The National Register. — London, England, 1814-08-07 00:00:00

VIE - NATIONAL REGISTER,. DRAMATIC RE , TkitAVRE ROYAL, INcEVM. IS TE R. A new Operas Called " Frederick the Great ; - or, 'The Heart of a gobliers' was performed, for the first time at this Theatre, last Thursday. The dialogne is attributed to Mr. Arnold, and the music tine composition of Mr. J. Cooke, the eminent singer lately ittiptitted from Vithlin. The plot of this Opera is taken from a French novel, by tire Celebrated Pigault Le Brui', entitled, " Lei Barons dc Felsheim, it is not devoid of interest, and for those who have not read the Original, must possess the charm of novelty. Charles, Baron of teisheim (Mt. Cooke) a young, unexperienced, but accomplished acid gailatit Officer, hide de Camp to the King of Pritssia, has been engaged with a friend in a broil at a gambling house, but has sworn never to give way to hi' gaining propensity again. His friend, tinder the supposed name of Theodore Dortman, is a young lady (Miss Kelly) with whom he had fallen in love, and who, in order to study his disposition, and guide his thoughtlessness, its5lllllCA the uniform the name of her brother, Lieutenant Theodore Dorlsnan, and tkithont being known in her real character, becomes his companion. Renee arise most of the incidents of the piece. The King (Mr• Raiymond) learning what has taken place at the gambling house, trends Charles and the real Theodore Durtman, on the ere,of a battle, to the state prison of Schweidnitz, the governor of which is uncle to the latter, Thither they ate followed by the young Lady in Is , stew character, in which she is not recognised either by her Mode the governor (Mr. Penley ) or her cousin his daughter ( Mrs. Oro.), which enables her to amuse herself for a considerable time, St their ctpence, whilst endeavouring to plan the escape of the prisoners: Means idle Frederick the Great, on his return from the review, during which he had condemned the two young offenders to captivity, receives a petition in their favonr, Hach tells him That the /Won of Felsheim is of an older family than himself, and the Aide de Camp, therefore, more illustrious than his master : that Ste has acted wrong in punishing with so murk severity a first fault, and asks him how he would like, after staking the fate of his kingdom on a battle, and losing it, to be shit up in a fortress. It closes 4-rah mortises of friendship if he should behave better, and is signed, prima, quarter master and conqueror of Pomerania. Astonished at Steil an epistle, the philosophical monarch loses his temper, and orders the author to be seized and shot, On a representation, however, ttom his first Aid de camp, Adjutant General Doling, (Mr. Wallack) tem &fates the writer to be an old veteran, who had served with flue Baron's father, and di,thignished himself in the Pomeranian wars, Ina who bad erred only damn!' affection for his young mister, ig norance of courtly phrases, and hhint originality of character, Fre derick Causes him to be brought before him. A conversation ensiics, in which Branca displays his soul %lint as little reserve as in his let- ter. and the King. convinced that he had no intention of offending, tenth him also to Sehweidnitz with a letter for the Governor, with the frintents of which lie is trot aeirainted. That fortress then becomes the scene at action. Fired_ with military ardour, the .two prisoiiers long to join the battle, on the eve of beingfought, in the hope of conquering their p.irdon, by souse brilliant exploit. The honesty of the Governor, and of the Porter (Liston), however, di•kats all their attempts at escape. Brandra arrival increases their anxiety, and 'when they find that the letter he has brought appoints him to the imnrnand of the citadel instead of the present Governor, they have ie. &min of his showing them to carry their plan into execution. But they also find him inflexible, for he now rejects as Governor, what he lately advised when he thonght himself a prisoner. Profit ing by the indolent disposition of the porter, Stack, however, whom the young ladies talk to 4cep, the officers procure the keys, and escape. A battle is fonght, the life of the King is saved by two un known hussar•, to whom ho gives his scarf, promising to grant them . any rewa►d they might 'ask, when they present it to him. The young offirerS reigns) to their confinement with two standards which they !foie taken. Dut they has• inert discovered. They are tried by a Court Martial, and sentenced to perpetual -inipri.oinent i „ ire fortress of Spandau. The King arrives Morin - Mend atSchweiJoi.z t and is about to con fi rm the sentence, where Matilda Olive Kelly) 40. knimledges that she had represented her brother, and, vs ith her c".,* sin and Brandt, implores the nionarcies cleuses.cy. Aster much re. sistance he curtails the period of imprisonment to five ys iris. t:e. two hussars who have saved his li.e ire . then intronne, d, but i t„. ir faces 'are concealed by their helmets They rtsent d pet.slat. in behalf of the priso:•ers, Which is rejected ; ss,:) she 'tut%) v themselves, and the Baron of Felshcins and Ihcoaore Hartman known. The King orders the hussars, ho toxin sus ~,as s n, advance: all tic spectators are - struck with te,lor and thi-k young men on the eve of being shot, when telaxing the severit, . f his features Frederick appoints the Baron, Major, anu Theoacr. - -, Captain, Such is the plot of this Cpers, which presents many scenes idpes riot in interest, and even in Ptyle , to must composstious thi , ,;a hire. The characters arc well delineated, and their variciy prco.:ce a pleasing effect. The excellent manner in which they w • it' per sonated may also have added to tl,eir piondnence. laircett. in the blrust seteran, Mis. Kelly, in her %am sety of chard, tel aid Mr. Raymond in. Frederick the 'treat, di-played consinninate abi lities. The latter was more than usually chaste in his actin:4 wil l without any hoisterousno.s, gave due toice to Isis reproaches, awl maintained, sinimpairell, the calm majesty of kings. The music, by Mr: Cooke, fixes him at once in au elevated rank amongst British composers. It possesses all the requisites of bar. moil!. It joins simplicity with science and taste with novelty. Toe overture combines those qualities in au eminent degree, and the airs and duets are not mere variations of former tunes, but spring from a mind rich in original motives sad capable of giving them the most powerful or delieate effect, as occasion may requite. The manner in which these were execnied does equal honour to the:singer as to the composer. Encored in almost every sinnt, and In the grand duet in the last act, Mr. Cooke awl Mr. Pyne surpassed themselves. The Most brilliant success crowned such merit, end Frederick the Great is now greeted every Hight by crowded audiences with as much applause. as his sucee.sor lately was during the short abode which he made in this country. DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—We understand a complete renewal of the painting is now going on th►oughout the house, and the stage pillars are shaking tpost abominably.— Great changes are likewise mentioned amongst the perform ers, some of which the public will be sorry to hear, but to what extent seems uncertain. One thing, however, seems certain--Jiean remains, and—" slat for tuna domus." The Princess of Wales arrived at her house near Worth incon Tuesday night, and the next evening she walked to Worthing, accompanied by her Lady in Waiting and attend ants. Chairs were immediately placed on the beach, where her Royal Highness sat near two hours.---In the letter which the Princess has written to the Earl of Liverpool, requesting permission to reside abroad, her' Royal Highness is repre sented to state. that she has met nothing but mortification and misery since she set her foot in the Island, asssuaged only by the affectionate protection she received from his Ma jesty, to the last hour of his mental intelligence. Deprived of his countenance the had no tie left, but her daughter, and her society she was no longer pertnitted to enjoy. In her letter she offers to resign the Rangership of Greenwich Park in favour of the Princess Chat lotte. She wishes to keep her apartments in Kensington Palace for a short time, and there is one or two other requests, *bleb will be all complied with. The Jason frigate, the Hon. Capt. King, sailed from the Downs on Wednesday morning, at four o'clock, for Worthing, to be in attendance on the Princesi of \Vales, and, as it is understood to convey her Royal Highness to sonic continen tal port. Alt re• !;a ,fi ce It, in in • il bi— avt, End rank , elty. 41 the ring lying (uue, mein ki)14: 1 Pyne such it 1)7 iately plete the DrITI- I t to !etas )rth- !d to end- here hich !pre- Ltion aged ived and ,her Park her here died the it is ,A 1T(..7. I