The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-06 00:00:00

SIGNOR PISTRUCCI'S IMPROVISAZIONE.

iVhoever hes heard an accomplished improviaator—at.ove
all, whoever has heard Signor Pistjucci, must confess that
those extemporaneous efforts exhibit a degree of melee'
rapidity and vigour, which, if the natural growth of th's
climate, would he de( med miraculous. The inhabitants of
the South of Europe who possess this talent, are, we are
convinced, very much our superiors in natural force of
mind, and are inferior to us only, because, feeling more
acutely the pleasure of existence, and sacrificing more
readily their future welfare to the enjoyments of the me.
meat, they are liable to be supine in the defence of abstract
rights, and thus become the victims of tyranny • but the
power of improvisation, which is almost confined to those
conteries, is a sufficient proof of their mental eminence.
Signor Pistrueci's efforts last night were eminency see.
cesonl. Tne first theme proposed was " ltoma antiea e
seeder na :" the pot t, however, insinuating his attachment
to England, excused himself, in half a dozen very happy
stanzas, from pursuing a subject so replete with bitter re-
flections. The next subject cffered was " MutiusScevola
in presence of Porsenna. lie also repeated some twenty
stanzas on the theme of Napoleon and Alexander the Great
in the Elysian Fields ; and exhibited his dexterity in the
management of Blutes rim,ts, nit la fitrza degli Occ4i.
trucci's delivery is emphatic and unbroken, his action very
energetic, but yet, without the sir of extravagance, without
any appearance of lashing himself into a poetic rage, he
evidently rather courts than represses the tide of nth-
siasru ; he scents like the inspired prophets of the ancients,
Alajosepe videra
Net mortate tonal,
quan do ei Irons ("arena Apollo,
Concutit et stimulos sub pectute voiett.
He is most successful in the graceful and comic turns of
his verses, and appears to rely more on the activity of his
mind than on the richness of his imagination. Presieuete
the improvisation, Signor I'istrucci made a very great and
a very aucceeeful exertion; he played the part of Brutus
in Alfierrirtragerly, Bruto Printo. This piece is leas cal-
culated to convey a just idea of its authors genius, than
of his character and his hatred of tyranny: the beet
thing about it ie its dedication to General Washington,
which is indeed an admirable moreeau. The tragedy is
throughout a piece of stern declamation; the few touches
of pathos; with which it is interspersed comes rather from
the understanding than from the heart, but the word " lis
betty" evermore kindled the author's genius, which poured
itself in declamation, it is true, but then it is the declama-
tion of a burning spirit. Signor Piatrucci, who played the
put of Brutus, acted with great force and simplicity.—
fhe other characters were respectably supported, and the
whole representation seemed to give great pleasure to a
fashionable audience. After the fall of the curtain Pistrueei
was obliged to come forward to receivc• a fresh tribute of
acclamation. After the great effors which the part of
Blitto required, we feared that Signor Pistrucci might
proceed to the task of improvisation under the disadvan-
tages of exhaustion, but we were rejoiced to see him re-ap-
pear with an air of freshness and hilarity. The physical
and mental powers appear equally vigorous in this hishlys
gifted individual.