The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-06 00:00:00

(Stazaped, ld. Additional.)

&IIIIC.

THE ITALIAN OPERA-HOUfiES.

With the close of Covent•Gardon on Saturday
the London' opera IeSSOU ham come to an end, her Majesty's
Theatre (as our musical readers are aware) having shut its
doon• week before. Rating chronicled the proceedings of
these rival houses with such fulness as we have deemed
sufficient, noting every thing which appeared to be in-
teresting either in the production of pieces or the appear-
ances of performers, it only romans for us to make a few
generslrerearks on the season that is concluded. And we
may begin by laying that we now begin to believe, for
the first time, that this metropolis is really sufficient to
support two such colossal houses as her Majesty's Theatre
and the Royal Italian Opera ; a competition hitherto un-
paralleled in any city in the world. Ever since the ahem
in 1841 which split the London Italian Open in twain, the
struggle between the rival theatres has constantly been
ruinous to the one or the other. For a long time the new
hates could not make head against the old save by cala-
mitous sacrifices ; whole fortunes having been sunk in the
gulf of expenditure. Then the advantage turned to the
other side ; as the Royal Italian Opera became Arm, her
Majesty's Theatre begin to shake, and Mr. Lumley, one el
the ablest and most energetic directors which that theatre
ever possessed, was unable any longer to keep his
Cal'aad for several years the theatre was abandoned.
attUnpt to return to the field turned out a disastrous
?allure sad, rill a few weeks before the opening of Covent-
Oarden this season, Mr. Gye seemed to be master of the
field, when gr. E. T..tintith =expectedly entered the lists.
Ike struggle thus mound has bees more unarms tlisa
ever. Both mauves appear to have strained every nerve,
and the expenditure of both houses has evidently been
enormous beyond precedent Yet there is every raison to
believe that both have been successful—a fact which we
gather not only from what everybody has seen—the almost
nnifcemly full houses, and the equal division of fashionable
patronage and support, but from the concurring opinions of
these most conversant with theatrical affairs. We trust
that it is se ; for, if London is actually able to support two
such establishments, then the competition between them can

be productive of nothing but good.
Both houses opened at the same time, -early in April. In
addition to the old established number of three nights in
the week, there have been so many extra nights that both
houses may be said to have given four performances a week
during the season. Monday—as well as Tuesday, Thursday,
and Saturday —may be regarded henceforth as a regular
opera night—indeed we understand that Mr. Oye has inti-
mated his intention that this shall be the case at his theatre.
There can be no objection, provided that the opera-going
public is sufficient to fill the house four times a week, and
provided that the frequency of performances is com-
patible with the due rehearsal and preparation of the
pieces performed. As to this, doubts may be entertained.
The labour of four performances in the week may be
lightened to the company by having different performers
en different nights. But the orchestra and the chorus are
always required, and the demand upon their exertions
must be so heavy that we fear their duties will be very im-
perfectly performed unless their remuneration is different
from what it is at present. Time perhaps will show. The
orchestra and chorus of the Royal Italian Opera have main-
tained, this season, their high reputation ; but so little has
been done in the preparation of new pieces that they have
not been severely tried. At her Majesty's Theatre the
deficiencies of the orchestra and chorus have been the sub-
ject of general remark. This has been expressly admitted
by Mr. Smith himself ; sad his performances will never, in
their general effect, hear a comparison withthose of the rival
house, unless he adopt effectual measures of improvement.
' Some of his principal instrumentalists are of distinguished
excellence ; but taken en sate his band is of very inferior
quality to that of Covent-Garden. The performers, as a
body, are neither so good nor so well remunerated. To im-
prove his band he must do two things : he must commit
their selection to • competent judge—that judge being the
parson who Is to be at their head—and he must render it
worth an able performer's while to devote himself to very
laborious duties. The same thing is the case with the
chorus. Half s dozen untenable voices, or scraping violins,
are sufficient to spoil the harmony of the whole, and to
poison the sweetest melody that ever came from the lips
of Grisi or Alboni.

It is certainly not from penurious management that the
orchestra and chorus of her Majesty's Theatre have not,
been what they ought to be ; for Mr. Smith has shown
himself to be liberal, if not lavish, in his expenditure. His
company has not only contained some of the brightest stars
of the musical &raiment, but has been numerous beyond
precedent. Iltiene, Borghi-Mauro, Piccolomini, Lott!,
Marie Cabel, Brunetti, Lemke, Vaneri, Michal, Alboni,
Giuglini, Vialetti, Belart, Mongini, Everanli, Aldighieri,
Gassier, Corsi, Ciampi, Sebastian Ronconi, eastern, Mon-
gini—such is the list of his performers this season, a list by
far too large for any useful purpose. One half a them
were evidently superfluous, for they interfered with each
other, and their engagements created an enormous expense
which would have been much better bestowed on other
branches of Use establishment. 1
The season of her Majesty's Theatre has produced few '
remarkable incidents. One of the most memorable was the
retirement of ficcolomini, who took her leave of the
stage. Her career, though short, was brilliant ; for,
though not a greet artist, her acting and singing had an
extraordinary power of fascination. It was • short-lived
power, however, and it was evident that she did not retire
prematurely. If her retirement woe a noticeable event,
equally so was the appearance of Borghi-Mamo, so charming
• performer in every respect that everybody wondered how
she had so long remained unnoticed by our London
managers.
Madlle. Titiens, during the season, has risen higher and
higher in public estimation. Her powers as a tragedian have
developed themselves more and more, and she has become
more and more Italian so a singer. Giuglini has fully main-
tained his position as one of the three greatest tenors of the
day, the two others being Mario and Tamberlik. Mongini
has made an advance since last season. In voice he may be
said to rival Giuglini, but in nothing else, though he has
certainly got Mot much of his overstrained and exaggerated
manner. Madlle.Alboni has had great success this season, espe-
cially in Oberon. She gave to the lovely airs in the part of
Fatima a charm certainly never given to them before. Bet
Madlle. Alboni is the only singerof whom it can be said that
her singing is perfection. The production of this opera,
Oberon, has been Mr. Smith's great achievement of the
season. Under the disadvantage of being given in an Italian
version, with the dialogue clothed in tedious recitative, it
had a success such as it had never met with before. A
success, indeed, fur which we cannot well account ; for, with
all the beauty of the music, the drams is nothing better than
childish ; if it was splendidly got up, so it was originally at
Covent-Garden ; and if the principal characters were now
sustained by Mongini, Titiens, and Alboni, they were then
sustained by Braham, Paton, and Vestris.
Another new production—that of the dlatrimo•io Segreto
—was much less successful. This opera, the elm/ -d'avore of
Cimareea, and equally remarkable for the liveliness of
the drama and the exquisite beauty of the music,
used to enjoy unbounded favour in the days of ltubini,
Tamburini, Persiani, and lAblache ; but its revival was •
failure, though Giuglini, Lotti, Alboni, and Ciampi were
the principal performers. Cimarosa's delicious music, it
would seem, is not euiSciently brilliant for modern taste.
The season of the Royal Italian Opera, though equally
successful with that of her Majesty's Theatre, has presented
still fewer remarkable incidents. The circumstance, we
think, most worthy of notice is the series of splendid
triumphs achieved by Madame Grid. She was engaged for
only twelve nights, to give a round of farewell performances.
But so attractive did those performances become that the
limitation of their number was no longer heard
of, and Grid's nights continued to be the
great featured the season. This wonderful woman is more
wonderful than ever. Time seems to pass over her head,
leaving no trace behind. She is as grand, as majestic, as
beautiful as she was ten years ago. Her voice has no longer 1
its youthful strength and brilliancy, but its sweetness IS 1
unimpaired, and that ineffable simplicity which has always
been bar peculiar sharer, is as captivating as over. Woke,*
that it will be long before we shall Year again of Gew's
farewell performances.
The Caveat-Garden company ham been very nearly the
am for amnia seasons pot. TM oily groat Make made

TWOPkNCE.

to it this year tuabeen Madill). This lady is the very
counterpart of 'rations at the other house. They are both
HuMpinaeti both from Vienna, both tragedimis, and similar
in genius and artistic attainments. Their chief difference is
in the register of their voices, Thiene beings soprano, while
WMg is a contralto, but their vocal school is the same—
Ginnie, with much Ihdiangrace end rellasmeat. Her moat
remarkable perferniames have been, Orfeo in the celebrated
masterpiece of Gluck, and Fides in the Propitete, two parts
m dissimilar as can well be imagined. The revival of
Glades opera was the only novelty, at Covent.garden, of the
stance.
NAVAL AND Mar"

:TARY.
CHATHAM, Atm= 5.
The Bishop of Rochester confirmed a large num-
ber of the troops at this garrison on Friday last, and the
same day confirmed several of the convicts at the convict
prison. Captain &baw, R.E., and a party of the Royal
viers, left yeatenlay for Eastbourne, to Ia the electric
apparatus fur tiring the Armstrong guns daring the ap.
preaching experunente.

ADYISALTY, AtTOIIAT 4.—APPontrietirre.—Liem.
tenants C. Le Merrier, to the Orioa ; G. Powys, to the
Regal Albert ; J. Z. H. Wilson, to the Conqueror ; and
J. A. Rodiparn, to be additional to the Dauntless.
Masten H. W. C. IV' to the Gorges ;J. Wye, to the
Jason ; and EL. B. to the Indus, for service in
the
MaptesTl3!.Lembert, to the MarlborougNsfor disport
Ambient-Surgeon R. Burrows, to the Royal Adelaide.
Acting Aisistant-Surgeons G. V. Hatt, CP. Moir, and C.
L. Cunningham, to the Imp sable, for service at Ply-
mouth Hospital ; W. E. or C. P. Malhenr, and F.
Egan, to the Victory, for service at }Luba Haricot

VOLUNTEER SHAY FIGHT IN ESBEX.—On Satur-
day a volunteer review and sham fight took place at Hey-
lands-park, which is situate midway between Ingateatone
and Chelmsford, and is the property of Mr. Prior of the
firm of Truman, Hanbury, and Co. As early as 12 o'clock
then were several come on the ground practising, but after
1 the troops gradually came in without inconvenience,
owing to the excellent arrangements made for their convey-
ance by Messrs. Robinson and Scott, at the Shoreditch
station. There was an immense number of fashionables on
the ground brought hither by rail, and every conceivable
description of carriage and Viscount Ranelagh, who took a
command at Chialeburat, was one of the loudest to bestow
his praises on the first-rate manner in which the
troops acquitted themselves. The following is •
list as near es we can give it, of the various corps present.
Oommanderin-chief Major-General Wood, &C.D., Re.
The Enemy—West Essex Militia, oommanded by Sergeant-
Major Wright. Defending Force—Hon. Artillery Com-
pany, commanded by Captain Potts ; Essex YoernanryAr
Unary, commanded by Colonel Palmer ; Victoria Rifles,
commanded by Major Whttehead ; Victoria Dock Rifles,
commanded by Major Capper ; Truman and Millbury's'
Rifles, commanded by Sir T. Fowle ; COlcheater Rides,
Chehnsford Rifles, Brentwood Rifles, and Ilford Rifles, com-
manded by Sir Claude de Creepagny ; Braintree and Hal-
stead Rides, commanded by Captain Sparrow; Witham
Race, commanded by Captain Patterson ; 4th Tower Ham-
lets, commanded by Captain Bayley ; 2nd FAsex Rides, com-
manded by Captain Davis ; 6th Essex Rides, commanded by
Captain Hirt. Mr. Superintendent Rhymer, of the Essex
constabulary, with a body of constables, kept the ground.
The mancenvring was excellent.
On Saturday afternoon an experiment to test the
efficiency of Captain Fowke's pontoon bridge wee made on
the Serpentine, opposite the Royal Humane Society's
House. Besides his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge, a considerable number of military gentlemen were
present. At the termination of the trial, which lasted
nearly an hour, the duke expressed himself very much
pleased with the result. His Royal Highness stated that
he would cause another trial to be made at Chatham, in
order that it might be seen whether in a stream the bridge
would show the same satisfactory result which it had done
on the dead water of the Serpentine.