The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-10-06 00:00:00

E.VGLISII OPER.I.

This house closed. its short and merry 'man last night
with the performance, for the thirty-third time, of
Peonliser, a musical olio, anti Thg Par Thick. It is thew
a piece of supererogation to talk of the laudable exertions
.of Mr. Arnold in catering for the amusement of theliu!,
lie, so well established is his reputation in that respect;
and we are glad too to learn, that the public '
are no lir,
alive to Ms interests than he is to their pleasures. T'.'s
as it should be ; talent will never fail to be appreciate,: by
an English audience, and all that is required on they
of the managers, is teaser:titillating vigilance in seeking
'out, and a spirit of coofde it reliance in bringing it ter.
ward.. The retrospect of the season just tertninatel
fully substantiates the orrectiesa of this remark, and
equally proves that such a curse tenth to the tu-
tus' advantage of all parties. More than one own,
it seams, is in preparation for the next xenon, which
the proprietor b: Heves will be found equally Worthy
of the approbation which those of Tarrere and her
Freischutz have received in the past. IVe hope se
but we cannot help expressing one wish, and that is,
the music German, Ita'ian, cr of our own native Roil,
we do hope that it will let alone those supernatural
agencies, whether gnomes, or sprites, or devils themselvee,
that have been somewhat too familiarly introduced to us
of late. The true poetry of music does not require such
auxiliaries to gain an audience to the inmost chamber of
our imaginations, or to cause a single additional vihratim
on our h arts. As well might Byron himself, after pee of
hi; tine poetical abstractions, in which the spirit is Intl
bate, and the most secret and hidden things of the soil
are drawn out before you, refer von, by way of note in tie
margin, to an engraved outline, as an illustration of his
meaning. Genius does not stand in need of 'these adventi-
tious aids ; and the diableries of the German school are ben
so many tricks played upon the understanding and the judg-
ment, with a view to create a feverish and morbid exclusion
for sounds which are neither true to the divine spirit of har-
mony, nor responsive to the healthy pulse of a natural and
unsophisticated taste. The different characters of last ever,
ing were sustained 'with their usual degree of merit, Mist
Kelly, of course, always first in our minds and on our lips.
Were all performers ro resemble this lady, alas! for the
critics—our occupation would be entirely gone ; for some
half dozen words expressive of excellence,—adniration,—
delight,—most natural,—beyond praise,—would serve as a
standing article for all occasions, merely altering the
name* and dates. Such perfection would be a consum-
mation most devoutly to be—deprecated. At the end of
the opera Mr. Bartley came fot ward and delivered she fol.
lowing farewell address:—
Ladies and Gentlemen,—According to annual maws Tamar
before you. as the performances of this evening terminate oar short
summer season. I hare to express our sense of gratitistle for the
very liberal patronage whitM the English Opera.houre has received.
The various exertions which have beer Made to merit your favour—
the engagement of all the first rule talent within the reach of tie
propnettm—the great expense inctuited by the production of the ope.
ra of Tenure, and ether novelties, have been, 1 sin happy tone,
fully repaid by the liberality of the public, which enables the pro•
prietor to promise that the preparations for their amusement next
season shall be marked by increased energy. The proprietor trust,
that In the production of --tiakieres grand opera of Tarrare, he his
sustairod that high musical reputation of the theatree, which it cc.
quired by the first introduction to the public of the celebrated Der
Freisrlititz, and he begs to state that he has already in preparation
for the next season more than one opera, which he *lnheres sill be
found equally worthy of your approbation. Permit me, Wier an 4
Gentlemen, to Aim you the sincere thanks of the ',torr ent. ar..!,
in my own tame, and that of all the performers, to b 4 you respect.
fully farewell.

The musical olio gave us another opportunity of listening
to the soft and soothing tones of firbsdhurst, whose chaste
and natnral style canna be (*ailed:throughout the whcle
range of public singers. Miss Noel sang " Tyrant, soon
I'll burst thy chains" wish a power that we were not pre•
pared to expect: and Miss Coward, a most interesting
little creature, sang " Should he upbraid" so charmingly
that, despite her trembling (for she shook like an aspen
leaf), the house encored her, and she gave it again with
recovered self-possession that justified the plaudits she
rt rived.
The radlork followed ; and although somewhat tedious,
yet the good-natured audience kept their seats to the lit:•
The House was an overflew/.