The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-05-21 00:00:00

THEATRES.
• •
OPIRA.IIOI3BII‘
On Seturday night was produced fee tht first
time Bossier's comic opera of /1 Turco is Italia.
The drum:nit persona ere—.
Senn. a Turkish Primes Signor Dc Vtl.t.a.
Dun Geroon) ..... Suruur Ds Bsovr.
Dooms Fiorillo .
- Norris.° Signor CORIOOL
Pr(odOCOOO, a Poet
Z a ida . Thu tkionr.
The main plot is brief. The Turk lands at Na-
pli a to explore Italy, Pt admiring the beauties of
which he is very ardent. He meet. with %gado,
to whom he had betrothed himself while she was
Ins slave, wandering with a gang of gipsies. His
passion revives with the constitutional reschness of
his native climate; but he is a little swerved from
the allegiance due to it by the coquetry of Donna
Fiorillo, whose capricious frolics recast° give very
reasonable wounds for uneasiness to her imbecile
and timorous apusise lion Gerona°. She is brought
to penitence at last by a threat of divorce. In con-
at (pence the Turk resolves to embark for' home, and
practice Christian constancy in regard to.Zoido.,—.
Nord's° also begs pardon for having paid undo.]
!Mention to the Doe's spouse, and ever,• thing ends'
happily. The contrivances of Prosdacinso, the
poet, lead to these results. He is it;,..quest of
materials fur a comic opera, and manages all
the intervrnisg incidents between the tising,
and falling of tie curtain, more with i-vierri
to dramatic effect than from • fixed regard for the&
parties. The incidents are ingeniously dispesed,'
complex and yet natteal,easy and pleasant in their
succession, vial highly titte;resting in the casual
situations to which they give rise. It is its this
piece that the characteristic genius of the com-
poser shows its most distinct identity and
power, He has, iii this instance at least, elevated
the spirit of the lyric cemedy. We are to ob-
serve, that a great part of the music of this opera.
including the overture, was produced on our stage
iu Cenereotolo. But though greatly admired in its
best passages, it was deprived of thatetl' ct which
is given by the relation of all the parts of au origi-
imid. Th.s being understood. it may be Ludy aver-
ed that of c o.nic opera titre is not a more pleasant
and diverting one in the catalogue than the pre-
sflit. The music unerringly accords with the busi-
hies, of the scene, and die slain of the dramatist is
deeply blended with the taste of ati accomplished
muskies). It would take too much time to
select and describe the chief passages—rnough
to say, that each successive scene was received
with increasieg admit:l6cm, and that four scenos, of
no inconsiderable length, were loudly encored.
The performer., of course, came in for a con-
eiderable share of tine applause. The firm of these
repetitions look place on the entrance of Don
Gerona°, and his immediate encounter wide the
lepsiti. It was full of chimes,. There was,
besides the well-disposed buille of the scene, and
the skilful contrivance of the composer, the delight
, of witnessing the effort of a successful. first appear-
ance. Signor BEGN I will be a treasure to the
company. His latinid and easy mallows, confined
within decent bounds, the effect to which his do-
mestic foitusies must have given rise; his weak
resolution in resisting the treatment of his disore
drily wife, seemed to he the result of a generous
temperament, and his follies in no instauce lost him
the respect of his auditors. His style is spirited,
familiar, and gracelully congruous with the habits
of declining age, for time complete delineation of
which he is happily too young and ammaied in his
vo:ce amid aspect. His tones are melodious, very
reset. sad fluent—his style of singing vivid and
Signora DE BEGN I is a first appearance
of nu less interest ; her voice is of a confined chas
teeter, surneilliiig like l'ucerTit's used to be, but
her expression is just, and her embelliihments of
r.cli and various fancy; her figure is not nest, but
r Lice is full of sense and good nature ; she also
give that pleasant tinge to the detects of the com-
rade', which retained for her compunction more
esteem than she forfeited by her irregularities.
Her imprudence was nut sensual, but seemed to
b • an error of whim. and her pardon was yielded
with more saiiefaction so others than to herself.
'rite scrim with her husband, which follows the de-
tection of her first fete a fete with the Turk, gave
considerable delight. The arch fetidness by which
she disarms his transient wrath, tied contrives to
throw him into whimsical cousternation and penis
truce by usurping the place of complainant, celled
forth continued applause. The whole duetto,
though a very long one, was loudly encored : so
were the quintets, " Aet volto estotico." and the
sestett, "Quest(' a an nodo ineilstppoto," formerly
introduced in eenerentola. The variable descaitt
in the latter is beyond all praise. 'There are many
imasstig,s iii the piece which have more snaking
te totality, but there are none that display such
taste and ingenuity iu draw/lug out the latent
and various beauties which belong to a simple
theme. Cu RION I exhibited with great effect iu the
part of Aureate°. Though his clue was love
forlorn, mid that too winch was not entitled to suc-
cess, he gave marked importance to it. Perhaps
his singing will never be perfect ; but his clear op-
preltemion of the composer's &vigil, his judicious
(obedience to it, Nod its effectual enforcement of it,
are rare gifts, which will at cure him high iinporta
suer tit his profession. The seems which gave the
highest and most unqualified pleasure, was a masked
bail, in which Don Gerona° seeks his wife, and is
greatly puzzled which of two sets of paramours,
similarly aecoatred, lie is to address for that pur-
pose. The quintets° which comes of this situation
wive the most sgreeable surprise, being on the part
of Don Gerunio, the result of whimsicality, and
with the others, of the blend emotions which
the lure of passion seemed to have awakened
in them, sod to which the composer imparted the
richest .1. qttence of inflow. The choruises are of
• very d excellence. having by fur more cha-
racter mid poetical affinity with the relative scenes
than any we have yet heard in Bosom's pieces.—•
Ali.. Moat sustanied the romance of tier part in a
very creditable matmer. Da VILLE was never
Steil 10 so Much advantage.. Some of his uncouth
peculiarities a. Wally seeded to enhance the re pre-
I4CIIIIIIOII, and sorted cliermitigly with the risen
manners and costume of his pcHt. He has a very
deep and 'satiable voice ; but, froth bad orginiza-
hint or bad tamer, the utterance is irreprievably iin-
i inumped. fie was, however, very sacces•ful iu
I the interviews with Fiorillo, 'stud come

good share of the applause which devolved on his
angry and ludicrous miscount with the husbAnd.—.
PLacci's nupertineoce in raitaarking the affairs of
other people to make up his drama was a very
pleasant picture of professional jaundice, by which
all things seemed to take the hue that imbued his
own mind. This character. with a little less mis-
chief and licentiousness, and far inure usefulness, is
"a tolerable lacrimal of the Euglish " llnnnatist."
The author of the piece demands piaise. not only
fur the lively disposition and working of the
plot, but for the neat and forcible diction with
which he has conducted it. and the impres-
sive poetry with which he has embellished some of
its incidents. It is seldom that an opportunity oc-
curs fur lauding the liberality displayed in the
scenery and decorations of an opera ; not from a
want of disposition that way, so mua•h as front the
very form sod nature of the estabbslimetst. In this
piece there is some scenery which rains the preten-
woos of the theatre as high as those establishments
which sue far more dependant on that sort of inte-
rest... The view of Naples, liist by daylight, and
afterwards by moonlight. is among the finest in-
sTatite scenic economy. Such a dispo.itiain of
full of bold sepatatinits, all perfectly min-
gled in soft said finished perspective, one may be-
. hot to the choice land\rapes of the 16th century.
TIM mole advanced to the utmost projection of the
Lock)," ridge, with the lig►ht.house above it—the
fortijhst within this boundary—the steep acchiti-
:..ties, on which are seen the tents of the gop•y crew,
and the deep cerulean tone taken from the nmoon-
• light by the sky and waters, give the whole scene
a profound and tranquil effect. Another scene
which di.played much taste, was the room in which
the marked ball was held. It was fancifully de-
corated with the sesemhlance of valuable paintings,
richly illuminated, and every division occupied
by an earnest and interesting gruupe, while the
musical business was going forward 111 trout of the
.stsge.
A divertisement was performed between the acts.
in which M. A LBERT figured astonishingly with four
of the chief ladies of the ballet corps. The ballet
was La Paystoend Suppose, upon which the curtain
fell before the voticlusioil. the repetitions of the
operatic music having swallowed up too much of
the time to allow the completion of the afterpiece.
COVENT-GARDEN.
HER MAJESTY'S VISIT.

On Saturday night her MAJESTY honoured
Covent-gardent theatre with her presence. Her
MAJESTY went quite privately, as she had done to
[holy-lane, attended solely by Lord and Lady
HOOD, arid. Master AUSTIN. It was only a few
minutes before her arrival that her MAJESTY'S in-
tention was announced at the theatre. alien mime-
diately.the stage-box, which had been previously
engaged, was set apart for her reception. About
a quarter before eight o'clock, steady at the con-
clusion of the first act. the box door was thrown
open, when her MAJESTY. leaning on Lord HOOO,
made her appearance. She was instantly recog-
nized, and her entrance was hailed with one universal
shout of applause, accompanied by waving of hats
mid handkerchiefs. which lasted for several minutes.'
When the cheering had partially sulonded, there
was a cry of" God same the Qween !" from a!l parts
of the house. After some *hurt delay (during which
the cheering continued unabated), the performers
all came forward and sung thy national air of " God
save the King," in which M IPS STEPHENS, Mil..
HALLANDE, Miss Fool's, and Mr. DURUSET, took
prominent part.. The whole audience joined, and
at the end of every verse, the cry of " God save
the Queen !" resounded like a peal of thunder
through the walls of the Theatre. The entertain-
ment of the eveuing was SHAIIISPEARE's play of
The Tempest, which has beers lately altered and
adapted for representation. The new music has
been judiciously selected by Minor from the coal-
positions of H•YDN, MOZAIT, Bit•HAM, and
many other eminent composers. The scenery is
magnificent to the highest degree.
Mr. MACRNADT gave to the character of Pros-
pero its full effect. Miss HALLANDE in Miranda.
and Miss Stiotaxos us Doriada, gave univer-
sal delight. lu the Echo song, particularly, they
charmed every ear by the melody of their tour'.
At the conclusion of the play, the cries of " God
save tie Queen !" were repeated, and the national an-
them was again sung. The swine enthusiasm and
harmony prevailed during its repetition as at the
commencement, +Ma was only interrupted by the
discordant hiss's of a " few lover*.of order," who
made their way into the pit at half-price. Her
MAJESTY then bowed most courteously to the
audience. and retired amidst the warmest acclama-
tions. The house was crowded to excess. Several
persons of distinction graced the fashisniable circle.

Saturday night the Princess AUGUSTA, attended
by the Counter► Dowager of CARDIO• N. the Conn-
tea Dowager of HsacoutT, and General CART-
WRIGHT, honoored Cot ea-garden theatre with
her presence. Her Kuysl Highness sat in the
King's private box. _ _

The late aquatic excursion of the Princess
AUGUSTA to Woolwich, was for the purpose of iii-
speciing the yacht which is preparing to convey her
Royal Highness to Germany, Etc. to visit her Royal
relative*.

Hyde Park yesterday was crowded with equi-
pages of s brilliant description, many of which had
the appearance of being newly launched. The
visitors had frequent opportunities fur quiet conver-
sation, the carriages being often at a stand fur some
minutes. Thu equestrians also mustered in great
force.

Lady C----, the daughter of an E 4 0, how
eloped, within these few drys, with sii Officer of
the Goards.—(o6server.)

The premiums obtained for a preference of
boxes, during a part of the engsgemint of Mr.
KEAN, amounted to upwards of 3,000 dollars, the
whole of which has been devoted to charitable
user. Jr.\ KEAN, it is said, has gained 3,000 dol-
lars by his visit to this metropolis. Among other
instances of popular enthusiasm, us regards the
personal attraction of this distinguished stranger.
',we have to notice, that on his depsrture from town
a considerable body of people assembled neur his
lodgings, and when lie entered the carriage which
was to take him on his journey gave three loud
huzzas,' in token of their respect for his professional