The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-20 00:00:00

THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,

Wachtel as Arnoldo in " Guglielmo Tell.'
Rossini's grand four-act opera of " Guglielmo
Tell"—produced (as already notified in The Sun)
for the first time this season at the Royal Italian
on Saturday—was repeated with magnificent effect
last evening to a brilliant and most appreciative
audience. Whenever this noble composition is pro-
duced at any one of the great lyrical establishments
of Europe, its performance, quite as a matter of
course, takes rank among the "events" of the year.
It is not simply that " Guglielmo Tell" has the re-
putation of being the great maestro's masterpiece,
it enjoys the fair fame of being—in its character as
such, as Rossini's masterpiece—one of the moat
superb product'ons ever ecetributed by operatic
composer to the treasures of the lyric il drama. The
pathetic beauty of the " aiZZI Ladra," the tragic
power of the same gifted (in some respects incom-
p -rable) master's " Oteilo," the sparkling, tient, one
might almost any, (Fizzling comicality of the " Bar-
biere di Siviglia," great though they are and
widely though they are appreciated yield
the palm to the rarer combination of con-
trasting yet harmonious merits, constituting the pe-
culiar and exceptional charm, fascination, witchery,
even, may we not call it P of Rossini's latest,
of Rossini's greateet opera " Guglielmo Tell." It is
not—let us say this at once, howev( r, now that we
are referring thus pointedly to the especial and dis-
tinctive claims of " Guglielmo Tell" upon our admire-
' tion—it is not that this Grand Opera can be said to
abound in those most exquisite crowning gifts to us
all from the hand of any great musical composer—
golden largess (squandered around by some of them
so affluently !) that we treasure up thenceforth, so to
speak, as so many precious amulets—those Haunting
Melodies, we mean, that ere the Glories of Song, me•
lodies that once heard are never forgotten, each of
them complete in originality, each, so to express it,
"one entire and perfect chrysolite." It is not, we say,
that Rossini's " Guglielmo Tell" commands our ad-
miration as an operatic masterpiece " set" with
these the rarest of all the gems of song. For—apart
from that lovely choral jubilation of the Swiss pea-
santry, familiarly known in this country as coupled,
in our English vernacular, with the words " Green
hills of Tyrol," a warbling, exhilarant, hilarious
melody, that seems to breathe of the mountain air
of those lands of freedom (it matters little whether
it refers to the Tyrol or to Seitzeriand)—apart
from this one world-famous choral melody, and
from I the delicious dance music lavished in
prodigal vat iety upon the great scene of the Opera,
the market scene, that is, in the third act, im-
mediately before the apple is shot from the head of
Tell's boy by the arrow of that Hero-Marksman--
there are in Rossini's operatic masterpiece but very
few, if indeed, for that matter, there be any ot her, even
momentary snatches of those peculiar and Haunting
Melodies we are here speaking of, those melodies
that, once heard, cling lovingly thenceforth to our
most grateful remembrance. It is in the weaving
together of the harmonious witcheries, or wiz irdies,
it should rather be seii, of his marvellous gifts as
the great maestro among Operatic Composers that
Rossini, has, in this glorious work of art, revealed
powers attesting his full right to precedence, to
pre-emintnce, to supremacy above them all. From
the first ascending notes of the violincellos, with
which the wonderful Overture opens, throughout the
whole of the four acts of the Opera itself, to the final
chorus of the emancipated peasantry, the exultant
chorus chaunted as the curtain falls at the close of
this patriotic drama—
I boschi, i monti, e la citta
A!zin tonante un grido solo
Pe' deli 6 to spiegasti it vole :
Vitoria a libert :
the score of Guglielmo Tell proclaims by every note
and bar woven into that marvellous maze of sound
Rossini's absolute mastership as a :musician. The
concerted pieces are perfect studies, indeed, as so
many veritable feats_of art in musical composi-
tion. There is one passage occurring—like a
distinct episode, as one may say—in the great
Overture, that has a wondrous beauty of its own,
typifying, as it almost seems to us, precisely this ,
paramount and distinctive merit of the whole
Opera, as a very labyrinth of intricate and
dexterous harmonies. It is a passage—this—in
which, by astonishing involutions and inter-
minglings of moat delicate sounds, the violins,
the hautboys, the triangles, and the horns
not only " weave the warp and weave the
woof" but, together, make up, as:tit were, a very
embroidery of harmonies. Al;osether, surely—
(not the overture alone, but the whole of this grand
opera)—a wondrous composition! The Urea() of
it—even with the exquisite historical incident it un.
dertakea to illustrate—like the run of these unhappy
librettos—is, if the truth must be spoken, very much
indeed, of a failure. The love story about Arnold and
Matilda, intertwined, most mistakenly (as we for
one must ever think), with the patriotic historical
tale about Tell and Tessler—is with the very feeblest
imaginable interest, as a love story. There is but
one effective situation, in truth, in the whole Opera,
meaning, of course, the Shooting of the Apple, if,
we here except only that one of the Gathering
e
of the Cantons at the end of the second act,
an incident, h ppilv, suggesting to
spirit-stirrieg crescendo leads, at last,
Rossini that
inimitable finale, in the working oat of which the
with a start-
ling aplomb to that sudden rush down to the foot-
lights of all the choruses, sword in hand ! Their
rush down to the foottights to the single (and
sTgnal) cry, All; armi !—uttered, just once,
to the crash of the whole orchestra, as the
curtain descends !
The cast of the opera yesterday
at the Royal Italian was identically the same, of
course, as the one which attracted EO large an audi-
ence to Covent Garden on Saturday night, the
night of the first performance of it this season
in that great lyrical establishment. And the
impression then produced by the principal
artistes to whom the chief characters hid been
allotted, was, let us say it briefly
and at once, to
the full confirmed. Signor Wathtel, who took the
town by storm only the other day with his Man-
rico, has now, by
his impersonation of Arnoldo,
securely and (so long at least as his rare powers
shall in the mere course of nature last) permanently
established b is reputation. Marvellous though that
wonderful high cheat note of his, the C above the
line, the ut de poitrine, the C di Peach un question-
ably is in the silvery and resonant fullness of its
vibration—it is not simply by any such "cape
d'opera" that he extorts that nightly crash of
white kids and those choral shouts of
bravo, bravissime. As appertaining to a
into admiration. Besides which,
noble and lovely voice
1
prime tenore the whole ample compass of his,
charms his delighted audience
his management
and so vastly of that voice of his, has so clearly
im-
proved, it has so advanced, expanded,
and risen since
the date of his appearance originally at the Royal
Italian, for every brief interval only, a couple of years
ago, that we have full confidence in his future as a
young Chief of Song, who
will not rest satisfied
merely with the high position he has already
sedulously continue
at-
tained but will, on the contrary
his efforts as hitherte, (let him exult, if he will, to
remember, up to this hour, his triumphant
efforts), still farther to rise and to advance in the
general development of his powers as an Artist.
While he is yet in the golden and hal-
cyon outset of his career in his art—as
one of the recognised exponents of which he
faction and the encouragement, though he should
responsibility', of having
already occupies the foremost reek—he has the satia-
also bear in mind, too, the
o completely
it wonh a
hi mastery over his audience, that
they g
thersoever he lists,
se“wwyhi .
whithersoever ho chooses to lead ,them, with that
magical voice of his; and they (his audience) not
but they go with
Schmid's majestic
im,
organ as a veritable basso p
libye id
. it
Kerr Schmid's
profondo, an ene
mistakeable successor at last to the great Lablache,
onlyhim geontwhiutshiashtt
produced as favourable an impression upon his
Covent Garden hearers in Walter as that grand voice
had done already a few evenings previously in ()re-
vise. Madame Rudersdorff's Jemmy was, we would
say, here, distinctly, as thrilling in its passion, as it
was charming in its tenderness. Itldlle. Marie Battu's
Mathilde secured to her several brilliant triumphs
during the evening. With a little more out-singing,
and a trifle more animation in his toting, Signor
Qraziani would leave us nothing to desire in the

impersonator of the Patriot-Hero Tell. The mise-
en•scene throughout the opera is all that we have
been so long accustomed to at the Royal I alian—
the moonlit-lake scene being, in particular, singu-
larly beautiful. Orchestra and Chorus were still,
as usual, loyally obedient to the potent wani of
Mr. Costa. And, although the rival house had (in
its turn) the peculiar attraction of Garibaldi's pre•
fence, the immense area of Covent Garden last
evening was, thanks to Rossini and Wachtel, very
fully occupied.

Garibaldi's Visit to Her Majesty's Theatre.

'The performances last evening, consisting of
" Lucrczia Borgia" and a ballet divertissement, were
honoured by the presence of General Garibaldi,
who, with a large party, occupied a box in the
centre of the house. The general looked very tired,
and sat beck in his box as if rather anxious to
avoid demonstrative scenes. The whole affair, in-
deed, was much more quiet than might perhaps
have been expected, and until the end of " Lucrezia
Borgia," when Signor Arditi's "La Garabaldina"
was sung and repeated, there was really no very
great display of enthusiasm. It should be remem-
bered, however, that the major part of the audience
must have been aware of General Garibakli's
fatigue, owing to the extraordinary amount of ex-
citement he has recently undergone in England,
which is the true and only cause of his taking leave
of us so soon.

The national Italian hymn was sung before the
opera; between the acts was given Signor Arditi's
" Madre Italia ;" and at the conclusion of " Lucre-
Zia" (as we have airectly stated) the same com-
poser's " Garibaldina" was sung. The performance
on this occasion was rendered further remarkable
by the rentree of Madlle. Titiens and M. Gassier,
who sustained respectively the characters of
Lucrtzia and Duke Alfonso ; and the first appear-
ance as Orsini of the new and admirable contralto
Madlle. Bettelheim,

Mr. and Mrs. Seely accompanied General Gari-
baldi, with whom were also General Mordini, Col,
Missori, Col. Chiosso, Col. Peard (Garibaldi's
" Englishman"), Lieut.-Col. Chambers, Menotti
Garibaldi, Iticetotti Garibaldi, Dr. Basiiio, and
Mr. Negretti.
Amongst the company present were—
The Duke and .Duchess of Montrose, the Duchess
(Dowager) of Sutherland, the Duke and Duchess of
Sutherland, the Duke and Duchess of Wellington,
the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, the Du: hers
of Manchester) the Marquis and Marchioness of
Salisbury, the Earl of Dudley, the Marquis and
Marchioness of ClanricardP, the Marchioness of
Downshire, the Marquis of Blandford, the Marchio-
ness of Ely, the Marquis of Blandford, the Marchio-
ness of Ely, the Marquis of Sligo and the Ladies
Browne, the Countess of Macclesfield, the Earl and
Countess de Grey, the Earl of Lonsd ale, the Earl
and Countess of Hardwicke, the Earl of Carlisle,
the Earl and Countess of Gainsborough, the Earl of
Aylesford, the Earl and Countess of Malmesbury,
the Countess of Sefton and Lady Cecilia Molyneux,
the Viscount Curzon, the Viscountess Gort, Lady
H. Vane, Lady Mary Curzon, Lord Ernest Bruce,
Lord Otho Fnzgerald, Lord G. Fitzgerald, Lord
Sandys, &a.

Prussian Circular Despatch,

- - -

The following despatch forwarded by Herr von
Bismark to the King of Prussia's diplomatic agents
abroad has been received at Mr. Reuter's office :
" Berlin, April 15.

" Sir,-0a the 15:h March last the Danish Go-
vernment addressed to its diplomatic agents abroad
a despatch, which is nothing but a long indictment
of the civil commissioners of Prussia and Austria
in the Duchy of Schleswig. Although th's docu-
ment only came to the knowledge of the King's
Government through the journals and communica-
tions of its representatives abroad, we have not
considered that we could allow to pass unanswered
the imputations which it contains, and which were
of a character to place in the most unfavourable
light the policy of which the commissioners are at
this moment the agents.

" A great number of thess accusations in fact re-
fute themselves, for whoever has not lost sight of
the end which we pursue in the Duchy, and has
taken the trouble to compare the measures censored
by the Danish Government with the just preten-
sions whose realisations the present war is destined
to obtain. Nevertheless, we only considered our-
selves bound to speak in our defence when
acquainted with the facts of the ease, and after
having taken positive information upon the
grievances mentioned in the Danish despatch. The
result of this information is recorded in the memo-
randum of which I have the honour to transmit to
you a copy.

" It results from this memorandum that part of
the grievances specified by the Danish GovernMent
dre devoid of all foundation, and rest upon nothing
but pure invention, or at least upon entirely incor-
rect information.

" As to those which refer to the measures really
taken by our commissioners, they are a fresh proof
of the strange pretension of the Danish Govern-
ment, which appears to believe that the occupation
of Schleswig by the allied Powers had no other end
than to continue the system of oppression which it
had too long made preva!eat in the Duchy. In all
the districts which had been submitted to this op-
pression the allied troops were hailed with en-
thusiasm by the population, and the commissioners
had no other task than to put an end to the abuses
to which the country w.ts a prey, and to restore to
it the rights whose re-establishment has been the
sole end of the occupation. It is evident that in
order to accomplish this task they could not employ
those who had hitherto been the instrument of
this system of oppression, and who had no other
mission than to stifle by every possible means the na-
tional sentiment and the attachment to law in the
hea-t of the German populations. The school and
the Church were especially in the hands of men
partly strangers to the Duchy, wanting in the
qualities required by law and by the duties of their
trust, and having no other title to the functions
confided to them than their blind devotion to the
policy of the Cabinet of Copenhagen.
" A good part of the pretended enormities with
which the allied Powers are upbraided find a very
natural explanation in the state of war which at
present weighs upon the round y, and imposes upon
our generals the imperious obligation of looking
before everything to the security of their troops.
Among the measures of this kind may be princi-
pally mentioned the arrest of spies, which no army
in the field has hitherto been obliged to tolerate in
its neighbourhood.
"The political and administrative measures of
which the Danish Government complains, and
which it has taken pains to distort and represent in
a false light, have only had the effect of redressing
the wrongs of the unjust and vexatious system
which, during 12 years has oppressed the German
population. It is natural that, in order to put an
end to the oppression, it has been necessary to re-
move its agents, at least those among them con-
spicuous by their fanaticism.
" A conscientious judgement of the conduct of our
civil and military authorities in Schleswig must
convince every impartial man that they have acted
with all the consideration which the exceptional
condition of the country allowed them.

"I invite you, M--, to read this despatch to
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and to leave with
him a copy of the same, and of its appendix.

(Signed)

" VON BISMARR"

ROSSINI having given a grand soiree very re-
cently at ratio, it has been sardonically remarked that
while there were a dozen morceaztx of music iu the pro-
gramme, out of these only 12 were by Rossini.

M. GUIZOT is correcting the proofs of his r3ply
to Renan, to be called "Meditations Religicuses."
FIRE LAST NIGIIT.—Lest night, between nine
and ten o'clock a fire broke out in the London and Man-
chester paper 'hanging establishment, 94, St. Martin's•lane.
The fire raged with great fury for some time, and entirely
gutted the premises. By the exertions of the firemen and
a good supply of water the fire was got under in a short
time, and confined to the building in which it originated.
NARROW ESCAPE OP GEN. BUCKLEY.—Gen.
Buckley, M.P., had a miraculous escape on Saturday.
While proceeding in his barouche to the Crystal Palace ono
of the horses took fright, when both ran away and the car-
riage was overturned and smashed, but the gallant general
was not materially hurt, though bruised, The footman's
shoulder was injured.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

GARIBALDI AND THE FRENCH
EMPEROR.
PARIS, APRIL 20 (Morning).

The Moniteur of to day says :

" The Morning Star and the Daily News assert
that .E 11.1 Clarendon, in the name of the British
Government, promised, es a concession to the Em-
peror, that Garibaldi should shorten his stay in
England. This statement is entirely incorrect.
No observation was made to Earl Clarendon by the
French Government on the subject of Garibaldi."
The Constitutionnel, on the subject of the Con-
ference7says "
France intends to maintain the treaty of 1852,
but, should the Conference find that that Conven-
tion no longer harmonises with the present state of
affairs, and wish to replace them by a fresh combi-
nation, the French Government, in conformity with
its principles, would not consider itself entitled to
dispose of the population of the Duchies before they
had been consulted."

The same paper refutes the statements of certain
foreign journals in which the mode of voting in the
Duchies was announced as decided—viz., by uni-
versal suffrage—and adds: " France is aware that
in such ques ions the usages of a country should
serve as a guide."

SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 20.

The Germania has come into dock. Her cargo
will be transhipped into a vessel chartered for
Hamburg under the English flag.
The Germania will not proceed for Hamburg, but
will remain here and trail hence for New York
direct on the 4th May.

SANTO DOMINGO,
MADRID, APRIL 19.

Advices from Santo Domingo state that the town
of Palama and the insurgent garrison, together with
the stores of provisions and ammunition, had fallen
into the hands of the Spaniards.
The Government is now preparing for a decisive
campaign in autumn.

ROME.

ROME, ArziL 20.

The Emperor and Empress of Mexico had an
audience of the Pope yesterday. They have
visited the Basilica of the Vatican, the ex-King of
Naples, the Neapolitan royal family, and Cardinal
Autonelli.

Yesterday evening their Majesties gave a dinner
party, followed by a reception which was attended
by the cardinals, the Pontifical ministers, the
diplomatic corps and the Roman nobility.