The Press.
London, England, 1858-06-26 00:00:00

•€T-R E` P EI-E g, 1 Sinii 26

terruptedly directed to the performer ; whereas,
blind people ean, and indeed do, frequently receive
as pleasurable emotions at the Opera, as when they
could both see and hear. For this reason it is that
the hooks, with English renderings, that are useful
to those frequenters of the Opera who are but little,
or not at all, acquainted with the Dalian language,
are next to useless at Mme. Ristati's performances
(although, by the was, when say itie 'to be had, they
cost half.a crown each). That knowledge alone of
the language used, which enables every word as it is
delivered to reaoh the heart, is compatible with real
sympathy with emotions depicted. To nee, hear, and
understand, at one and the same instant, Mme.
Ristori, in such passages as (scene iv. of act 2 of the
Medea),
boa
Il morente . . . it morente . . . tel ricordal,mp
In man raccolse da sua piaga it sangue,
E a not fumante lo tuatara in feeds ,

• ~MitiUß

Fioco gridando . . . Slate realedetti';
Fratriaidi I : "
is a treat beyond all power of description. To see,
only, is something ;—to see and hear, is something
more ; bat real enjoyment only belongs to those who,
also, understand every word, on utterance. An
English Ristori would draw a fill andience through-
out the season, to the largest theatre in London ;
and we think that (except on the occasional advent
of a novelty, which is always highly attractive of
itself in this country) the gatherings to witness
foreign plays will always he found directly propor-
tioned to the amount of cultivation the language
used may have received amongst us. Medea is
a character that affords abundant scope fit' the dis-
play of Mme. Ristori's rare talents, scope
we must
add that the opportunities afforded were not lost
upon her. Cast in a tragic mould, this great actress
shows herself not ungrateful for all that nature has
done for her. All that art could effect has, evidently,
been done to cultivate, refine, direct, increase, and
q!tentrol the vast power's that have been so lavishly
bestowed upon her. On Wednesday, she appeared
as Adrienne Lecouvreur, in the drama of that
name, of which the English, and original, edition,
by the author of Twice Killed, Five Pounds
Reward, and other works, was first produced at the
Strand Theatre some nine or ten years ago. In
the Italian version, the original plot has been closely
followed—much too closely to make the play fit to
be included in a repertory in which are found',
Phldre and Medea. With the exception of the
catastrophe, in which a death from poison is repre-
sented by Mine. Ristori with a degree of fidelity
and a depth of feeling that will not be readily for-
gotten by any one who witnessed it ;—with this ex-
ception, we say, there is scarcely any portion of
this drama that is worthy of notice, and we sincerely
hope that, notwithstanding the perfection of Mme.
Ilistori's dying Adrienne, this play fiat not be
:
reproduced at St. James's Theatre.
09,41 5,-

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31wlilr; ROT AL ACADE BI t:911 I°. '
0 13111A11 ;A . .
•I, 1 . ;fp. ,- • (Eighth Notice.) •hA o r,
ItIpULE is more stir and bustle iscareisiWatnee just
mew, than perhaps in any onimearid. Beaserkabki in-
terest has been felt in' Illettlieviial ; and this has
doubtless had much to do with furui shing the large
sums which during the last quarter of a century have
been spent in building ; while this liberal expenditure
has in return accelerated progress, and carried us on
from change to change with unusual rapidity. The
alteration that has taken place,in architecture during
the last few years is surprisiaip The Greek is dis-
appearing quickly ; scarcely-ear We would propose
now to pnt two or three temples side by side for the 1
accommodation of the Post office or the Britiebti
Museum. The Renaissance is brushing itself uptl'
and trying to look as much like the Gothic aspotil
'
Bible. People are even beginning slowly to under-
stand that the Gothic is not a sOe long ago
developed and completed, but one capable of infinite
expansion ; not suited only to churches and schools,
jeat fit for any purpose to which men may choose
Thi,' '

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