Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-10-13 00:00:00

AMUSEMENTS.

THE NATIONAL ENGLI9II OPERA. AT THE THEATRE
It mr..—The National English Opera Company made
their first appearance before a Liverpool audience at the
Theatre Royal, last night. We understand that they form
a corneae), on the principle of limited liability. Whether
this limited liebilty extends to criticism, and how it is to
be aptlied in the present instate), we do not hear; but it
has always been our principle to limit the liability to each
individual for his defects reed merit 3, and we
tru it that wll be satiefactory t, the present company
and the public. The popularity of " Il Travetore" must be-
the excuse for the preseatatioe of that opera in an English
dress, so EOM af er the splendid performances in Italian
by the great opera companies. The National Opera
C ompeny, in spite of their "limit," will be liable to un-
favourable comparison with their predecessors, whose sweet
sounds have scarcely ceased to reverberate in the ears of
Uvarpool audiences. Lucy Escott, who scorns the
Miss" or " Mrs.," will b 3 contreseei and compared with
Madame Bosio, whom she emulates, and (to no obj 3c-ion-
able degree) imitates, and to Ma Ills Spezha Mes I Lanza
will be thought m ire like Madame Pottle thin like
Madame Nantier Didiee. Mr. Henry Squires has more of
the force of Nevi Baraldi than the finish of ; and
Mr. Charles Darand will be thoug'it to have mere of •
coarseness of Bsneventano than the rieaness of tone of
Graziani. Mr. Aynsley Cook; who played Ferran 10,
began the mere with a brusqueness and roughness which
was shared by all the singers daring the first act. They-
warmed to their work, and greatly improved as the
business went on. They have plenty of power. but
lacked refinement, part of which may, no doubt,
be attributed to the E glish words, which refuse
to be as sweetly and chareeeristicslly blended with
the music as the original Italian Maritants" will,
probably go much better to night. Mr. J. H. Tully con-
ducted with great stea liness and propriety, but some of
the choruses in unison with the accompaniment, as is too
frequ(ntly the casein Verdi's music, could not be made to
fit. I! Veen was eneo-ed —so was the love song in the
third act, and the Miserere in the four h There was a..
very fair eV:alliance, especially when we consider the
counter-a•tractions of a cew piece infrodaced by Mr. and
hire Barney William, at the Royal Amphitheatre, and
Vie opening of Hengle2. circus, of which we fear, in the
pre eat state of public taste the cnmtcalities and grotes- .
queries, together with the English love of horse flesh and
tours de force, will operate against the more intellectual
and refined gratification afforded by the performance of
Engli. h operas.
IfeNeeeet3 CIRQUE, DALE STREET.—This splendid
Cirque was re-opened last evening, under favaureble
auspices. In point of dee ,rati one, and brilliancy of illu-
mination, the ample building has nothing tsat we know of
to cope with it. Daring the recess, many alterations have
been made, and dee orations the most elaborate, beautiful
and finished have bsen added to all parts of the building.
In the peculiar style of art adapted by the artist, Mr.
John Crawford, who has painted the ceiling with eques:
trian .subjects from the Heathen Mytholoey, there is
*vale thing to admire —the g-aceful harmony of the
figures seems to animate the whole scene, and in pic-
turesque beauty, all is stril‘ingly attracting. The house
heretofore was brilliantly lie, and when we say to those
who have witnessed it heretofore (and who has not?) that
in addition, no less than nine gorgeous chin fellers have
been hang about the Cirque, it will give an idea of the
beauty of the whole, and nearly realizes the poet's maxi
of the beauty that
hangs on the brow of night,
Iu 1.10 ions nrj try, making du'l heaven iigt-t.

The effect is dazzling yet. Oiling, and we may say,
out exaggeration, that the house is unrivalled in all
respects. Although necessarily noicing them beautiful
things first, we must not forgst that attention —and much
attention, too —has been pant to the comfort of the visitore,
Every sea', from the gallery to the stalte, has 'leen antd, did
proper approaches made to all ; sod, in a cemperative
point of view, the humb'ett visitor is as well sec mmelatecl,
for his money, as the person who pays the highest price.
We think this a great inp ovement, for humble people will
be amused, and Mr. Howler is deserving Of ohe.t.ks for the
neat and -c mafortable places provided for this class of
visitors. The stalls, boxes, promenade, &c., leek nothing
that taste could devise and money accomplsh. ladeed,
the expeaso gone to in producing this megeificent Cirque
must be considerable Having said s much of the limes.,
we yelll say a few words as to the perform Inca and per-
farmers. The list of ihe latter comprise t'.e first equestrian
nemes in the new and of i world. Had not M. 'Jingler
even added one to the troupe that gained such merited
popularity here last spring and summer, he might
have contented himself with the assurance that he
would please the public ; but he has not con-
tented himself even with these, for we find the names
of artiees celebrated on the Continent and America
amongst the perform its. As to the training of the fine
stud little need be said The hone comes next, if not,
indeed, E gnat to, the dog in sagacity ; and we may °Starve
that from the wonderful performance of Mr. Illengler's
stud, the n animal is ca,,able of receiving an amount
of instruction truly rnirtculouv, as shown in the present
instance On the fist night, we are oblged to content
ourselves with these general rem arks, without g ing into
detail, 44 we shall do in a day or so, but, in globs, we msy
remark that the pePfarmance of last night gave entire
satisfaction to a brilliant audience. There were none of
the drawbacks lucid el to an opening night Everything
was perfect. Individual and collec irs performers shall
claim our attention daring the week. The urbanity of .he
gentlemen who ofileisted about the exterior and interior
desetnne notice, and, with the whole staff, we think Mr.
angler may anticipate the patronage which his exertiens
and -he performance merits. Tne house last night was
er ewded beyond all precedent, every available spot was
fall The audience was most enthusiastic, and the
performance deserved the applause. As we hAva alfeady
stated, we are unable to particularize all, but
we cannot refrain from mentioning the wonderful
performances of Moms. Sebastian, little Edward, and Mr.
A. Bririgee, as the acme of perfec-ion in their art, and the
ternedes of apelause told how they were airninsi. Miss
Josephine is pesitively beautiful—her performance is worth
going any distance to look o". Mr. James Bridges' repro-
sentaione of Falstaff, Shyloek, and Richard 111, are
natural, and presents these celebreted characters before one in
excellent relief. There are a variety of o'her things that we
cannot revert to this day, bet we can say that such a
splendid troupe wee never before seen in Livereool. We
were glad to see our friend and welt public favourite
—Me. Francis —in his place last nigh-; this usual attention
was be,towed on all visitors, and he was warmly weeted
by a host of Mends.
TUEAT ROYA L, EDINBUR4FL The e,,te tamm3nts
during the pls: eck h are tatee gene aPy revivals pf good
stock pieces, which appear to have anti d. full satisfeclon
to an excellent atten !axe% On Tnurslay eat:mine, the
performances were tin ter the patronaec -'f .the termhers of
the Caledonian Mint CIA), vrtr. n a large and fashionable
andi-nce attendel, upon which occasion the proprietor,
Mr. Wy elh m, deliv dan id it' a; in mem try of Lhe late
Mr Alex n 'or wh far many years had been
leader of the ha •d of tee Tee ere il, iy ih and long amid
hoeou-ahly conecci .d with the =sive' proces;ioa of the
city of E ,inbureh. We la lieve Mr. William Howard has
been nppointei by 'Mr. Wynn im 'o succeed the late
talented leader, as chief ,f the erceest-a.

QUERN'S TOATtI.P, (OPRRA
Th- ,ep iirs a id re-rieco-Aions at this hOIIS3 are.now nearly
emi?leted. all we boli:lve that, early next mo,ith it is
like!y to re- 'pen on tin most magnificent scale of spleAour
and attraidi )n.