The Press.
London, England, 1858-06-19 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALL&N OPERA.

Ax Covent Garden, on Saturday last, Auber'a beau-
tiful opera, Fra Diarolo, was produced for the first
time in the new house. There was no change in th*
cast of the opera calling for remark ; but the mag-
nificence of this house, the new scenery, and other
circumstances attending the present representation,
give it on eclat that was altogether wanting last year.
It is almost unaccountable that one of the best works
of a most popular master, given under circumstances
of unrivalled excellence, and surrounded with the
most romantic local and personal associations, should
fail to create a greater sensation than that evinced
for the Fra Diavolo of Covent Garden. Although
Auber's music does not rank in the first order, yet
it may fairly be said that he is second to none in his
own school ; and, in his own country, this opera has
been always looked upon as a masterpiece. Never-
theless, it was received on Tuesday with a degree of
coldness that was quite undeserved, so far as human

1...t1 111 i!
efforts are concerned: tutpturims applause was in-
deed obtained, once, by Mme. Boeko; and well did
her perfect rentiteititi of Hie betlietim-scene (Ist of
set 4) solo merit the warmest commendation. The
overiore too, and other orchestral parts, as well as
Signori Ronconi and Otrdoni, were tolerably well
received ; bat, with tbe exception of what was evinced
towards Mme. Beam in the acene above mentioned,
there was nothing like enthusiasm on Tuesday, and
very little of it on Saturday. We repeat, however,
that this apathy in the audience must be attributed
rather tee something beyond the knowledge or skill
of artistic power than to any defects in the neefortn-
twee. No doubt, such a milk and-water Dievolo as
Signor Gerddrii, and such an immilitary Lorenzo as
Wart N. lidraldi. are not meculsteel to stir np the •
.romance of an audience ; but still they sang tl'eir
poets well, especially the former, who uttered notes
that brought back to our recollection Rubini in his
bast umtt. Wo incline to think that this opera
iras lost Ruch by its Itelianization. Mosie is so
neatly, akin to language that tt is seldom found
passible to translate the words of the merest ballad
iron the ofiginal into a foreign tongue without
spoiling the song. Music is itself a language, and
that which belongs to one nation is very distinct
.from what belongs to another. This distinction is
Iggivisiogy greater between German and French
i.ewa than betweed Italian end French ; but still,
ntven between the latter, it is sufficiently wide to
produce discord when the language of the one is
nnited to Use movie of the other. Herein, we are

disposed to think, lies the secriettile-the eotd t•s-
ceptiott ,tri•ove blinded to. Every one itperienced a
•
jette iais gaol., which forbad entlmeiaglii:
We must again protest against the disposition now
prevalent on London opera boards to introduce antics
worthy only of a circus or a penny theatre to the
most refined audiences that are anywhere to be found
in the world, and frequently malapropos with refe-
rence to the part in performance. For the sake of
obtaining a little vulgar applause, it is sad to gee
artists of merit—amongst whom Sig. Belletti at Her
Majesty's Theatre and Sig. Ronooni at Covent Gar-
den--sacrificing the truthtulness of their parts, and
eondescendir.g to low buffoonery. We have already
explained the application of these remarks to the
former. artist ; they are now more immediately
directed, to the latter, who, in his desire to be funny,
seemed quire to forget that, in undertaking the pair
,of byre! Bocburg, he was bound to represent an
,Englittit nobleman. Granted that M. Scribe intended
lio portray the moot extravagant specimen of the
gdass (id which, by the way, foreigners generally, and
inbsylirench in particular, entertain the most un
quenchable jealousy)—cleat his lordship was to be
the incarnation of tituidify, folly, jealousy, and ail
,ether contemptible qualities—still he was intended
3 11),be an Englishman and a gentlemen, to neither of
itthich does Sig. Bonconi, either in his dress, gait,
cfinvraers or glinince, make the slightest approach.
llf the perfection of acting is thereat representation
not reality, and if every actor might be meeenred by
:this standard, then Sig. Ronconi, as Lord Rocburq,
,ftrould be unquestionably placed on a low round of
sthe ladder- of excellence. It would, however, be
!Unfair to judge him by.his performance in Diavofo,:
for be. is,..beyond all• doubt, a very excellent actor.
eWe cannot, of conr-ve, gavel biro to imitate the
polished manner of an English gentleman—only an
Jiuglisit gentleman can do that; but we may reason-
(chi), look tor a suppression of Merry-Andrewism and
• valgarity, with which he must shook the truly his.
•:-lilionio mind at every instant. Signori Zelger end
,Tagliafico also would do well to moderate, to some
rextent,.their extra Ewing. In nonclesion, and to sum
up thei good and bad of the Fra. Diavolo of Covent
iierslen, we may say that quisitally it is very strong,
idnifilsit histrionically it imelfuniaoi .4's
r.,nh- ..__ , I. et . •
Iitet.XIXE.P Coin gave their ninth concert, trod
'
list `lotspeil;is
,Irarp, at St. Mertin's-ball yester•
4$ to-14...thfr'texpold glees and old madrigals
by E willies', gtevens, Wiltiye, 4.114_ Niorley, and new
ones by S. Reay, J. L. Hatton, Henry Smart, and
Mr. H. Leslie himself ; theitiorrner, we are sorry to
sayabeioglfughipetter than lbe latter. Blendelasohn's
'beautiful-1,1400g of the fitly-fifth Psalm was also
Inns by Miss Hemming and the choir, Mr. Ward,
As usual, presidiug at the organ. Mr. Charles Halle
, .11.*)aim were the instrumentalists, and
d 4%7;1
libeca sonata of Beethoven for pianoforte
,ifioffo.imt fi, . er also contributed a group of
E , Riegle i y
..
elasohe, Haler, and Chopin,
ft.t
F . ti I a
,140art>~., mance of, la* pumposition. The
~. assooncgkcAllt,a,kr place ofiAnly, 2.
ja. AT Ts
-7-X-CRTIITM. PALAcm A eerier of vocal and.
Onstrumental copcerts ie being given on the Fridays
rfAot ac upie4 by the Italian Opera Company. To
f ei awn-ticket holders have free admission,
14
k 111 libtditeetora gave them nothing else for their
I
e41994ey, they would have no right to complain that
• Illes hild made a bad bargain. The vocalists yester-
day ware Uaiarae Clara Novello, Madame Viatdot
turd% Mr. 9ims It:eyea, and lerr Plsobek. The
ttrogramthe consisted chiefly of operatic morceaux,
all well known, but all of high character, such no