The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-03-04 00:00:00

0 RATONIIPS.

COVENT-OARDEN.
The selections fur the Oratorio of last night did
great credit to the taste of the conductor, Mr.
BISHOP. The first act gave a pretty full and ge-
neral sketch of Mozarf's immortal Opera of Don
Giovanni. It is difficult to determine which of the
vocal pieces is the most gratifying. %Ye select
each one for the best in turn, and abandon it to the
claims of the next iti succession. Never surely was
such variety of noble and fanciful composition in
one piece. Miss STEPHENS and ANGRISANI had
repeat the duet, " Gioviaette che fare all' a more"
twice, and the rmilierice seesurd listen-
ing at the close of the third time of singing it as of
the first. It lIRS a blithe pastoral effect, which forced
upon the feelings an impression like the bubbling
of summer brooks overhang with groves of warb-
ling birds. Misr TREE Sling " Haiti, bolsi, o bel
Mama," with neatness and beautiful simpli-
city ; the violoncello accompaniment being equally
well executed by a Mr. Citouca. It need
scarcely be remarked bow well Mr. BRANAK and
Miss STEPHENS sung the duet " La ci damn /a
mayo." The finale is the most impressive piece
upon the whole; and though the appearance of the
ghost is 111 circumstance to which the effect may be
in some degree ascribed, yet the invention of the
composer has risen above this extreme incidehr,
and calls up admiration at witnessing his triumph
liver the emotions of terror by the effect of
sounds. Fits music in delineating this inci-
dent cif the ghost's appearance, is almost oppres-
sive to our ituaginations, from the revelation %Inch
we seem to have of the spiritual world. A
Gloria in excel:is of HAYDN'S, never before per.
formed in the Oratorios, was introduced into the
second part. It displayed no particular beauties more
than belong habitually to the works of that master.
The last chorus, " Qaomaia is solar," is solemn
111.1 imposing. MOZAttr's second grand Motetto
concluded this part. It also is new to the Oratorio,
and is set to English words—it is equal to any of
the religious works of mown., and will, no
doubt, be frequently repeated. Selections from
Acis and Galatea filled nearly the whole of
the third part. It is ton welt known to neel
soy further remark, than that it was well
sung. Indeed the audience gave sufficient and
wearisome proof to the singers how much they were
gratified, for two-thirds, at least, of all the per.
fortuances were encored. This made the entertain-
ment la.( • little too long. The conclusion was a
Battle Sinfunia, coms einorativr. us the book in-
formed us, of the held of Waterloo, and composed
expressly for the Elector of BAVARIA. Now the
piece may be ‘VINTER'S, slid, on doubt, from the
rich and powerful style of it. WINTER did write
it ; he alight have wrote it also fur the Elec-
tor of BAVARIA ; but then he could not have
written it in commemoration of Waterloo. for
there was no Elector of BAVARIA, so titled, at
the battle of Waterloo; and, besides that, 11. t !ITER
must have been dead some years at the time of obit
fight. The Sinfunia is a very fair match fur BEET-
NOVEN'S. at Drury-lane Oratorio, and it would be
difficult to say which is best. We cannot help re-
marking how much Italian music, with Italian
words, begins to predominate in these entertain- j
mem% The rivalry of miroducirig MOZART'S best
pieces, which is so manifest this season, might (to
well euowgh ; the style and execution of English
music must profit by it. The difficulties of such
music as that in Doa Gimentei, are provocatives
for the artist's ambition, mod the national taste
will be advanced propurti 0000 tritely with every new
acquisition of taste and judgment he may attain to.
But really in an English assembly there should be
a sufficiency of entertainment in the language of
the people addressed. How much the English
dart from the Scotch in this respect ! An Oratorio
is now nu the greater part, cominpsed of fregineuts
of the 1,41131 i opera. If there is not English music
enotigo to till sip a short series or these entertain-
ments, the poetry of the Indian pieces ought at
least to be translated, as it is not likely that any
very great portion of the audience are able tine-
roughly to enjoy them in the original. 11'e say
nothing of the defective t ciao of a foreign
language, when sung by British moire*, Her of the
diminished effect which it insist impart to these
performances with the few who are obit., fins edu-
cation or habit, to enter lieu the concrini 0000 s of
foreign poets and musicians, with the awe free-
dom as their own.

COBURG TX CATit.

Last night the patrons of this elegant little
theatre were entertained with the novel performance
at this establi.liment of an oratorio. Whilst the
large theatres are, according to elision). perform-
ing sacred music ou a grand scale at this sea-
lion of the year, it must not be expected that the
smaller ones, whatever be their laudable desire,
can have s very wide sphere allowed them lar the
selection of vocal talent among the professional
gentlemen of the metropolis. Active of the
difficulties tinder which they mat necessarily
labour in this respect, we were not prepared for
so excellent a combination of musical talent as
the Proprietors of the Coburg theatre were rot-
tutiate enough to secure for the gratification of the
public at their opening oratorio last night. The
arrangements were altogether moat creditable, and
the professional skill displayed on the occasion enti-
tled the performers to the warm commendations
which were literally bestowed nisei' them. The
stage was fitted up to represent the interior of a
cathedral, an organ formed the centre of the back
ground, and the musicians were arranged on rests
which rose in regular succession over each other
tip on the stage. The principal vocal performers
took their station in front. At g them were,
Signora Costal. Miss GEORGE. Miss R. CORRI,
Miss Loire; Signor ASIBROGETTI. Mr. PEAR-
NA N. and Master HYDE, assisted by Mr YARD-
GLEY and Mr. Fltestax. Madame Garin: wsa
burnout:n.(l in the bills, but Mr. T. l'. Cooke
i 444 'mated from the stage that though this Lady
Lad arrived at the theatre she was yet unable to
perform the part assigned her, in consequence of a
letter which he held in his ham), sod which he said
came from Mr. WATERS of the King's Theatre,
threatening her with a filifeiture of her eugageaseut
if she appeared at the Coburg Theatre.
The opening set of the per/onetime was HAN.
DWI greed overture of The Messiah. The re.
rosining arrangements of the first set were—,
itedi. I. alert! r, wy Peri*" Air, " Leery I alley,"

Peenem—.Cholits." The Glory of the Lord."—Airk,
" Piaeere." Mies Coati—Air, "Arai, aria, yea
Dense," Mr. Vaitomew---Chartia. u ;recast. we ertaw.“--.:
Air. " Nal Pia Awdral.“ !Motor Arattoorrrt—Air,':,
" Bright Sepraphirss." blamer HYDE, accompanied on lb*
Tetans., by Mr. Hwua--Chorua, " Lot the Celestial
Concerto."
the second and.third acts some floe airs and
duets were performed by Signora CORD! mad Ax..
saocar ri. 14111 • loyal effusion, by • young Lady
(her first isppearauce) ; her voice is clearand distinct;
she pos.ri.e. a good deal of taste and considerable
musical skill, and we have no doubt will prove all
tiro, to this theatre as soon as she has required
mere confidence in her own powers, and becomes
more accustomed to • public theatre. Master
lIYDE was warmly applauded for bi• sweet tones
and skilful execution. We cantata speak ton highly
of the vocal powers of the Signora CORRI'S wool
BROGETTI, who were repeatedly encored.—
PEARDIAN sung with great taste. The Bottle (1
Prague was holey performed by the whole or-
theatre, the arrangement. of white!) wrre aditurahly
conducted by Mr. G. %WARE, the leader of the
band.
The Theatre was ernwderl, and the profits of the
next Oratorio, no Friday night. were atinntinced to
be •pplard, under the patroosge of an illostriou.
Perwilage, for the hem-fit of the widow or the un-
fortunate SNIITH•its, and the other officers who
suffered. sod were engaged no • late urelauclauly
OCCIDIUII, to the discharge of their duty.