The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-02-18 00:00:00

COI' a • ,'T-C4 I: 1.17 7H! AT L.

Mr. SIiERMAN.4 opens of 7'he /henna, a pros
eluction that lays ifiedisputed claim to the nngii 1,
lified praise of those who nrfiuire " the concord of
sweet innieda," and which le:ear:its an equally plena
surable banquet to :he laughter-Irving spirits. who
:ire delighted with the witcheries of brilliant wit,
mid the levelisiess of playful repartee, was last
slight performed. Some novelty. and a great deal
of excellence were combined ii, the repecentistion.
Mr. HUNT appeared in the character of Casks,
and 31.1u.ttett himself with considerable ability.
This Gentleman has been, we understand, for the
last two years, under the immediate direction of
Ntr. IItOMAS WALSH, that celebrated renovetor
of decayed, nod stimulator of latest volces—to
whose exertioies he owes whatever progress he has
made in vocal science. Mr. Mtn's style of
singing is extremely plain noel unitelorued. Tens
circtinistasice may, perhaps, be at least as touch
ottribeted to the confined range of his voice, 114 to
any want of arnhititeis to figure maiongst the more
scientific performers of the present day. His
mound tones are, for the most part, weak used
husky—hut his fa/sello is excellenb—it is full,
flexible, and mellow. He executed the beauti-
ful! ballad air, " 1/ad I n heart fur falsehood
fram'd," with • good deal of isatteos, though less !
delicately then Stscintia was wont to give it.
This efFort was honoured with an encore. in our
opaline' lie smog the succeeding air, " dli ! sure a
pair !" mole tastefully—but, though it was lunch
applauded, it did not attract the mine mark of ap-
probation. Miss STEPHENS was the clam of the
eveleing, and sang'very delightfully. The two line
airs—" Wk.'s suble night !" Ruse " Adieu ! thou
dreary pile," were sung in a style of uncommon
excellence. They wereencored. We have beard them
times unnumbered—hut they are still delicious'.
T:iey steal 011 the ear like the voice of an old fiirseil,
which, after an absence, pleases more, pereseapa,
than when we first hung on it with delight. Mrs.
I'. Hite was a lively and logreesible Louisa—we
speak with reference to her Hering. Her singing
was laboured—but by tics means finished. Mr.
PVNE'E Antonio does him liononr. We have
never heard the song, " I could never lustre
see," PO well executed as by slits gentlerasii.—•
Mr. FARRLN'S Pox Jerome exhibited a rich pica
tore of the obstinacy adage, combined with • con.
siderable portion sif suet sing tedelliesw, send diversi-
fies, by occasional sallies of comic passion. 'fete
scene in which lie hears the various euttipleinte
against /suns Mendoza, and turns then, aside by
remarks which appear the more chilling as they ere
opposed to the vivacity that marks the attack, and
the quarrel, and subsequent recmicilialiots
" conning little Isaac," mere finely acted. Ills
song, " U ! the days whew i was young ."' was ex-
ceedingly well given. Its general tenour was lively--
though the recollection of Jerome's get y
coupled, as they seemed to he, with the omen).
brance of days and eights devoted to love sod
wine, occasioned a Hot inappropriate faltering to
sense of the passages. Mr. l' AR's fume was
highly comic—and the Meatus of Mrs. DAVEN-
PORT was as hucnorous a represesitation as we have
ever witnessed. Mr. itst EBY, as the Prior Cone.
mond, Father Paul, was extremely emisising. Mr.
J. Isesscs took the part of Friar Austen, used led,
very ably, the glee, " This hottle's the sun of our
table," which was greatly arsplauded.
The house was full, and the opera went off ex-
tremely wall.