The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-18 00:00:00

EASTER AMUSEMENTS

DRURY,L,ANE,

Last night this time-honoured theatrewas re-opened for
operatic performances, -under the management of Mr. H.
Jarrett.. -,The arrangements appear to have beep glade on
a very extensive scale, ,and the object proposed is to give
the public' a first-class musical' entertattatent xt "
house pricet.° ' ' • , •
The " address,nprinted td the bills, dealt sore unde-
niable generalities respecting the want of a cheap opera,
and shows that although all, other branches of music may
now be enjoyed by the many at an economical cost, the
lyrical drama is alone kept up to a fancy Price—a price
that the wealthy only can contemplate with indifference—
placing it wholly beyond the means of the many who crave
to indulge in such 'amusements. The directors of the
Royal Opera, for such the new establishment is desig-
nated, propose Ato came much within 'this prohibitory
figure, and their tariff is that adopted by Mr.E. T. Smith,
and other reforming managers. Whether the costliness of
the admission to entertainments of this nature has not
hitherto been dependent on the costliness of the vocal
commodity, which is its element, is a question not, dis-
cussed in the " address." Fereign singing birds, those, we
mean, who can sing, are not to be caged for nothing, and
it is quite possible to fill your house without at the same
time filling your treasury. However, we may conclude
that the arithmptic of the matter has been gene into, and
that the arrangements of the present adventure have not
13, en made without due computation.
Our duty now is to say whether the opening exhibition
of the powers of this new company was commensurate
with the agreeable expectations created by the address.
That very important question we are happy in being en-
abled to decide at once in the affirmative.

The company, according to the present showing, is un-
doubtedly composed of many strong and serviceable, mate-
rials. Madame Caradori, the prima donna of last year,
resumes the same position this, and as she has proved her-
self to be an excellent dramatic actress—fast growing in
popularity, and well deserving of the fame she is steadily
and surely acquiring, we do not 16tow of any person better
qualified to discharge the functions of this important office.
Mdlle. Sedlazek, the daughter of the eminent flautist, who
has been singing abroad with honour, and who established
a favourable impression by her recent efforts at the second
of the New Philharmonic Concerts, is the seconda donna.
Then there is a Madame Rudesdorf, of whom we as yet
know nothing. Mdlle. Vestvali, the contralto, sang a few
nights ago at the Reunion des Arts, and those who heard
her pronounce a warm eulogium no less upon her per-
sonal beauty than upon her superiority as a vocalist.
The principal tenor is Signor Pavesi, from the Scala, who
made his debut last night ; and the basses not only in.
chide Formes, an unrivalled singer in his several walks
as we all know, but even, it is rumoured, Pischek.
Mr. Hamilton Braham is another of the engagements in
this department ; likewise a Signor Arnoldi, lately of the
Italian Opera of Paris. The same liberal enterprise which
has presided over this really excellent force as regards the
principals has also extended to the chorus, which numbers
fifty voices, with thirty in addition to arrive next week.
The orchestra has been selected with equal prudence, and
contains some fifty-eight instrumentalists of signal effi-
ciency, as we had ample proof last night. Herr Lindpainter
is the conductor. . _

If all these arrangements are permanent, there can be
little doubt of the substantive worth of the project. The
scheme is very comprehensive. The beat operas of the
Italian and German schools are to be given on alternate
nights, and we see that provision has been made to insure
just and satisfactory embodiments.
The opera which was performed last night was the Norma
of Bellini, and the interest that the announcement created
was evidenced in the crowds that attended. The audience
was a holiday one, and disposed evidently to enjoy itself.
The reception which it gave to tlaV singers was warm and
cordial, and Madame Caradori experienced an ovation
not unworthy of Grisi herself, and the performance of
this ' clever and intelligent singer more than justified
the prepossessions of the auditory. She sang the
music of the unfortunate Druidess admirably, and the
principal scenes with a fire and animation, a truth and
propriety of expression, which astonished while it de.
lighted. The entire performance was replete with every
excellence. Whether in portraying the calm tranquillity
of the priestess, the " fury, of the woman scorned," or the
heroic feeling which compassionates and forgives, Madame
Camden was uniformly good, and there was no mistake
as to the honesty of the applause. Her delivery of the
" Casta Diva was marked by many beauties. nothing
could exceed the pleasure of the listeners as the opera pro.
ceeded, and Madame Caradori was recalled again and again
in the nurse of the evening. The plaudits which were
bestowed upon her at the termination emanated, with
"one consent," from the entire .house. Mdlle. Sidlazek
rendered the music of Adelgisa very prettily, and with an
exactness and finish denoting her to be a praiseworthy and
eminently useful artiste, notwithstanding the childish sen-
timent that colours the vocal organ. Pavesi, who perso-

nated Pollio, sang with distressing falsity of intonation
throughout, indicating pretty plainly that he must be
speedily replaced by some one lens subject to this infirmity ;
but Arnoldi, though not quite free from the same defect,
came out sonorously in the music belonging to the pa-
triarch Oroveso. . _ .

.._ _
At the close of the opera the National Anthem was sung
by the general company.
The eutertainments concluded with a divertissement ;
but we must take some other opportunity of discussing the
merits of the nymphs who have been engaged by the ballet
master for this lively section of the, undertaking.