The Express.
London, England, 1858-11-09 00:00:00

MUSIC.

DRURY-LANE.
The reproduction, last night, of Tie °rows,
Diamonds has given an agreeable variety to the
rtpertoire of this theatre. It is among the best—if
not, indeed, the very best, of Auber's comic operaa ;
and there are very few foreign works which have
become more familiar to or have been more favour-
ably received by the English public. It is purely
comic -gay, bright, and sparkling—with the smallest
possible infusion of the sentimental. The subject
is too extravagant to create any serious interest. But
it is fanciful and exciting to the imagination,
and the situations and incidents have an animation
and rapidity which keep the attention alive from the
beginning to the end of the piece. This, indeed, is
the character of all Auber's best operas, excepting
only Masanseilo, in which alone he has soared into
the higher regions of dramatic music. But in his
own light style—the only style really etmgenial to
his—he haa never been se:paned by any composer
whatever. His mimic effervesces like has country's
champagne, and has • similar effect on the spirits.
It happens, too, that this opera is peculiarly suited
to the means of the Drury-lane establishment, and is
better performed, as a whole, than any other piece
which Mies Pyne and Mr. Harrison have produced.
We have seen the heroine personated by a multitude
of prime donnas, both on the French and English
atage—Chartoo, Ugslde, Nan, Thelon, and we don't
know how many more—and we have never seen
say one who unites the qualities of the actress and
the singer more completely than Miss Louisa Pyne.
Her acting is lively and intelligent, and her singing
is the perfection of vocal execution. The music is
sxseedingly florid, and full of passages demanding
great flexibility and compass of voice ; but she
eseaquers every difficulty with so much'graoeful sass
that the sense of difficulty or effort entirely dia-
s
PRlenarduous and beautiful bravura air in the
second act was sung last night in a manner which
never has been, and, we verily believe, could not be
excelled. Her introduction of Rode's air with varia-
tions into the finale, though out of keeping with the
situation, and injurious to Auber's music, was eo
marvellous a vocal display that it was received with
a storm of applause, in which even those who
questioned its propriety could not refrain from
Joining. Mr. Harrison, too, is very happy in the
part of the hero, Don Henrique. His action is manly
and spirited, and the music suits his voice admirably.
He, too, was guilty of an interpolation uncalled
for and out of place. Bat it was • very
pretty ballad by Mr. Brinley Richards, and
be sang it so well as to earn an unmistake-
able encore. Such things, however, are in bad
taste, and unworthy of such performers as Louisa
Pyres and Harrison. Miss Susan Pyne, moreover,
is an excellent representative of Diana de Campo-
mayor. This young lady, as a seconda donna, is in-
valuable.
She is graceful and ladylike, has much'
life and spirit, is an excellent musician, and, with a
quiet and unpretending manner, never fails to give
full effect to her part. The subordinate parts of the
Count de Campoineyor, Don sebasties, and Rebol-
ledo were well sustained, both dramatically and
vocally, by Mr. Honey, Mr. St. Albyn, end Mr. H.
Corn. The orchestra, under Mr. Mellon's direction,
was admirable; and we have never listened with
greater enjoyment to Auber's delightful accom-
paniments.
Lastly, the mire en serge was rich and elegant ;
and the whole performance fully deserved the &p-
-rime which it received from a crowded audience.