally frank and open in the expression of all. Her confession of love is undisguisedly ardent, her hate comes down with withering intensity, her anxiety shakes her beyond the power of conceal ment—in a word, she is a being in whom no emotion can be gentle. Her great point with the audience is the sudden arrest of her rage against Catarina at the sight of the cross, when the transition is marked by the fixity of the eye and of the attitude. But a more refined display of feeling is the distress, to which she dares not give utterance, when Catarina, mistaking the sleeping-draught for poison, refuses the only means of safety. The attempt to conv2y hints of the truth in the presence of the Podesta— the despair at constant failure—the vexation at wasted ingenuity—are all expressed in most eloquent by •play. Miss Reynolds, by her interpretation of Catarina, admirably works out the contrast intended give orders to the guards ; but in the meanwhile the sudden arrest of her rage against Catarina at BRITISH FUNDS. Closing Prices. Leonora puts a poisoned ring to her lips, and falls. the sight of the cross, when the transition is marked Sha, however, retains life enough te• visit Manrico in by the fixity of the eye and of the attitude. But a OFFICIAL QUOTATION. his prison, tells the price at which she has purchased more refined display of feeling is the distress, to Mom:. Tumid. Wed. .Thure. l Friday his safety, after which she dies. The Count now which she dares not give utterance, when Catarina, 1— i —i— : -- enters the dungeon, and his men-at-arms lead off mistaking the sleeping-draught for poison, refuses s u per f Cent. Consols lB9} Ili 884 11188 .6 8.S i i 1 mB 3B l i i Manrico, who is supposed to be executed behind the only means of safety. The attempt to cons 2y a per (. 7 ts - u - u cents Reduced 611 i b7 l f the scenes. In the meanwhile Azucena, who is hints of the truth in the presence of the Podeeta— 8 per Cents sleeping in the same dungeon, awaks, and asks for the despair at constant failure—the vexation at Long Annuities her son. The Count draws her to the window, and wasted ingenuity—are all expressed in most eloquent Bank Stock, 7 per Cent .ll 9 249 . 210, 1. , :09 . Omnium j zp z ;pi pi 1P i gP shows her the execution, but is horror stricken at by play. Miss Reynolds, by her interpretation of Fotch. Bills, 20. per diem t • i i I 11 8 her triumphant exclamation that Manrico is his Catarina, r.dmirably works out the contrast intended India Bonds, (1.000 l.) — 17 —. 14 brother, and that her mother is consequently avenged. by the author. Her emotions, though intense, are BANK OF ENGLAND. Of the music, we can only say generally that it under control, and the firm propriety of her manner, is in the be s t s tyle of Verdi. The composer even when circumstances were most compromising, ALA thecco u w n e t esk p e ur nd s i u n agntontoSaturday, the s ai t Nth `f ia, yu l i s m to a r y.l B .lp 92 5. . has nowhere exercised his inventive power with seems a strong fortification against the attacks of teens OLPARTMLIIIT. more graceful effect: he has in no other opera her reckless assailant. The adaptation of Victor exhibited so much care and ability in construe- Hugo's drama has been skilfully salted to the taste Notesissued .... d2d,911,090 Other eri ses s ur t Debt its. 411 . 2 1 :9 0 44 1115 : 0 0 1 ( 0 10 Gold C Briouin 14,911,030 ton, and in two or three instances the music more of an English audience, and on the first night's silver .... -- completely fits the situation than almost anything of performance was loudly applauded by a crowded -- his that we have before heard. An air of his sung hove. 226,911,030 £28,911,030 . . . _ _ . Abe 1.11117. WAR-OFFICE, APRIL 24. BREVET. The under-mentioned promotion to take place in the East India Company's Army, consequent on the death of Major-General Edward tiwatkin, of the Bengal Infantry, on the 13th April, 1855: To be Major-General—Colonel Philip Francis Storey. The under-mentioned officers of the East India Com pany's service, retired upon full-pay, to have a step of honorary rank as follows; their commissions to bear date May 11: To be Colonels--Lieutenant-Colonels Robert Campbell, W. Anderson, S. Hennell, A. Knyvett, S. J. Grove. To be Lieutenant-Colonels—Majors W. Ward, A. J. Begbie, H. W. Burt, George Cecil, J. C. Salkeld, G. F. Whiteloke, Thomas Brodie, John Samuel Knox, T. Elliot Colebrooke, James Roger Western. To be Majors—Captains William Cumberland, J. S Phillips, D. h,. Brewster. Dll3llOl Vadat a 0 it ttttliigtntt. FRIDAY EVENTNe. THE resignation of M. Drouyn de Lhuys, accom panied as it was with many rumours of its probable cause and consequence, occasioned a marked depres.. sion in the prices of Stock early in the past week. Subsequently the shock has been got over, and the market has shown renewed and increased buoyancy. The public still come in as large and regular purchasers, seeming to be especially eager in the inquiries after the new loan, which, accordingly, shows well in the quotations. On Thursday the monthly settlement in Consols was arranged, the account being unusually large. Some heaviness was produced by the failure of a dealer, with differences, it is believed, of not less than between two and three hundred thousand pounds. Another defaulter was notified, at a late hour, in the "House," but his liabilities are said not to be extensive. During the day, also, the publication of the Vienna protocals caused a partial decline, their tenor being considered to prove the utter impossibility of dealing with Russia in any other way than by actual force. The daily fluctuations of the Consul Market have been, Saturday 891 I, Monday 84 1, Tuesday 88i Wednesday 881 1, Thursday 881 1. Friday's prices have improved in consequence of a publication of a telegraphic dispatch from the Crimea, announcing the repulse of Russian sorties with considerable loss. Consols marked 88f to Besj for both money and account. Reduced Three per Cents. 87j, New Three per Cents. 881. Bank Stock, 209. India Stock, 230 i ; ditto Bonds, 15s. Exchequer Bills, ss. to Ps. prem.; ditto Bonds, 99ft. Money continues easy, and some considerable arrivals of bullion have been reported during the week, both from Australia and the West. The Om nium of the new loan has advanced to 8 f premium. SHARES. Transactions in Railway Shares arf. very limited, and no considerable fluctuations have taken place in the range of prices. The half-yearly meeting of the National Provincial Bank of England was held on Thursday, when a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent. per annum was declared, with a bonus of 6 per cent. The chairman, (Mr. J. F. Laurie) stated that the progress of busi ness had been satisfactory during the six months. FOREIGN. Foreign Stocks and Shares have been little dealt in, with the exception of Turkish, in which a notice able rise is established. This afternoon the quota tions showed a little weakness, but the prices of these Bonds are still maintained at 741 5 for the account. 457