The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-21 00:00:00

ftflustt.

GRAND OPERA, DRORY-LANR.—Balfe's new opera,
" The Maid of Honour," was performed for the first time
last evening with brilliant and well-deserved success ,—a
success, too, which will stand the Vat of time, for this is un-
questionably the best work, on the whole, that this prelatic
composer has yet produced. The drama (which is written
by Fits' all) is founded on a ballet called "Lady Henriette,"
which has been very popular in Paris. The whole of the
dialogue is in music, though there is not a great deal of reci-
tative, the most busy scenes (according to the modern term
of the Italian opera buffs) being carried on in a series
of concerted movements. We did not receive much

plea-ure from the overture ; it was incoherent and
disjointed, excessively noisy, and full of violent and
unintelligent contrasts. The rise of the curtain dis-
closed en apartment in Queen Elizabeth's palace at
Greenwich, in which are • bevy of the Queen's ladies en-
gaged in rehearsing a madrigal to be performed before her
Majesty. This madrigal, " Lo, the bee on fairy wing,"
forms the introduction to the piece. It is a delicious com-
position, redolent of the sixteenth century, and reminding
us of the delicate harmony and graceful quaintness of old
Wilbye. It was admirably sung by some forty voices,
lightly accompanied by the stringed instruments, a thing
quite proper on the stage, though, 'tried', • madrigal
ought to be sung without accompaniment. Two of these ladies
are Henriette and Alison, maids of honour, the former ot whom
was personated by Miss Birci and the latter by Miss Miran,
a sister of Miss Laura Addison. The two maids of honour,
weary of their gilded cage, and eager for • little liberty and
amusement, hear below the window • gay chorus of lads end
hisses going to the " Astute fair" at Greeswicti, and take it
into their beads to go als+ in disguise, taking with them a
ridiculous old count r, Sir Tristram, to escort them in their
frolic. This scene is very gay and dramatic; the trio of
i voices on the stage, minuted with the joyous chorus without,
had • happy effect, which was enhancael by the old English
character of the music. The next scene exhibited Green-
wich fair; the stage coy. red with • multitude of
people, in animated groups, and joining in a chorus which
surpassed anything of the kind we have ever heard
except the market chorus in " Masaniello," at the Grand
Opera in Paris. The two maids of honour, dressed as sex.
rant girls, join the group of lasses who are waiting to be
hired. They attract the notice of two young men, Lyonel,
a yeoman, and his friend Walter, by whom they are hired
alter some playful talk. The ladies now think the joke has
gone far enough, and want to escape; but they are held to
their bargain, and obliged, not very unwillingly, to go with
their masters. Lymea house is the next scene ; la• and
hie friend arrive with the new servant girls. There is here
introduced a ballad, sung by Mr. Reeves, as Ly met—
" Behold the happy home;" a very sweet melody, finely
accompanied by the oboe. Mr. Reeves displayed the
beautiful quality of voice, finished execution, taste, and
expression which have placed him at the head of
our English tenors, and the song was vehemently
encored,. The young men become smitten with the
charms of their awkward handmaidens ; and Henrietta,
especially, quite captivates the heart of Lyonel. A little
ballad sung by Henriette in the course of this scone
was the first opportunity given to Miss Birch of distinguish-
ing herself, and she did not throw it away. She sang
charmingly; and the ballad itself, " It was the Redeems
Knight," is one of those things which become universally
popular. It was followed by • duet, " I know not by what
spell," in which the fine voices of Miss Birch and Reeves
were beautifully blended, and the motions of incipient afro-
tion were expressed with much feeling. Ilenriette, however,
cannot yield to her tenderness ; she finds i: necessary
to depart, and, with her companion, steals out of the
window and escapes. The second act opens with
a chorus of hunters in the royal park at Green-
wich—very pretty, hut without novelty. A troop of sol
diem appear, and the chorus, then becoming double, assumes
a character of great animation, the sylvan strains of the one
group being skilfully blended with the martial notes of the
other. Lyonel and Walter appear, having turned soldiers,
it seems, in coneegtience of the desertion of their fair ones.
Mr. Whitworth, as Walter, sang in this scene a easatina,
" Prime the cup, fill it high," which proved ineffective,
though it was well sung. It was in the style into which
Belle is apt to fall when his memory is more active than his
invention. The groups on the stage are augmented by the
cortege of the queen ; and Elisabeth herself appears on
horseback, and in hunting attire. Mrs. Weiss looked the
royal Bees exceedingly well, and sang a cavatisa, "Far
from gilded state away," ia a manner which showed
that she will be a valuable member of the com-
pany. Her voice is a clear aoprane, which she
manages with musician-like skill and, perfect intonation.
Arming the Queen's attendants are the two maids of honour.
Henriette, remaining behind the hunters, is left alone. The
air introduced here, " Sweet rose !" has no relation to the
scene, but is merely a display of voice and execution, in
which Miss Birch's clear, brilliant tones, and liquid shake,
appeared to great advantage. Henriette is discovered by
Lyonel, and the situation produces a highly-wrought and
admirable duct, full of energy and passion. The solo pas-
sage (or rather sir), "Oh, cruel beauty, hear me," was ex.
quisitely given by Mr. Reeves. The end of this fine duet
however was, in our opiniJn, spoiled by the outrageous violence
of the accompaniments. Why should the two lovers be
made to part amid a din of drums, trumpets, and all the
brazen clangour of the orchestra? Presently there is an
alarm. The Queen's horse has run away with her, and she
is saved by Lyonel, whom she rewards by promotion as a
soldier. The thi•d act commences with preparations fee the
representation of a grand masque in the palace. Sir Trot.
tram is schooling the performers in their parts, which he
does in lively and comic strains, sung with good effect by
Mr. Weise. The Queen and her court take their places, and
Lyonel, now an officer, is at the head of the guards. The
misque is the story of Orpheus and Eurydice; Grp/setae
being represented by Alison, Eurydice by Henriette, and
Pluto by Sir Tristrem. Belle must have felt that he had
here to contend with the remembrance of Glack, and he
has wisely taken that great master as his model. The
choruses of the demons, the orchestral effects, and the melody
sung by Orpfiens, all gave us this impression. The masque
is suddenly interrupted by Lyonel; who, discovering
Henriette in the representative of Eurydice, rushes
from his place and throws himself franticly at her feet. The
Queen descends from her throne ; and Lyonel is seized and
hurried away in the midst of confusion. The concluding
scene is in Lyonel'a house. He has become insane; and the
Queen, as a means of his cure, has had him brought home,
and every thing arranged as on the night when he brought
Henriette from the fair. While sunk in • melancholy
reverie, he hears her voice singing the air he had heard
on that night; preeently the two servant girls
appear ; and the sudden shock of happiness re-
stores his reason. The Queen enters, to enjoy
the happiness she has created ; and the opera terminates
with a finale sung by Henrielte, a rondo in the Polonaise
style, exceedingly elegant and graceful, which Miss Birch
executed with a brilliancy hardly to be surpassed. The cur-
! Lain fell amid acclamations from all parts of the house; and
the principal.performers, the composer, and the manager,
were called for in succeesion and heartily cheered. Having
given these particulars, it is sufficient to add, in general,
that, whether we regard the manner in which the different
1 parts were performed, the magnificence of the inatrumental
orchestra, and the splendour and completeness with which
the piece was got up in every respect, no operatic perform-
ance, at all comparable to this, was ever witnessed in an
English theatre.

_ _ gb! Brute.

-- ----- -
THE FRENCH PLAY last evening was very bril-
liantly and numerously attended, the incitement being the
announcement of two pieces new to English audiences,
which have been eminently attractive in Penn The Sat of

these was Une J, anuse Orageuse," a drama in two acts.
Either of the acts might have been performs:. separately, and
have given satiefaction es a finished vats levant. The
plot as usual is slight. The links by which it is held together
forming the eole merit of the performance. The first an: ends
in a double marriage, one being the result of a lung attach-
ment; the ether being the offspring of a sudden penchant,
conceived by the reformed rake of the stormy " Jeunesse "
who, oultseing reproached with having made n chance match,
whilet his friend has married on the more solid
ground of a settled love, exclaims " Cut ersi--
l'amour et le Acuarii—tour demur [gatemen! aveyglet."
The seemd act affords an insight into the &untie circles of
the two married couples, and a highly amusing scene occurs,
very similar to the screen incident in the " School for Scan-
dal." Monsieur kloutaland, as the reformed rake, made •
much stronger impression than on his former appearance,
and gave tokens of talents which man shine forth during the
course of the season. The last piece, and that which wee
looked for with most interest, was Una File Terrible," a
vaudeville which has had a gnat run at Paris, where the
eels heated Millie. Fiore enacted the eztravagancies *reigned
to Madame Valley, in a manner toimpurate the audiences of
the Varie•fs," but of which her proxy on the St. James's
boards could nutafiorJ the remotest glimpse. The piece served,
however, to introduce a new actress in the person of Mdlle.
Lattice, who gives promise of being an acguisitt in of which
however her as the "fille terrible," all 'Med no oppor-
tunity for judging, ina-much as the piece is siltogethi r un-
calculated for an English audience, and, properly speak-
ing, neither can nor ought to be understood in all its
bearings by those who witnessed it. The manager
should bear in mied that when be places a drama
on his boards, which is what the French style "sae
Marge," be may place the English pert of his au-
dience in a false position, by inducing them to laugh et what
appears to them to be mere absurdities, whilst to the French
portion of his listeners the same words and actions bur a
meaning totally different from that on the surface, and
which, however wall adopted to the B,ulevards and Falai.
Royal, is altogether unfitted for the meridian of the St.
James'. Theatre.

- -
ADSLPIII.—The title of " The Pearl of the Ocean,
or the Prince and the Mermaideu " would seem to promiae
one of those harmonious extravagancv in which Mr. Charles
Selby has already achieved sevesal 'accrues. fiat the piece
of last evening will bear no en nparison with anything above
mediocrity, notwithstanding the effective manner in which
it was put upon the stage. The story is a German one, by a
modern writer, and relates to the adventures of a mermaid,
who, conceiving a p,ssion for a young prince whom she has
saved from drowning, continues, through the agency of an
aquatic enchantress, to dispense with the piscatorial portion
of her /anon, and assume a mortal form. The change, how-
ever. is accompanied by this drawback—that should she fail
to gain the love of the prince, she will instantly die. Her
task is rendered still more difficult by the lo s of her memory,
which happens whenever she attempts to relate her story to a
mortal. She is therefore prevented from making herself known
to the prince, who, failing to discover the press rver of his life,
is about to marry another lady. At this point the original
*ton terminates in the death of ti.e me rursid ; but a more
orthodox dramatic ending is given in the adaptation—the
princess being represented as retiring into a convent to make
room for the mermaid, who metrics the prince, and brings
meters I. a happy termination. The dialogue—ineffective
and pointless—ts scarcely redeemed by occasional flukes of
absurliry. The chief fault of the piece is excessive length,
which is telly as great as Visitor any of the five-act legitimate
dram" which excite the indignation of the vaudeville
writers Mr. Wright is a comic pearl-diver, and Madame
Celesta a sentimental mermaid. At the former the audience
roared, es a matter of course; mid the laic r they applauded
in spite of her broken English, which, always intolerable, a
series of years has rendered an inexcusable nuisance. Miss
Woolgar, and all the other favnuritts of the theatre, ap-
peared in the drama, and supported it pleasairly enoaga.

CLERICAL
CIEWINATIONS.

PETi:RBOROCOH.-At en ''''''''''' holden by the Bishop
of Peterborough. on Sunday last, the 19th Rot., the following gentle-
men wer, admitted :—Psuvars: F. P. Firming, Magdalen, Comb.;
C. E. Thomas, University, Dubi. —Ducat:es J. Hely, Worcester,
Ox-n; E. P. Bolt, St. John's, Camb.; A. S. Ruder, St. Bees;
J. Dixon, St. John's, Clunk ; J. A. Fell, Corpus CkrisU, Camb.; J.
Gordon, St. Jobe'., Carob.; J. M. Holt, St. John's, Camb.; EL
Lindsay, Trinity, Comb.; A. P. Morris, Worcester, Ozon; C. Evans,
S. Bees. The biderp immediately aftr.rwi.r.'m granted the following
licenses, viz:—Rev. J. Italy, to St. Margaret's C. Leicester; Rev.
lE. P. Brett, to Dutton Brett C.; Rev. A. 8. Cutter, to Shrepalted
I C.; Rev. J. Dixon, to St. Nicholas, Leiorwter, C.: Rev. J. A. Fell, to
Cossington C.; Ile,. J. Gordon" to Murton C.; Rev. H. Lindsay, to
Sibbertoft C.; Rev'. A. P. Mr.rro, to thrhd hurch, Leicester. C. ;
Rev. C. Evans, to Sea Hill and Craydale C.—all in Leicestershire;
Rev. J. M. Holt, to High= Ferrer.; Rev. F. P. Heating, to ha
Chaplain to Weedem Barracks.
CHICHESTER —The Bi•hop or Chichester also held an or-
dination at the cathedral In that city on Sunday Ina, Dee. 19 when
the following were admitted : —Pawns : R F. ootpkino, Bt. John's,
Comb.; C. P. Longisutd, St. He.; T. Pyper, St. Ortwerine.hall,
Camb. ; H. L. Wakon, Gonville and Caine, Camh . • J. 11. Vale, Env.
marmot, Comb.; C. R. Drury, Bt. John's, Camb.—Dr-tevas : T. C.
Pratt, certificated scholar of St. David's, Lam.eter ; J. Rola, Literate ;
J. Newton, St. John's, Comb. ; W. S. Serra, Queen's, Comb. ; C. T.
Frampton, Clam Hail, Camb.; A. Orlebar, Wadham, Out; J. F.
Piney, Trinity, MM.—Limos= J. Roo, to lidimore C.; 11. 1..
Watson, to Bexhill C. ; C T. Frampton, to S. Paul's, I Ineherter, C.;
A. Orlebar, to All Saints and fictuthorer C., Lewis; J. Y. racy, to
Wareham C.; W. S. Serra% to Fanehorne C.
OLOCCEsTER.—The Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol
likewise held an ordination.in the cathedral thurch of Bristol on
Sunday het, the 19th December. The following gvntlemen were or.
d.i •
Plumes : Rev. R. J. Abbott, Corpue Chroti, Comb. ; Rev.
G. Butterworth,• Balhd, Ott.' Rev. W. Mope, Trinity, Comb.; Rev.
H. IL Farmer, Exeter, Oef. ; Rev. W. B. A. Gilder, St. John's,
Canal. • Res. M. Y. Lamb, Corpus Christi,sat% ; Rev. W. Melees,
Pembroke, Oar.; Rev. W. H. Y. M 'Knight, Trinity, Debt ; Rev. IL.
T. Price. Jesus, Oaf.; Rev. E. Roberts, Trinity, DultL ; Rev. R.
' Storing. King's, Cemb. •R. G. F. ('orterthin, Jesus, iamb., and
Rev. W. L. Manley, (2:rist'e, Carob., by letters dimitoory from the
Bishop of Exeter ; Rev. D. Dickson, Trualty, loW., and Pee. N. It.
Lloyd, St David's, Lamp., by letters &mise from the Bishop of
Llandaff. —Deacon . .1. Baveremek, St. Jahn'., C4mb. (Messed to
Standish C.) : J. Davenport, St. John's, Oaf (licenvd to Welfare C.);
J. IS. A. Fenwiek, tnivenity, Ott. (Bossed to West Littleton C.)
H. Haleatt, Trinity, Dahl. (licallsed to Acton Turville C.) ; F. V.
Mather, Trinity, Comb. ((licensed to Mitalinhampton C.) ; F.. G.
Reser, Christ's, Comb,(lmewed to Alventan C.) ; J. R. W'mthen,
Queen's, Ott. (licenred to Prestbury C.); J. B.J. Watson, Bt. Jolla's,
Comb. (licensed to Amberley C ); 11. Wright, St. Mary Magdalen Hall,
Oxf. ' • J. It. Farrow' St. Catherine's Hall, Comb. ; IL J. Mayne
Exeter, Out; J. B. Messenger, Clare Ball, Camb. ; A. S. Sutton,
bake Oxf.
Licnniuda.—The Bishop of Lichfield held an ordination
In the chapel able palace at Eceleehall on Sunday last. The follow-
ing were admitted : —Panora : Rev. E. W. Diekse, Corpus Christi,
Comb.; Rev. S. Hood, St. Bets; Rev. F. Grtoton t, Pembinal. Out.;
Be.. J. H. Jenkins, 'Trinity, Gelb. • Rev. H. Moore, Trinity, Dab.;
Rev. 0. Poole, Queen's. Limb. • gee. Y. Schooner, Exeter, Oxf. ;
Be.. J. R. Staley, St. Bee. ; Itr:v. J. Stock, Corpus Christi, Comb.;
Bee. Y. R. Wataon, Trinity, Dubl. ; Rev. R. C. West a, St. Beta—
Maass :W. Acton. BARRA Olt. •E. E. Allen, Trinity, Carob.; W.
B. Headman, Trinity, Dub!. ;T. Borne,i St. Mary Magnaku, Comb.;
J. M. Clarke, St. Johns, Comb ; G. Dance, St. Peter's, (limb.; it. N.
Ellecombe, Oriel, Oaf.; J. Rutherford, a literate person; A. Garai,
Trinity, Comb.; F. Veneer, Emmanuel, Camb.; B. Willnvore, B.
Bees; R. Weed*, fit. Geri; J. wutson, Trinity Hot, Carob.; It.
Wldeltica, S. John's, Omit
Lincomr.—The Bishop of Lincoln held a general ordina-
tion to the cathedral of his dlocere ce tiunday last. The following
were admitted : —Penne : Bev. A. L. tirumbeed, tionville and Gins,
Comb.; Re,. E. H. Edman, et. John's, Comb.; Rev. G. E. Pattenden,
St. Peter's. Comb. • Rev. G. If. Spurrier, el. John's, Cu:tab.—Dna.
eon : T. H. Luton, Catherine Hall, Comb. ; T. N. Lucas, St. Peter's,
Comb.; 8. M. Mackay, Worcester, Oxf. • T. C. Southey, Queen's,
Oaf.; W. W. Thornton, New Inn Hull, Ott.; W. J. 'manes,
OxL ; C. A. West, St. John's, C..mo.

P RRRRRR rcre.—Ree. J. Frith, to Bi•hop'a Hebington
C., warwicksbire. Rev.?. H. Deane. MlD;mutton C., Warvickallize.
VACANCY.-Bouth Claypole R. ; county and clio. Lincoln;
WU.; pat., J. P. Elumptre, Eng. ; meant by death of Rey. U.
Plumptre, LLB.