The Press.
London, England, 1855-04-28 00:00:00

USit.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
Fi(Min was repeated last Saturday evening, With
Mlle. Jenny Ney as Leonora, and on this occasion a
more favorable opportunity was offered to decide
upon her merits as a singer and actress. Her per-
sonal appearance is rather amiable than handsome,
and her simple modesty of manner at once produces
a favorable impression. Her acting is quite in ac-
cordance with her appearance; it is quiet and unob-
trusive, but full of deep earnest feeling, and although
some actresses have made Leonora a much more
brilliant character, yet few have invested the part
with such reality, such suppressed pathos, as Mile.
Ney. Her voice is a soprano of extraordinary corn-
pass, rich and mellow in quality, and highly culti-
vated. Her execution was perfect, and, although
1441i1i0 is rather a heavy opera, her success upon

THE PRESS.

Saturday night was decided. and well worthy of her
great reputation. The other characters were cast as
upon the previous representation—Tamberlik was
the most magnificent Ferdinando, Formes was the
gaoler Rocco, Tagliafico was Pizarro, and Mlle.
Marai was a charming lifargueretta. Upon Tuesday
Rossini's Conte Ory was repeated with the same cast
as on its previous representation; and on Thursday
Verdi's hackneyed opera Ernani was played to a
very poor house. Mlle. Bosio's Elvira, for execution,
was perfect. AR a finished vocalist, and most pet •
feet mistress of her art, she stands unrivalled, but
as an actress she is sadly deficient in animation, and
in a character like that of Elvira, requiring the
highest dramatic talent to support, Mlle. Bosio's cold
and apparently heartless want of fervour becomes
painful. In theopening cavatina, " Ernani involam,i"
the tours-de-force which she accomplished were ex-
quisite, and in the duets and terzettos her singing was
perfect, but in the magnificent" Solingo errante " her
want of passion and pathos marred the brilliant effect of
her voice. The only feature of novelty in the cast upon
this occasion was the appearance of Signor Graziani
as the King, Don Carlos. A little nervousness at
first soon wore off, and his performance on the whole
may be considered successful. His voice is one of
the sweetest baritones we have ever heard—mellow
and flexible to a degree, and almost resembling a
fine tenor. His most successful effort was certainly
in the finale of the third act, and his singing in the
septet" Oh, sommo Carlo" was very warmly applauded.
Tamberlik was the hero, and performed his part with
great energy and passion. Tagliafico sustained the
character of Don Silva, but hardly equalled his pre-
decessor, Belletti, in the performance; and the in-
ferior characters were well filled by Mlle. Bellini, with
Soldi and Polonini as Riccardo and Jago.
Of the new ballet Eva, in which Cerito sustains
the principal part, we must say a few words. The
story, pretty and interesting, is only surpassed by
the beautilul and gorgeous scenery of the ballet. Of
Cerito, it is needless to say anything than that she is
more graceful and fascinating than ever, and in the
ballet surpasses herself. Mlle. Battalini is also a
great attraction, while M. Desplaces as the male
dancer is as active as we would wish. The scenery
and accompaniments are exquisite in taste and
arrangement, and it is altogether one of the prettiest
ballets which we have seen for some years at the
Italian Opera.

THE NEW PHILHARMONIC (under the direction of
Dr. Wylde) gave their third concert on Wednesday
evening, the programme consisting of the following
morceaux

PART I.

-
Overture, (Medea.) Cherubinl
Aria, (Zsubertliite)
Grand Syreph)ny in D minor, No. 9 (The Choral }Beethoven.
Symphony)
PART 11.
Overture (Midsummer Night's Dream)
solo (Paradise Lost)
Concerto, pianoforte and orchestra, op. 25
Aria
Overture (Don Quixote)
Beethoven's symphony was the great feature of
the evening's performances. The first move-
ment was played very fairly, though there was
an evident want of " entente cordiale" between the
conductor and his orchestra, which prevented any-
thing like a perfect tout-ensemble. There was an in-
decision about it which increased in the three fol•
lowing movements, and when the chorus (which is
almost always rather unmanageable) added its
hundreds of voices, the effect was disastrous. Why
will not Dr. Wylde insist upon more frequent
rehearsals before such a work as this is produced in
public We must admit, however, that Cherubini's
overture to Medea was played with great spirit, com-
pensating in some measure for the ill-treatment
which Beethoven met with. Herr Reichardt must
have given great pleasure to the large audience
assembled together by the charming way he sung
Mozart's air from the Zauberitote. The overture
to the Midsummer Night's Dream, seldom well
played, was executed very imperfectly on this occa-
sion. Mme. Clara Novello was most deservedly
encored in a solo out of Dr. Wylde's " Paradise Lost,"
which she sang with her accustomed purity of in-
tonation and perfection of style. Mendelssohn's
concerto was to us a source of great enjoyment, not
only from its great beauty as a composition, but from
the very able way in which it was played by a very
young performer, Master John Barnett, whose great
feeling, neat execution, and perfect taste, rendered it
the most agreeable part of the programme. He
VMS very well supported by the orchestra. The
concert was wound up by an air of Weber's, carefully
sung by Signor Belletti, and Macfarren's overture
to Don Quixote. The funds collected from the even-
ing's performance were to be devoted to the Hospital
for Consumption, Brompton.

IT is positively stated that Madame Jenny Lind
(Goldsmid) will arrive in Paris in the course of next
month. Whether she will sing in public or not
is yet unknown, but a strenuous effort is in contem-
plation to obtain her aid for • charitable institution.

SATURDAY,

ate prima.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.
DUPING the week we have had alternate nights of
French drama and Italian opera; the one being sup-
ported by the troupe of the Gaiete, and the other by
an operatic company comprising some exceedingly
good singers. Les Coraques, the drama, is a piece
which has met with the most extraordinary success
in Paris, and although it has not been quite so enthu-
siastically received here, yet the drama, though with
no pretensions to literary merit, and meagre in plot,
is so much in the Adelphi style—full of striking
situations and stage effect—that there was no doubt
about its succeeding with an English audience. The
story is a love story of course, and relates to the
period of 1814 when the Russians had just entered
Troyes, the place where the scene is laid. Louise
Blanchard, in love with Maurice, an officer of the
French Guard, is eagerly sought for by the Russian
commandant who protected her and her mother when
taken prisoners in Russia in 1812. Manzaroff, the
Russian, discovers that Louise bates him and is in
love with Maurice, who after a series of adventures

at length falls into Manzarqrs hands, and is con-
demned by him to be shot, and upon the point of
being executed, when the firing party turn sudden'y
round and shoot Mansaroff instead, discovering them-
selves as French soldiers in disguise ; at the same mo-
ment the Emperor Napoleon attacks the town, defeats
and drives out the Russians, Maurice and Louise fall
into each others arms, and the curtain falls. To
narrate all the incidents of this drama, which com-
prises some seven or eight tableaux, and five distinct
acts of four hours duration in all, would be quite
beyond our space ; but besides Maurice, the two
grenadiers, Duriveau and Panel, are the most pro-
minent personages in the drama. They are fellow-
soldiers of Maurice and possess a genius for dis•
guise and intrigue. Duriveau, philosophic and calm,
Panel, simple and forgetful, are characters capitally
contrasted and admirably drawn. They insult the
Cossacks, discover their plans, arrange an iineute in
a café, are taken prisoners, escape, and, finally dis-
guising themselves as veritable Dons, they manage
to be at hand when Maurice is to be shot, and save the
life of' their officer as well as avenge the honour of
their country by shooting the Russian commandant
instead. Moreover, they are the wits of the piece, and
by their impudence and their eccentricity are exceed-
ingly amusing. Messieurs Menier and Alexandre
personated the two old soldiers, and have achieved
an immortality in Paris by their acting. M. Gouget
played Maurice with great effect and feeling, and
Mlle. Leontine as the cantiniere was exceedingly
sprightly and entertaining, while Mlle. Clarissa as
Louise was as interesting as a heroine under thee
circumstances could be. As a specimem of tL
Boulevard drama, Les Cosagues will well repay a
visit to Drury Lane, and the applause and enthusiasm
of the audience at the strong point of the cafe enzeute,
where a slight anachronism brings English Guards to
the rescue of their French brethren, and the cross of
St. George and the tricolour wave triumphantly
over the bodies of the shin Cossacks, if it did not say
much for their knowledge of history, testified in some
measure to their appreciation of the scene. " God
save the Queen" has been sung by the company
( very night after this tableau, and " Partant pour la
Syrie " insisted upon by the audience.
Of the opera, as a whole, we cannot speak too
highly. A cheap opera and a good one is a want which
London has experienced for years, but an institution
with which every capital in every petty State of Europe
is supplied. We do sincerely trust that the success
which has marked the opening of this present un-
dertaking will conduce to the estabishment in
London of an Italian Opera at a reasonable price.
Mine. Gassier, the prima donna, did not make a
very effective debilt last week in the character of
Amino, but her impersonation of Rosina, in the
Barbiere this week, has been a most brilliant and
well-merited success. Even upon the legitimate
Italian stage, so charming a Rosina is not often seen,
and few look or act the character so admirably as
Mine. Gassier. As a vocalist she belongs to the florid
school, and her execution of the most difficult pas-
sages displayed an artistic cultivation of voice and s
brilliancy of delivery which drew down the most en-
thusiastic applause. The " Uric voce," " Dunque io
son," "Air to 501 e.," and the singing-lesson,
where she introduced an air, were rapturously ap-
plauded and encored. Mine. Gassier's forte, we
should think, is vivacity rather than pathos, sod
hence she achieves a much more brilliant success in
a comic than in a sentimental opera. Signor Gassier,
as k'igaro, was full of humour and spirit : his voice
is an agreeable baritone, and his impersonation of the
character very successful. Signor Fortini, as Bartel"),
both acted and sang his part roost characteristically;
while Bettini, as Alnuiviva, made much more of the
character than usual, and sang with artistic delicacy.
As to the miss en scene and dresses, they are both
excellently well arranged, and with a trifle more
harmony in the orchestra and choruses, whshi

APRIL 28, 1855.

rehearsal will easily give, the arrangements will be
complete. The house has been very well and fully at-
tended upon each opera-night; and all who wish to
see a cheap and good opera established should accord
their support to an undertaking which well deserves
every encouragement.

HAYMA.RKE T.
THE rage for combining the opera with the drama
has even seized upon Mr. Buckstone, and, if we may
judge from the applause of the audience upon the
nights of both performances, we may congratulate
him upon the success of his experiment. On
Monday and on alternate nights during the week
Miss Cushman has reappeared in her favorite charac-
ter of Romeo, her impersonation of which is so well
known that any description would be superfluous.
She performed the character with her usual excel-
lence, and was very warmly applauded. Of the
Juliet, physically speaking one of the most perfect
we have seen upon the stage, we yet cannot speak so
highly. Miss Swanborough, though handsome and
graceful, yet possesses such a defective voice that
the music and melody of her words are completely
lost. She looks Juliet to the life, but the illusion is
destroyed the moment she speaks. Much may be
done to remedy this evil by practice, which we trust
so talented and so promising a young actress will not
neglect.
On Tuesday night the opera of Fra Diavolo was
produced for the first time. The cast was excellent.
Mr. Sims Reeves was the hero; Mrs. Reeves,
Zerlina ; Mr. and Mme. Weiss were Lord and Lady
Allcash; Mr. Manvers was Lorenzo ; and the
ruffians, Beppo and Giacomo, were represented by
Mr. Farquharson and Mr. W. Farren. Never did
Mr. Sims Reeves play Fra Diavolo finer than upon
this occasion. The music and character suit him
admirably, and his execution of " Young Agnes "
elicited the most enthusiastic encore, which was
attempted but not replied to after his delivery of the
great scene in the last act. Mrs. Reeves, as Zerlina,
played and sang charmingly ; while Mr. and Mme.
Weiss, in the concerted pieces, were most effective.
In short, the opera was admirably performed
throughout, and the applause very vehement at the
fall of the curtain. The house was very fully and
fashionably attended.

The company of literary gentlemen who lately
gave a dramatic representation at the Olympic
Theatre, in aid of a brother author, are to appear on
Friday, the 11th of May (a fortnight hence), at the
Drury•lane Theatre, by the desire of her Majesty.
The piece for presentation is Mr. Planche's Romantic
Idea, to be followed by the pantomime. The pro-
ceeds of the evening will be added to the funds of
the Wellington College. The gentlemen composing
the amateur company, who all belong to the Garrick
and Fielding Clubs, have not authorised the an-
nouncement of their appearance upon any other oc-
casion than the one just stated.

THE pretty English danseuse, Miss Lydia Thomp-
son, who lately attracted a large share of public
favour at St. James's Theatre by her clever and
graceful imitations of the Spanish dance, and at the
Haymarket by the performance of Silver Hair and
80-Peep, is creating quite a sensation at the Frede-
rick-Wilhelmstadtisches Theatre in Berlin. The
Berlin journals speak specially of the effect produced
by the English hornpipe as a marvel of grace, spirit,
and originality, and hail the birth of a "new sensa-
tion." Applause, encores, and bouquets, reward the
fair danseuse nightly. One journalist remarks
naively that while concurring in acknowledging and
doing homage to the personal charms of Albion's
daughters, he had no notion that they could dance,
and prophesies that on whatever other subjects there
may be a disagreement there will be long a cordial
consentaneity of opinion among the powers of the
West as to the beauty and merits of our fair country-
women.

THE PRESS.

pug Malta ad titg luttilignut.

FaIDAT EVENTNO.
THE daily register of changes in the Consol Market
has presented little else but a continued record of
depression throughout the past week. Various
causes successively operating have contributed to
this result. On Saturday, the financial statement
given on the previous evening by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, containing, as it did, an exhibition
of heavy deficit, and demand for new resources by
way of loan and taxation, threw prices down fully
half per cent. below their previous quotations.
Monday morning brought the announcement that the
Vienna conferences were broken off, and that the
bombardment of Sebastopol had been continued
from the 9th to the 17th without result. A further
fall was thus occasioned, the market being extremely
flat, and the price of Consols drooping until there
were sellers at 89. On Tuesday the Ministerial
confessions of their failure in the Vienna negotia-
tions brought Stocks down to 881 ; though a partial
recovery took place in the course of the day's busi
ness. On Wednesday, the negative influence
exercised by the continued absence of definite news
from the Crimea produced a renewed depression,
which has prevailed throughout yesterday and to-
day, although no very marked effect is noticed in the
rate of the quotations. The public, it may be
observed, has continued to buy largely, and this
influx of real purchases tend to give buoyancy to
the market after every decline. Money, also, is
abundant, and, in fact, accumulates far beyond the
present means of finding employment. Enterprise
is languid, and the demand for cash very slack, so
that even the reduced rates have not enabled the
Bank of England to obtain much extension in its
discount business. The Omnium of the new loan
came out on Saturday morning at If to 1 premium ;
but the heavier aspect of the market, and of affairs
generally, has much reduced the margin of profit
offered to the holders of Scrip. The quotations
to-day ranged only to 1, 1 premium. The New
Thirty Years Annuities have been quoted at
18 3-10ths.