The Express.
London, England, 1859-07-27 00:00:00

Kuala

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN.
The long-expected produotioa of Meyerbeer's new
open, Le Pardois de Ploerrnel, took place lest Right,
after a delay which appears very long when it is

eessidered that the open was announced as forth-
coming at Covent-garden this season, even before its
first performance at the Open Comique. But the
delay, no doubt, has beta inevitable.
The open, in its original form, was first announoed
ander the title of Dinorah, the name of the heroine;
but, before its production, it received the not very
intelligible title by which it is known. It was
called Le Pardon de Boerne,; became the action
takes plans during an annual religious festival
(called a Pardon) in a Breton village. In our Italian
version it has acquired the title of Dowers/1, or,
Ii Pellegrinagyio di Ploarmel—ti cumbrous adjunct
that may well be dispensed with. The subject is
rustic and pastoral, and the music partakes of the
character of the subject. It is as original—as strongly
marked with his individuality of style—as any
thing he has ever written ; but, unlike his
previous works, it is comparatively simple, depend- I
Log little on elaborate combination, or on great choral
and orchestral effects. On the other hand, it abounds
in those plain and touching melodies which every
one can understand and feel, and which, therefore,
become generally popular.
The drama is composed of very slight materials.
The action (as we have said) takers place on the day
of a religious festival in a Breton village. On that
day in the preceding year Diuorah, a village girl,
was to have married her lover, Hoel; but having
been reduced to poverty by a calamity, Hoel has
gone away to seek a certain magician, who
is reputed to be acquainted with a spot in the
neighbourhood where a trainee of gold is
buried—a secret which Hoel hopes to discover.
Diaorals, abandoned (as she thinks) by her lover,
becomes insane, and wanders about, a harmless
maniac, followed by a pet goat, her only companion.
Hoe', meanwhile, has learned where the treasure is
said to be concealed, under the guardianship of
demons—a dangerous spot on the verge of a preci-
pice, and to be approached only by crossing a rade
bridge formed of the branch of a blasted tree. Heel
persuades a foolish clown, Corentin (the buffo of the
piece), to help him in endeavoariog to obtain the
treasure; but when they approach the spot, its
dreary aspect, and a storm which rises at the mo-
ment, frighten Corentin, who refuses to praised
further. While Hoel is expostulating with him es
his cowardice, the crazy girl, who has no idea of
danger, crosses the tottering bridge—the tree la
shattered by lightning, and she falls into the
watery . golf below. Her lover plunges after
her, succeeds in saving her life, and the
denouement follows of course. The shock,
together with the restoratios of her lover,
prove an immediate cure of her malady ; the marriage
is celebrated forthwith, and the nuptial procession
frame the finale of the piece. This story will not
bear criticism; but it affords room for pathetic
situations and incidents. The heroin* herself is a
most interesting character, the idea of which seems
to have been taken from the beautiful old opera of
Nina. The lover creates less interest. He is selfish,
and covetous of gold; and his device to use hie silly
friend Coreutin as a catspaw to undergo the mortal
peril of recovering the hidden treasure from ire guar-
dian fiends deprives him of every title to sympathy.
The story, moreover, lacks clearness and coherence.
But the piece is lyrically written, nevertheless, and
has inspired the illustrious composer with some of
his most exquisite conceptions.
The impressions left on our minds by the
music arc of the most delightful kind.
Madame !tholes is charming. Young, fair, and
graceful, she is fall of sensibility and intelligence
as an actress • and her singing, in its own
style, is absolute perfection. She reminded
us of what Persiani uses in her best days,
with a finer voice than Persiani ever poesemed.
draziaoi was successful in the part of Heel, especially
in the last act, which exhibits the character in its most
favourable light, and furnishes the performer with

some exceedingly tender and expressive music, to
which Grans/it did great justme. Gardoni, ss

Corentin, appeared under quite a new aspect—a
buffo comedian ; a capacity in which he showed very
considerable talent, while he sang admirably, as he
always does. There is a little part of a youthful
goat-herd, performed by Madame Didide, who
sang a plaintive little romance so charmingly that
it WA quite a feature of the evening. The orchestra
covered itself with glory, playing the extremely
difficult music with a precision, brilliancy, fire, and
delicacy which could not be excelled by any orches-
tra in Europe. The scenery added immensely to the
effect of the whole. It is sufficient to say that it is
from the magic pencil of Beverley.
Nothing could exceed the enthusiasm of the
audience. The house was overliilteiland presented
rarely
a scene of 'reit/meet wit

TIGHT-IMR FIAT AT NZWI

Monday

evening • rumour got afloat that • ma me to arose the river
on • tight-rope, which drew some hundreds of people to the
vicinity of the Tyne•bridge. Newcsatle. The strong-nerved
adventurer proved to boa Signor Dovalli, • man of 56 train-
man, of titils stature, bearing traces of poverty. The rope
formed a mry atom smut, bang eecured to the top of •
ship's meat on the Newcastle side of the river. Signor
Domini, who was neatly attired in white stadium abort
blue Monsers, and rad-bodied shirt, will* a fancy ligature
round his head, at • little before eight o'clock commenced
hi. sweat, at Sod with long and c.utio•a steps, but as a
murmur of discontent escaped from the assembled masses at
this eseming timidity, he shortened and quickened his step,
and in • very short time was soon pinnacled high op the
mast to which the coed was annexed. After a short *try
be retraced his steps, and completed the two journeys
in the short period of filters minutia, inclusive of stop-
pages. The si•oor displayed his power of nerve by
'meg through some of the little elepteolse of the tight-rope
an, including the partsking of ritst whilst on the
mitre of the cord. elastique. He amid • balance pole. Im-
mediately on leaving the rope be re-grossed to Newcastle in
• ferryh•ar, and wee aeoompanied hy so enthusiastic multi-
' tads to Mr. Howell., Chatted XII. tan, who bad kindly
allowed htm to appropriates room to her own use. The
denier of the ascent. which ma great ender the moat Moor-
shltscirentonsacee. was very much increased by tbeloorresete

of the cord, owing to Ito great length end weight ; it woo so
loom that [tavern fat ched the water with his feet near to
Gateshead, whild wag tram Newosetle. The feat was
pedirmed fore visor, sad also for whatever recompense
Thavellts friends ware dole he collect from those sewembled
agar the spot. It sppsios that the valuate+, costributloar
were very moll, roomodog to little more than one pound.
including war MM. Melly collected by Mr. Rowell at
hie bar.—Nesnaeris Orlosolie.

ICHARY—ACIUTICAL BOCIITT or GREAT BRITAIN.
—Novae of candidata wise prod the valor tzandaation,
July It ea phentrasakal ebasate : Man Dame, Dur-
ham; Inn. Cali, Grantham ; David Data, Caftan ;
Jobs Dart, limy; Moms Pleetweed, Stretford-on-
Awn ; Cared Sawed Gam Stratkvd•annialt ; Piave
Biwa Para, Mandias ; Niger/ attack dalistary.
CRICART.—KIINT T. MIRDLSSEX.—This match
cams oir.a Wanda ad vistada at Casterbaty, weal-
savd in favour a tillage& The sane was e. tollowo
Middleas. la Whigs, 242; Kaat, let balsas, 91, second
taidap, 93.