The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-11 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 11, 1882.

MUSIC.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, 00VENT GARDEN.

Benedict's new opera., The Lily of Killarney, wag
performed for the first time last night. As a drama it is
identical with The Colleen Bows, the success of which at
the Adelphi has been almost unexampled. The joint
*mhos% of the libretto are stated to be Jahn Onenford sad
Dion Boudatult, which we understand to mean that Mr.
Bounicault's Adolphi melodrama bee been put into the form
of an opera by Mr. Ozeoford. No one could be better
whiled for such a teak ; for Mr. Ouisford,bicides beteg=
elegant lyric poet, is thoroughly conversant with Me
exigencies of the musical stage. Accordingly, the task bee
bees executed with great judgment and taste. The dire
logos of an opera must be much more succinct then that
el • son-musical piece ; and Mr. Ozenford has succeeded la
eaedensing it with very small sacrifice of its original ford
and elearnms, while he Mu thrown the most interesting
portions of the tale into scenes of concerted music, and else
peened the lulls and sentiments appropriate to the eltwir
thee in songs and duets of no small poetical beauty. We
have seldom sees dramatic materials more happily prepared
for the sisal composer, nor have we often seen a better
see made by the inicipaser of his dramatic materials.
The *softie presoare are all familiar names. There is
the heroine, Eily O'Connor, is the penes of Mile Louisa
Pyre; Hanker Citron in that of Mr. Haigh ; Anse Chute,
Pigs Maclean ; Mre. Crags°, Mies lineen Fyne ; Myleeessi-
Omaha". Mr. Harrison; and Danny Mann, Mr. Bentley
•.as tesaeedingly good dietribetlos et the pripapal
Mien.

act closes with the sennterpart ee the great
Miimieleitwoma at the Adel.% Ark in lam, hes mainly
awls lire fernss of the pier at that therm—the at-
tempted murder 1 ffily by Denny Mane, and her rescue
by Ifyienna-Coppalesa, when romendous "Iredam" into
the lake—the exploit achieved by W. Boudoirlt—has been
the talk of the town. This maree, which at the Adelpld
rider of mere spectacle, derives in the opera additional
eller from the exceedingly picturesque mere whisk MOM
peln it, sepssially the soft and tranquil choral rag ei-
ne bsanmes, faintly herd in the drains., whirr ferns so
sliking • contrast to the terrible erne paring es the
duel.
The third act is the shortest, but contains reveral fine
press re music. The " serenade" (as it is willed) snug by
Myles rbe watches the slumbers et his poor prutigf, is •
awn beautiful melody, of a strengly.marked Irish chamber',
whisk Mr. Herron nag with • delicacy and legion not to
be earresed. The trio, " I alias, and Eily dead l " sung by
Myles, Eily, and Father .Tom, is • delicious pion of part-
writing, which will Sod its way into every private rick
where elegant vocal harmony is cultivated. The opera
terminates, like the melodrama, with the gaud ball
at Castle Chnte—an exceedingly brilliant and tasteful
spectacle, with the roue of confusion and dismay which
follows, sad which, when the distress has rushed its cli.
max, is suddenly put an rod to by the appearance of the
resuritated Eily. This Kees, too, derives • great addi-
tional effect from the masterly concerted music in which it
is carried oa. There am two remarkable solo pieces ; the
air, " Eily llavourbess," • Where lamentation, rung by
the repentant Cregan ; and the finale, " By sorrow tried
severely," in which the heroine pours out all her rapturous
happiness, whilikaer somata are echoed by • general chorus
of joy.

There are away other beauties in the musk which we
manes even notice in them aught and cursory remarks.
Bat we must especially mention the extreme beauty of the
instranientation—its perm variety. and skilful trestraest of
emery instrument ; sad. above sll. its satire freedom from
the besetting sin of modern menposses—oeise.
Little reaming to ay gnat the performance, which mu
_ . _

la ivory remsee admirals. Ma Louisa Pyse was really
and Wily Ike Colleen Haut. Hsi actin was as full at
trails of aidtplicity, delicacy, and feelisg, aa her sites

et balsa.* sad beauty. Re have sever sees Mr. Har-
ries to gloater drudges thma is the clumsier d the
heave sad orwrous outlaw. It was manly aodteuthfel.

Mk Ise lavabos of bilk htuaoar mfodld atili.ll6lo36l'
pathos. Nat did we ever hear him sing better. The meals
wee thoroughly suited to his voice. and he gave it the
tallest effect. The part of Hardrees Cregan is one that
can never be anything bat disagreeable ; but Mr. Haigh
redeemed its dramatic defects by singing the music most
charmingly. Miss Maclean, who personated Anne Chute, is
• lee young woman, with a rich contralto voice, and is alto-
gether an actress and singer of much promise. Miss Susan
Pyme's Jim Cregan was a performance full of intent.
puce and vocal talent ; and, last but not least,
• prodigious eftect was given to the character
of Deasy Mann by Mr. Bentley, who, already one of the
greatest singers on our stage, is tepidly becoming one of the
greatest actors.
. . . . .

The success of the work was triumphant. The house
was crowded and the audience enthusiastic. The principal
airs were encored—a mark of favour we could well have
dispensed with. The principal performers were repeatedly
called for, together with Mr. Benedict, and Mr. Alfred
Mellon, the excellent calf d'oreAregre, to whose talents and
exertion much of the summit of the Royal English Opera
has bats owing.

DRAMA.

ADELPHI.

A translation from Le Gamin de Paris, under
the title of rie Dublin Boy, wu produced at this theatre
hat night with mem It is a drama in two acts, whereas
it might have boss a petite coeitedit in one aot. The plot is
simple to a dares, sad does sot admit of oson.;h action
to warrant its division into two separate acts.

Dick Daly (Mr. Billingtos), t►e goo of General Daly (Mr.
Emery), palms himself off as era artist of the name of Brown,
and spends his time at the house of a Mrs. Blake (Mrs.
Lewis), for the purpose of making love to her granddaughter
Nary (Wise Laidlaw), whom eventually he seduces. The
scamp of the family, Andy (Mrs. Boncicanit). discovers the
false colours uoder which the floe gentleman is sailing,
and elicits from his sister a confession of the Ruth. One.
in confidence, he is determined to be the avenger. He
seeks the General, he tells him bin story. and be millets the
•

aymp.ithies of the veteran—sympatbies which, after the dra
natio fashion, are Mons/led • thousandfold when it is disoo-
vered that the father of Maly and Andy was a gallant captain,
who had saved the Oeneral'alife at Inkerrnann at the sacri-
fice of his own: Aud good is found in the young "swell,"
who, ignorant of all that has happened, has sacrideed
his commission and entered the army as • private foe the
sake of proving that he has no pride. Of course, all code
happily.
The piece is well acted, especially by Mrs. Boueleault,
who displays far more tern, activity, sod esergy than abs
has yet done. Those accustomed to the Dot too proteowele
Colleen Bows and the somewhat listless °demon will be
Divvied at the dash which is here exhibited. Mr. Emery's
pourtrayal of the old general is thoroughly artistic ; Miss
Wales is ladylike, Mr. Billington geutlemauly, sod if
Mrs. Iwwis would only study a little brogue, so much as
would last her for the ten minutes she is before the public,
she would be highly efficient.

RAILWAY AND PUBLIC COMPANIES IN
PARLIAMENT.