The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-03 00:00:00

3, 1853.

the portrait of Ruben% by himself, of his last wife,
and of the beautiful Helena Ferment.

Tan BULL-FIGHTS AT BriessEis do not appear
likely to achieve much success. The first repro-
seutation was a complete fiasco, due principally
to the restrictions which the animal-protecting police
had imposed upon the toreadors, leaving to them no
other means of excitement but their red unities and
the natural savageness of the bulls which were im-
ported from Spain. At the second performance the
sport had more interest. Five times the bull sprang
over the barrier and threatened the lift' of his teaser,
but the concourse of spectators was already so re-
duced that the impresario was obliged considerably
to reduce his prices, which had at first been fixed
at an extravagant rate.
AFTER the failure in succession of three managers
of the Paris Italian Opera a fourth has appeared, and
sonic happy accidents give promise of a splentled
success to his reign. The new manager is Colonel
ltagani, an Italian gentleman, to whom the Govern-
ment has given a concession for nine years. M.
llagani is not only a colonel of the empire, but is
well known in the musical world. Ile is the widower
of the celebrated Madame (irassini, the aunt of the
still more famous Madame Julia Grisi of the present
day. He is actively employed in getting up a com-
pany, and has already secured M. Mario and Mine.
tirisi for the first four mouths of his season. They
would have been forced to proceed to America in
December' to fulfil an engagement in that country.
but, luckily for the Parisians, it is ascertained that
the new theatre in course of construction at New
York, and in which they are to make their debut, will
not be ready, at soonest, till the middle of February.
M. Hawaii has also secured the services of M. Tam-
burini, and of his son-in-law, M. liardoni. Ile is
negotiating with Madame Aihoni, who, nitwit!'
standing her recent change of state, and consequent
retirement from the stage, is willing to interrupt the
honeymoon for the consideration of 1,000 francs per
night, paid in advance, with a guarantee that she
shall be called on to sing eight times each month of
the season, and the previous deposit of the whole
amount of her salary for the season in the hands of
a banker.

JENNY LIND, now Madame Goldschmid, has re-
cently given birth to a son.
NEVER was that magnificent opera-house, the San
Carlo, at Naples, in so deplorable a condition. The
police prohibit almost the whole library of modern
operas, because in nearly all the libretti something
may be found which offends royalty : Verdi's Rigo-
-9 letto for example, is not allowed for this reason ;
and Norma is banished on account of religion. The
result is, the theatre which witnessed the production
of all the great works of Rossini, liellni, and Doni-
i.etti, has sunk down to a second-rate opera-house.
The few new operas of merit produced in Naples
during the last two years are—Don Chem), by De
(liosa ; La Precauzioni and Elena di Tolosa, by
; Statira and J'ioletta, by Mercadante.
These operas have been played, more or less, all over
Italy, but they are not likely to get to London or
I 'ails. _ _

LA SCALA at Milan has lately witnessed II
Chi, a new work by Paeini, and a successful
opera by Rossi ; but this once-famed theatre is fast
on the decline. The company is generally made up
of second-rate artists, and the house would be closed
at once but for Government support.
THE LAST GREAT MUSICAL EVENT AT ROME has ,
been the production of an oratorio by Rainionili,
which occupied three nights, and is said to be a great
classical work.
AT GENOA a new master, Lints, has given with
success his Edita di Lanus. The libretto was writ-
ten by the celebrated itomani (of Beßini memory ),
for which he received 1,500 south—the largest sum,
perhaps, ever paid for the words of an opera.
Vcitio is writing two new operas, King Lear and
Hamlet ; and Mereadante is engaged oil a work
founded upon the legend of Ondine.
AsinateA seems now the great purchaser or hirer
of musical talent in the Italian market. Already
agents are in Italy from the United States, foniiing
companies and scrambling for prime dam., to whom
they offer little fortunes, and princely attendance, it'
they will sing to the merchants of New York as well
as to the Court of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor
of all the Russias. Supply and demand always keep-
ing up a fair correspondence, the natural consequence
of this rage for music is that many Americans are
now in Italy, living in small dirty back rooms, with
a pianoforte, practising solfeggiox, with the intention
of becoming singers of Italian opera. In Naples an
American lady, Mrs. Escott, "haws" every night at
the Nuovo, and has really succeeded. Italy is, in-
deed, crowded with French and English musical stu
dents—tenori, soprani, and bassi—adopting Italian
names, and trying to sing di petto, instead of di gola
or di nano, as we do in England or France.
ONE OF THE CELEBRATED " CALORIC ENGINES.'
has been sent by Mr. Ericsson to Havre, where it has
been tasted and reported upon bylthe French Aca-
demy. The investigation was entrusted to N.