The National Register. — London, England, 1818-03-16 00:00:00

.MARCH 16 THE DRAMA. KING'S' THEATRE. An Opera, called 11 Barbiere di Sivigna, was per formed on Tueihay •night 'at this-theatre, for the first time in this country. The plot is the same as the well known comedy of that name, by Beaumarchais, •vrhich' forms a first part to Le Ilariage de Figaro, and from which our play of the Spanish Barber was also taken i The mtisic is by Rossini, a young composer of extraor dinary merit, .now living, who enjoys great eelebrit}t. in all parts Of the Continent. 'This opera is the first specimen of his composition which has been submitted to the judgment of an Engish audience: taken as a whole, perhaps, it bears marks of haste, .and still mere or extravagance; but we are persuaded that all persons who have carried the study of music to the least degree hfrefinement, must have been delighted and astonished by she occasional touches of genius, the variety and original it* of his style The general character of Ros sini's music is extreme ornament, the perfect reverse of what is called the simple atL it ; but his resources in that line, and the fertility of his invention, seem almost unlimited. It is passible that its effect may lessen l.y frequent repetition ; the first impression, however, is delightful. The particular pieces with which we were most struck were, a song by Rosins (Mad. Fodor)— " Vaa wee poco a;" another by Basilio (Angrisani) descriptive of the effects of calumny, " La cabonia c un venticello ; a quintettnear the, end of the first act ; and the latter part of a trio in the second, •begienin.o with the words " Zitto, Zitto, piano, piano." The new. singer, Signor Garcia, is a great master of his art, and plays with its difficulties in a manner that is truly surprising. His voice is a pure tenor, somewhat on the decline, but of great flexibility, strength, and compass. His style is the florid, and carried to a degree which probably has never been exceeded ; but his singing is tlle perfection..cf that style, and considered as a mere v.:titbit ion of-art, cannot bn: preduce. h4h gratification To try Signor Garcia as. a sentimental singer, would be to destroy his merits altogether. He disclaims that school, we apprehend, upon principle, and should be judged only by those laws on which he has formed himself. The character of Count Abnaviva, which signor Garcia performed in this opera, requires a good actor as well as an accomplished singer ; in both =- slims he did it complete justice. The piece was represtnted with great spirit through out; the part of Barfole, by Ambrogetti, deserved pe. culiar commendation : we have seleom.witnesseLbetter acting. . C()VENT.G ARDF.N. On Thursasi was produced a new Musical Play; en titled Rob Roy Afacgregor ; or, Auld Lang Syne, foontled on the novel of Rob Roy. The works of this Author are so highly dramatic, the characters are so powertully drawn, and the scenery and circumstances au interesting, that the .leading incidents have always h•en transferred to the stage with. the greatest effect. These exquisite productions have not only given rise to a new era in Novel writing, but in Operaksniting also, promising to relieve it front its entire dependence on the music, by imparting great interest to the fable ant: cha meters. This: is the cause with.the present, of which the following is a' hasty' sketch. " The scent lies in Ste:eland: during-the. time when Macgregor and a powerful }tarty. were . endeavouring •to restore the Stuarts.— " The house of Osbaldistone and Co. Crane Alley. Londoa,'.' (so de. siguated by Mr. Oren, their clerk) is described as being of itnmenre consequence in the entrunerciid world, but whose Affairs are throw; into confusion ;front the circeunetenee. of ,tats. Francis.Osbaldittone, (the son) having a greater inelinationefor poetry than trade, which occasions his father to send hint to liisenoclee Sir Hileielf;and. in Northumberland. and to take his cousin. Rarhleigh•Oebriklietont in tis place, who, in a shim time. contrives to abscond with. large reies of money belonging to the h government papers. which he seites for the put pose of adv cause of the Stuarts. with whom be is connected. In the to e, Frank has bee p gaining the Affections of Diana Vernon. rei fies with Sir flikle- I rata, thereby defeating the hopes of eh, who hail been her miter. The play commences with thejou ey of aseis, (Blanchard) a junior partner of the house, in pursuit of Radileigh, (Abbot) who ie understood to be in the, iiigtdands. These particulars he commis. r.icates to a travelling competnen, who no other than Rob Roy Mac r6-or, (Mann:tidy ) and in close eerrospendence with Rasliteigb and the rebels. Frank, (Sinclair) is also apprized of his father's embar rassment. and they proceed together to Glaegow. Arriving there, he is told by a strorepse, that it is not safe for him to reineio in Glac e:ow, and urges him Fr accompany him where he will meet with a rarrise. lie coneente. nail is conducted to the prisen. where he 'inns Owen. who hail been arrested at the s ecret instegetion of; Patlas Their,cenference is ieterrupted by Bale Nadt Jazz, c, (Lis t ea) who comes tee visit Owen whom he knew. He rcengbiz::s gregx, in the sttengoe, but em the SCOte of relanuaship. titc. de e:Mrs to apprehend him. •.'ttaeg regor at the entreaty of LEeee Vex. nee, (Miss Stephens) who his pewee over him in consequence of their mutilate onnexioa with the Stuarts, undertakes to procure the restitution of O.dintilirturie and Co.'s papers, if Frank and the. Bail! :it will acoompaey him to the Highlands. Before they eel out, Frank and Resider it meet by accident, and fight, hut are interrupt. cd by Macgregar, who pacts them. Raseileioli, incited by disap. pointed love and ambition. turns reeegade, and betrays lita.-crecJr, on his arrival hi the Highlands, who is taken prisoner. by the troops, but afterwards soppes ; while his elan, beaded by Heat. his wife, (Mrs. Egerton) .gain a victory over another patty. It will be proper to mention that Diane has concealed her farber, Sir Fre.ierick Vernon, (Egerton) untihthis period, when the treachery of Rase. 1.0, who was powered. of the secret, rendered it necessary they should escape to the. Ilighlends. Raebleigis discovers them here also, and lays a plan for their apprehenvinii, which is fortunately over ht'ard by Dnagal. (Tokelyeerte of Macgregor's clan, whose ingen i t icy had been of e s s ential eceeine on several occseions. Accordingly., Sir Frederick, his daughter, and Frank, are apprehended to; in a cave on charge of trimenn, -tr. Ala reg , ir and his elan rush in, disperse the soldiers, and fles/sierek is etedi..mel to the heart by Mac . grror himself. The end is ensily force:too e-The Osiviliiistoire pets are rota/yd....F..7-A snri 'Willa are ulired.anri Rey Roy Mac _ . gregeir Cc„_ , e i i j eacc iierin his native hills. nir, NATIONAL REGISTrIL These, and subordinate incidents, ,form a most inte resting drama. It will be seen by those who have read the Novel, that it adheres as clasely as possible to the original .plot—the most matutial,sittenitam.heing in. the character and matinere sof Diana 'Vernon, who is trans formed front a masculine, hunting-loving lady to what Miss Stephens *usually is. There is, however, a de gree of complexity in the fable which will render it rather confused to those who arc not .previousiv familiar with the story. As un acting play, we think. it supe rior to Guy Mannering,.,as possessing greater interest, and affording an opportunity for the display of more powerful actings in this respect,. it receives the great est assistance from the performers. Macready '4. Rob Roy is excellent ; it is forcible; natural, and pleasing. +Abbott has little to do in Bashleigh, but that little is very good. Liston is quite at house in the Badge. — His adventures in the Highlands aro irresistibly amus ing, andvhis favourite exclamation, " My conscience !" has frequent/y a mose ludicrous effect 'We would re commend him not to spoil the termination of a beau tiful glee, " by setting on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh"—he doubtless remenber's Hamlet's advice on those occasions. Mrs. Egerton's acting needs no other praise or illustration, than the bare informa tion that Helen Macgregor is a bold, indignant, in jured woman, of the Meg Merrilies school. Miss Ste phens, in Diana Vernon, is pleasing, and that is all required of her as an actress. But her singing is in deed beautiful. Her most. successfulagarts were the duet .with •Sitiolair—"ahte you leave me,naw in sor row," than which we have seldom beard any thing snore delightful, and the air, " A Fiighland Lid my love was born." Buth were rapturously encored.— Sinclair sings " Auld Lang sync," charmingly, as, in deed, he does the whole of' the airs entrusted to him. Of the Music generally, we have only to observe, that the,greater part consists of old and favourite Scottish ;Aids, and frequently the words of Burns. We by no means complain of this, either as rewards the poetry or the music, fur in the present state of' ° both, it is ten to one but we gain considerably by the plan. The ori ginal Music (chiefly Glees and Chonesses) is by Davy and Bishop. We were much pleased with the Finale of the seeoad act—" Tramp, tramp, o'er moss and fell," and with the Clan's Lament, by the late Mr. Reeve,— ,The 'Overture is by Davy, and though we are ready to give it all deserved praise, yet it is certainly inferior in effect to that of Guy Mannering. The air of Boy's Wife is again introduced, in our injudiciously, as it is afterwards sung twice during the play. The scenery is truly beautiful, especially the views in the Highlands, that of Glasgow -Bridge, and the cr.ve..by moonlight. The principal defect .of this play, is its.tva.nt. of ori ginality.—lts pretensions to public favour are built on Guy Mannering. We have the same kind of scenery, and the same kind of music. The incidents are of course different, but the style and conduct are very similar. Both „begin with a glee in a public house, and both end with a Scotch air in a cave. Frank Gebaldisione walks in and out just after the fashion of Harry Bertram—the Baillic's " my cons:it:rice !" steps into the place of, "•Prodigious I and lichen Macgregor, though not exactly a Meg Merrilies, once or twice re minds us very strongly of the latter. We cannot help noticing that an appeal in Miss Stephens's verse of the chorus uttnade in the singular number, recommending Rob Roy on the score of personal favoier3. 'llk is not correct, either as respects the performer or the public, and ought not to have, bNii introduced. T.he. play would bear curteLlatent, especially in the first act, which is much too lung. WesimouTH,l.ALtnci: 1:1!.-This • morning Prince Leopold, accompanied by Dr. Stockniar, walked ou Smalmoutli Sands, thmenuch favoured spot for the recre ation of our late degply regretted Princess Charlotte.— His Royal Highness afterwards crossed the ferry, and proceeded to Portland Reach, • the /ate scene of woeful disaster. The Prince occupied same time in eAtrvey in., this extraordinary production of nature,: which re sists the most furious tempests. The summit and mag nitude of this great barrier excited the wonder and astcuishment of his Royal Highness, at its awful ap pear;:nce. The Prince, on quitting the ferry, return ed in his etan.ia:?:e, which was in waiting, and arrived at tho King's beige at four o'clock. The _Doke of: Clarence visited :Miss Wykeharn on Sunday so'nnignt, at Thaine Park, : and passed the greatest part of Cie day at the lady's mansion. -Om!. Friday the Duke went to Portsmouth, to see his yor-g -' cst son put on board the Spartan frigate, as a 1111C:ship man.. - The Princess cf Wales .has a eause.,ir_ Chancery itg3l,lost Earl' Liverpool and Count ~.tant.'..cr, esecuturs nailer the will of the Inte.Duk2 of:. T. hilt brother ; she sues than for .tno, pr - uissory notes of 15,0001. each, drawn in 1814. br , lne Duke in her fa• your; her executors have card for an inspection of the notes. A Neapolitan Abbe , ..Tanelli, has discovered in th,: Royal library, at:Naples, a manuscript of Dracontius, a poet of the sth century. It contains ten small I;ceins hithext4 unknown, upon mytly , logical subjects. DIZCRY-1. 4NE FLA\ D M EETING. On Wednesday a numerous and most reepe7ta"e company of Gentlemen met at the City of Loud% a Ta veni, and dined together. his Royal Ilighness the Duke of York. iss the Chair ; supported by the-Earl of Essex, lead Holland, &c. The object of the Meeting was to coutitettanee.and support the:Theatrical Fund of Drury Lane Theatre, originally instituted by .14r. Garrick, and the Members of which were incer porated by Act of Parliament. We are prevented iy the overflew of important matter, from .entering into a aetail of the proceedings, which were most gratifyi::g from the generous spirit of benevolence that was ren.:- fested, and most delightful from the speeches that 'wee delivered, as well as from the excellence of the musical :treat. Mr. Kean, as Master and Treasurer of the Fund, explained its nature and its present state.. lle did this in an Address of the most gracefitl und persua sive eloquence. Indeed we do not rememter to 'have heard a speech more apt to the purpose, or more taste ful, both in the composition and delivery. It was eftdently drawn from bim also on the instant, as tl.e Royal Duke coupled his name unexpectedly with that. of the Fund they were assembled to support. Mr. Kean paid elegant and respectful compliments to his Royal Highness—and to the numerous company who had ho noured the Corporation with their presence; and lie concluded with bearit,g his warm testimony of praise to the admirable manner in which his excellent friend and predecessor, Mr. Bannister, 83 Muter and Treasurer If the Fund, had exerted his high talents in its support. Mr. Bannister's health was drank with acclaniaticev, and in a short speech be returned thanks. He had spent the pleasantest years of his life on the stage., and in quitting it, he had felt sincere pleasure in resigning into the hands of Mr. Kean the place which he had so long held in the conduct of the Fund. lie admired the talents .of'l%fr..Kean, which were truly original ; und though that Gentleman had with reason deplored the Wien condition of the Fund, he was sure he might now, from time experience of that day, exclaim with his usual emphasis— •, Now is the winter of our discontents •• Mad* ious summer by the Sue of York." The 1 spent with the utmost cenviitiality,, and the subs . anatunted to 16001. , • IMPROMPTU, On hearing that tie Admisaion ors cohobrated C►itic, named " Pares," was stopped at Drury Lane, by Order of Mr. P. MUOHIi. " Have they," cried Tent„4lJith some malaise) Thrall' Peter from tho door t Frans Drury's Scenes, If :hey are wise, thrust one Peter Aare." One change in the ,Admiralty has, we believe, been long settled, and .report now speaks of another. It is rumoured that -high Vice Admirals Sir Joseph .Yorko and Sir George Hope are to retire ; and that Rear Ade miral.Sir George Cockburn and Sir Henry.flotbarn are to be their successors. The appointment of Sir George Cockburn to the Admiralty is an appointment that meets with universal approbation. Friday, the 6th inst. Mr. SL George. was dispatched to Sweden, with the Prince Regent's answer to the letters notifying the death of King Charles XIII., as also with new credentials for Lord Strangford, as Mi nister to the present King, Charles John. Mr. Eng strom, the Swedish Charge d'Affaires, has taken the oath of allegiance to the new King of all the Swedes and Norwegians at present in London. Near 20,0001. has been subscribed in aid of the views of the Society for prompting the enlargement and • building of Churches. and Chapel:, ; among the sub scribers are, the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, Oxford, for 10001. ; the Bishop of Durham 5001. ; Rev. C. Dawbeny, Arel.a.eacon .of Sarum, 5001. ; 11. Hoare, Esq. 5001. ; Duke of , ..Northumberland, 5001; and the Countess.Dowaget , o: Rosie, 5001. The Bishop of ,OxfUrd will held, in the course of the. ensuing, summer, the Visitations and Confirmations in the Diocese of.llerham, fot the Prelate of that Sec. His Lordship-will, also consecrate the new churches and chapels areeted by the Governors -f Greenwt.4 Hospital, in. nothientr-riand, under ti, , ; Act of Par liament ftir the divisien of the Rectory of Simonbarn. A nuiuier of the French speciise.es of Vienna por cchrua have lately been receiwi by the Ambassador, us' tiesents front the Emperen to the Queen and the Prince Regent, which have. been exhibited to a select few of the fashionable woul!, ut the house of Prince Estee.azy. They will .I,teei a splendid addition to the Royal China lie,nioi.,,rics at Froginnre and Bribh !nil. Some of thq..epeiniens were intended for t'te - late Princess ql,ftr.ottc. ; and, we undeostand, some rliiiicu!tj !: 4: foctirrod in point of Coare..e.tiqudie, how the; are tta'.v to bc'=uirposed of. Keeeedy. , Graufiird, or acean,. M D. doted ith April, 184,4,, and proved at •Doctors' Coin:ions on the sth inat. is contained a le gacy in .the fallowing words I give to the Chenedlor. of the blxcl)eqprri in treat , frr the n;,- tion. the slm of our hundred potmds; hope ever ma eantribe:e in proportion to tas.iieeperty." The eillects arc sworn under 14,0001. John now.• son, merchant, of,Bristol, is .the exci:u!or. ~I