The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-03 00:00:00

CUSit.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
AFTER four admirable

of Donizetti's

Elixir d'Amore, in which Bosiu charmed, Gardoni
delighted, and Ronconi amused the audience to the
highest degree, the stately Norma glided on the
Lyceum stage on Thursday night amidst the accla-
mations of a crowded and brilliant house ; and, as if
to compensate for the "silent system" before
adopted in testifying approbation for the exertions of
the artists, the demonstrations were on this occasion

loud and frequent, Grisi reciprocating these compli-
mentary effusions by a more than ordinary display of
energy. So far as acting went, the priestess was as
grand, dignified, and impulsive as in her best days;
so far as refined style and pure method were con
cerned the vocalisation was as perfect as ever, but
the voice and execution must now be taken more
upon faith than reality, the cavatina " Casta Diva"
and the duo "Deh con to " showing unequivocally
the destroyer's ravages ; but who eared about these
when there were the " Ali ! non tremare," and the
" Ah ! di qual sei," withering end affecting passages,
declaimed as gloriously as heretofore ? And where
is there another Norma to be found? Even Jenny
Lind in her zenith utterly failed in the character,
and left the field quite open to the Italian prima
donna. With Mlle. Marai's Adalgisa, Tamberlik's
Pollin, and Costa's colouring of the orchestral and
choral parts, the opera told powerfully even within
the limited arena in which the Romans and Druids
walked their hour. Mario, or, as the lady subscribers
have it, "that dear Mario," appears next week.

MUSICAL DOINGS.
MME. CLMA SCHUMANN'S highly intellectual inter
pretation of Mendelssohn's pianoforte concerto in D

minor, the slow movement particularly being given
with superlative sentiment, and Mme. Viardot's mar-
vellous execution of the ancient roulades in Graun's
aria "Di Bravura," from the opera of Britannico, were
the two sensations of the evening at last Monday's
second Philharmonic Concert. Singers in Graun's
days must have had a Paganini facility in delivering
difficult divisions, but the florid passages am at the
same time set in a pompous framework not by any
means destitute of dramatic propriety. The sym-
phonies were Mozart's G minor (the merry minuetto
being redemanded), and Beethoven's " Pastorale ;"
and the overtures were Spohr's Jessonda, and Cheru-
bini's Anacreon. Herr Formes was the only other
vocalist. Dr. Schumann's cantata, " Paradise and
the Peri," will be produced at the concert at which
Mme. Jenny Goldschmidt Lind will sing.
At the third meeting of the MUSICAL UNION the
subscribers were gratified by the second appearance
of Franchomme, who fully confirmed the high
opinions expressed at his debut, as a polished
and consummate violoncellist. A finer ensemble
in Haydn's quartet in G minor, No. 33, and
in Beethoven's quintet in C, was never heard,
and all those gradations of tone which the French
artists so successfully study to produce were most
striking in his playing. His allies were Sainton,
Cooper, Hill, and Goffne; and, with Charles Halle
and Sainton, he was assisted in Beethoven's trio in
E flat, Op. 70. Solos on the pianoforte and violon-
cello were added by Halle and Franchomme, the
former playing some charming compositions by
Stephen Heller. An impromptu duet for two flutes
displayed a very finished execution by two Hunga-
rians, the brothers Dappler. Mme. Schumann will
play at the next matinee. M. Franchomme has left
for Paris.

Through the active agency of that accomplished
amateur, the Earl of Westmorland, a grand fancy
dress ball will take place at the Hanover-square
Rooms on the 6th of June in aid of the funds of the
Royal Academy of Music, an institution which, with
limited means, has achieved much advantage for art
in this country. Her Majesty has graciously signi-
fied her intention of honouring the ball with her pre.
Bence. The list of the lord patrons and lady
patronesses comprises all the members of the Royal
Family and of the most fashionable circles.
Accounts from Bradford afford the agreeable in-
formation that the managers have invited English
composers to contribute some new compositions in
the shape of cantatas, dm., for the musical festival
'text August.
The arrangements for the Gloucester musical fes-
tival are in rapid progress.
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