The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-03 00:00:00

MUSIC.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN,
__ _ _

This theatre opened !set night for the Italian
open memos, with the Prophete. This gorgeous piece was
performed with all the completeness and splendour which
hove always distinguished its production at this theatre,
and was received by a crowded and brilliant audience with
an the enthusiasm that could be desired. The performance,
however, magnificent as it was, presented no novel feature.
Traberlik was 'lobo of Leyden; Illdlle. Csillag, Fides;
Mdlle. Corbari, Bertha ; Tagliatico, Count Oberthal ; and
Zelger, Neri-Baraldi, and Polonini, the three Anabaptist,.
The nearest approach to novelty was the appearance of
Coins( iu 'ldea, She performed the part a few times to-
wards the mid of list season, but not so often as to dial-
dish the freshness of her reappeanutoi, or the impreesios
made last evening by her most beautiful and pathetic re-
, ;cementation of a character which is one of the most original
and striking creations of the dramatist and the musician.
It has been sustained by several great performers ; particu-
larly by Vianlot, Grisi, sod Albeni ; but in our apprehen.
shun Calling excels them all. She enters into the character
as deeply as Viardot slid, expressing with equal force and
truth every shade and variety of sentiment sod feeling,
while her action is free from that elaborateness and occa-
sional exaggeration which detracted in some measure from
the beauty of Vierdot's highly artistic picture ; while the
superior quality of Csillag's voice gives her the advantage
in the musical performance. And if she excels Meyerheer's I
own original and favourite representative of the character,
she still more decidedly excels every other. Extreme
earnestness and great simplicity are the distinguishing fea-
tures of Csillag's performance ; and so completely does she
employ music in its proper function—that of a
dramatic language that, beautifully as she sings,
we forget that she is singing. The exquisite
sir, "A b, mon file ! " which unfortunate has bees hack-
neyed in our concert-rooms till people get weary of it, was
clothed by the actress in all its freshness sad beauty as the
beset-touching appeal of the mother to her son, the object
of all her love and care. The scene in the cathedral, where
the see, in the height of his power and spleedour, denies
his mother, was a grad piece of acting on the part of both
mother and son ; for Tamberlik is assuredly the greatest
representative of the Prophet now on the stags. Hie only
rival was Mario, and their claims to the pals seem
so evenly balanced that it is diMcult to award
it to either. The unequalled sweetness, mellow.
ness, and sympathetic quality of Mario's void
gave him the advantage in the mast soft and tender pue
sages, but tho intaasity of Tataberbk's expreselaa—his
bonds of passion and cries of agony are entirely his own,
and beyond the power of any other singer we bays ever
heard. All the other performers of last evening have lira
been known as the representatives of their several abrader&
Corbari's performance of the little part of Bertha was un-
pretending and pleasing, but she was not in good voice, and
her interline was occasionally uncertain. The &era and
orchestra were superb, and the spectacle was ride and
beautiful is the extreme.
Thus Mr. Gye has made an suspicious lasginaing of hie
ammo. We trust that its promise of castrated success
will be realised.

FANCY DOG SNOW AT BiIAIIINGRAIL—To a num-
ber of people ass of the Issillingr attractiose of Monday was
the show of famey dogs, which wee held la a wooden
pavilion, at the rear of the Nees Head Inn, Lichlield.street,
Birmingham. Though originated by Mr. Sprewsoo, and
ono or two other admirers of the melee race, ea an experi- ,
mental test of the extent to which the breeding of fancy '
dogs is carried on in the locality, there can be little doubt
that from the degree of success with which it has been
attended, it will be the precursor of an annual show os •
mush larger wale. It is questionable, however, whether,
:Zha larger selection of animals were show., there
be in all essential respects a better. It • word, its
like has never yet been seen in Birmingham The Scotch
tiniest were of a very superior deemption. The Skye
terriers were most creditably represented. Nest in order
came the black and tan terriers, of which there was
• very fair show, but a great deal of merit was due to
the nett clam the Italian yhounds, which were uni-
versally admired. The bull dogs and bull terriers showed
Licgood breeding. The other components of the show,
h consisted of the Kn Charles, Poodle, and Poste-
maim fos.dop, were of I chnrecter. The prime
were •wantd as follows :—Secitch terriers : Mr. Francis
Hincbcliff, Snit ; Mr. Hobert Davis, second. Skye terriers:
Mr. Jacob Haines, first; Mr. Woks, sewed. Black and
tan terriers : Mr. Hoary Peters, first Mr. George Toney,
second •; Mr. Pro, third. Italian greyhounds : Mr.
Herten, ; Mr. Frederick -Morley, seised.
Wag Charles tweed : Mr. Risks, first ; Mr. Hoary
second Poodles: Mr. Abraham Goulding, fist; At.
George Philips, wooed. Pomeranian fox-dop : Mr. Henry
Seed, Ann. Bull dogs: Mr. Plinks, Snit; Mr. Maks,
sessad. Toy bull dogs : Mr. Whilloas, &a. Ball pqy :
Mr. Dale, bat. Ball terriers : Mr. Hicks, ant. ey bull
terriers : Mr. Highs, SM. The show cosiiased open yes-
terday.—BiessinpAlun Daily Post.
A corps of French " artistes," who had engaged
ape of the Liverpool theatres for the Easter week, vic-
timised the manager, boakeeper, and ea hotel beeper. by
borrowing mosey from all, and then deounped, leaving
only • carpet beg of paving doom behind them.