The Press.
London, England, 1853-06-04 00:00:00

rrrsir.
•
ROYAL ITALIAN OPF.RA.
AMMON we are decidedly of opinion that the pro-
duction and complete failure of Rigoletto may properly
be urged as a plea in bar to the representation of any
other work of Verdi's during the present season, the
strength of the cast of Emma, announced for Satur-
day last, led us to anticiVate that we should forget
the worthless character of the music in our admira-
tion for the singers to whom the execution was
entrusted. We were, however, doomed to disappoint,
ment. Mme. Resit) was seized with one of those
mysterious fits of illness which invariably, and we
may add most inconveniently, attack prime &nine,
to attain their crisis, an hour or two only before the
curtain rises, and the part of Elvira was in conse-
quence confided, at a very short notice, to Mlle.
Albini. As we have already expressed ourselves un-
favourably relative to this lady's vocal and histrionic
abilities, we feel bound to state our opinion that, taking
into consideration the ciremustancea under which she
appeared on Saturday last, the audience should have
shown more indulgence, and not expressed their dis-
approbation of her singing in so open and decided a
manner. Signor lielletti made his first appearance at
this theatre in the part of Don Silva, and was received
with much applause. This gentleman is a most
excellent artist, and, moreover, an actor of some
ability. As a bass singer he ranks next to Roncotti
and Lablaelte, and he is unquestionably a great
acquisition to the Covent Garden company. Ronconi
was admirable in the comparatively unimportant part
of lion Carlos. We never heard him sing better, nor
show how in taste and feeling, as well as in acting, he
is superior to all the singers of the day.
The Huguenots was produced on Thursday last.
Mario was in fine voice ; and t+risi, though in oar
opinion decidedly inferior to \lonia in the part of
Valentine, is nevertheless heard to much advantage,
M. Formes' impersonation of Marcell() is too well
known to require comment; and Signor Belletti, its
St. 11th, both acted and sang exceedingly well.
Mlle. Didiee, though an improvement on Mlle.
Seguin, is not equal to the part of Urban() the page,
which, to be really effective, requires not only great
vocal ability, but a refinement of manner and confi-
dence of deportment that few contralti of the present

Jay possess.
THE PHILHARMONIC SOCtETY.
Tur. programme of the fourth concert was ItS
fOIIOWS
PA it 1.-" ITstroltl iu ltady," Symphony lu four purl„;
(" Flight into Eqpt"), Signor urdoni ; h cr-
titre. " Cur iiiiiiii Iti mum* ' ; llrrltuz. Conductor, M. lI cc

MAW.
Parr in 11 minor, Beethoven—Aria," Liebe Ist,"
M. Pischek (Fottst); HO, C t rithitSS,,signor ittt
; ittotesini—Aria, " Auge si put.' Signor titationt; 110111-
retti—Overture, "Ruler of the Spirits" ; Weber.
So Mitch has been written and spoken or late rela-
tive to novelty at these concerts, that we conceive the
direciers evinced a sound discretion in confining the
whole of the first part of the concert to M. Berlioz'
works, and in committing the direction of both the
rehearsal and performanee to that gentleman's own
hands. By the adoption of this coarse they have
effectually shut the mouths of partisan critics, and
have, moreover, given their subscribers a fair oppor-
tunity of judging of the composer's merits. We do
not presume to hay down whether the various pieces
selected were favourable specimens of the author's
talent ; hut, if they were, it is our deliberate and
lionc:it conviction that M. Berlioz is never likely to
attain any great degree of popularity in this country.
Though he unquestionably is a musician of much
learning and considerable power, he never displays
any indication of genius ; and possessing neither the
gill of distinctive and characteristic melody, nor skill
in construction, ho is deficient in those very qualities
which are indispensable to the attainment of any
lasting reputation.
The symphony, in four parts, entitled " Harold in
Italy," 'which, so far as it corresponds with the descrip-
tion appended to the programme. might with equal
propriety be called " Anybody anywhere" or "Nobody
nowhere," fails in conveying any distinct impression
to the hearer, and is essentially a thing of " shreds and
patches." The materials of which it is composed,
though often characteristic and even interesting in
themselves, arc unskilfully put together and con-
founded with much that is unintelligible and posi
tively disagreeable ; and the total absence of any
repose or relief results in indescribable weariness
long before the forty minutes which the performance
of the symphony occupies are expired. 4in the
whole. the music was very well executed, and a suffi-
cient excuse for any slight imperfections may be
found in the faint and defective manner in which the
instrumental parts were minted. M. Salmon dis-
tinguished himself in the viola principale part, which,
owing to the serious indisposition of Mr. llill, lie was
requested by the directors to undertake at a short
notice.
Although the instrumental introduction to the song
"From the Flight into Egypt " displays some clever
combinations for the wind and stringed instrn-