The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-25 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Le Prophete, the last, and, we believe, the as yet
greatest work of Meyerbeer, was produced here a.it
evening, with all that splendour and that completen,aof
both as regards scenic decoration and musical execution,
of which such a work as this is pre-eminently worabh
and without which it would be impossible to do jusaice
to it. We say that the Prophete is the greatest work: of
Meyerbeer, and we say it advisedly, for altho agil
it is impossible to thoroughly appreciate a
great work like the Prophetie at first, or
even at the second or third hearing—althotngls
there are many passages which at present:.
appear obscure, but which on a future hearing will be
cleared up; yet we are inclined to believe it to be
a greater work than even the Huguenots, even from wl rat
we could collect from one hearing of it only. Meyer-
beer has in this instance, as in the instance of the Hugue-
nots, been fortunate in securing Scribe as his libretsist,
and, us in the instance of the Huguenots, also, he has
chosen an episode in the history of the Refor-
mation as the subject of his drama, and
has thus brought it within the limits of that
middle musical territory between the sacred and the
secular, in which he reigns supreme.
" Within that circle none dare walk but he."
The Prophet is the celebrated John of Leyden, the chief
of the Anabaptists, the associate of Knipperdolling, the
earliest of the Apostles, if not the originator of com-
munism, who kept all Germany in a flame, and at last
was only conquered after he had stood a serge of 12
months in the city of Monster. .The scene of the first
act is laid in the champaign country, in the neighbourhood
of DerireAlt in Holland, and the opera opens with a de-
lightful chorus, "Le bre zzA o tranquilla," sung by
peasants leaving their work and preparing for
their meal. They are joined by Berta (Miss Catherine
Hayes), tlle betrothed of John, and by Fides (Madame
Viardot Garcia), his mother. Suddenly a psalm t ane
is heard, and Zaccaria (Marini), Giona (Polonini), and
Mathisen ('lei), the three Anabaptist leaders, app ear,
chanting an exhortation to all to join them, and de-
nouncing the great ones of the earth. These thsee
leaders are, as it were, the fate of John of Leyden;
they are his Bertram, and Berta is his Alice. 'lt"
peasants listen to their exhortations, and 11. t
length seize various agricultural implements 'sal
declare themselves ready to follow their lea der
against their oppressors. The cherat of peasants, "•
liberta," which is introduced in this scene, is one of the
most spirited in the opera, and was loudly encored-
Count °bertha' (Tagliatico), the feudal lord of the dis-
trict, now caters, and Fides and Berta solicit Isis
consent to the marriage of Berta, who is his
vassal, with John. The duet " Della Mesa,"
in which Fides and Berta join their supplications
is a very exquisite composition, and was rendered with
great leelina by Madame Viardot Garcia end Miss
Catherine Hay( s. Maddened by the beauty of Bert*
Oberthal not only refuses his consent, but orders his
attendants to seize both Fides and Berta, and carry
them to his castle, and with this scene the first act ends.
The scene of the st cord act is laid in the calsaret which
is kept by John of Leyden, and opens with a lived:,
chorus of dancers, who are waltzing while John (Mario)
is attending to the revellers. The Anabaptist leaders enter,
look at John with feigned awe; in him they pretend to
recognise a likeness of King David, the prophet of whom
they have been in search; the revellers quit the cabaret+
and the Anabaptists are left alone with John. Thep
address him, then excite his imagination, an',
ha relates to them a dream he had, ia
which he fancied he was a King. This seers
was not only beautifully sung, but finely acted by Maria,
whose Prophet throughout is, not only as a vocal. brit
as a histrionic performance, beyond all praise. TheY
interpret the dream to him, and endeavour to inducss
him to join their sect and be their chief. In vain,
he prefers Berta to Empire ; love to anabition,
and gives utterance to his thoughts in one of the
most exquisite pastoral compositions ever heard—the now;
celebrated " Pour Berta moi je soupire," of the original'
French version, which was deliciously rendered by
No sooner had the Anabaptists left him, than Berta
rushes in, throws herself in his arms, and asks him t?,
save her. He shows her a hiding-place, air
immediately Oberthal's soldiers appear, leading in his
mother Fides. They demand Berta ; he refuses to give
her up, when they raise their axes over his mother .t 1
head, and declare that they will put her to death
at once, if Berta is not surrendered to theta!'
To save his mother, ho sacrifices his betrothed-
Berta is surrendered, and John waits until his
mother has retired to rest, when he joins the Ana-
baptists, and, without taking leave of his mother',
leaves his home to seek for vengeance against
the oppressor. The concerted music in this act 15'
exceedingly fine, and was admirably rendered. The'
third act opens with the celebrated skating scene, which.
aas excellently managed, and is certainly worthy of aIL
the praise that has been lavished on it. The,
Anabaptists are encamped in Westphalia, and.
are preparing to attack Munster. A stranger is:
seized and brought in ; he offers to join the Anabaptists-
He is recognised as Oberthal, and is condemned to die,.
when John, now the Prophet, appears, and, questioning:
him about Berta, learnt that she yet lives ; wherenPna-
he orders his life to be spared for the present'
deter-
mining that Berta should decide on his fate. The'
act ends with the attack on Munster ; the Ana..,
baptists, at first repulsed, cry out " Death to the false'.e,
prophet," but, on the appearance of John, no.
awes them into submission, and placing himself
at their head renews the attack. Mario was very fin
in this scene, and was much applauded. The third
e'
is the grand act of the opera, histrionically speaking:.
—it is true tragedy, and tragedy of the very highest,
order. The scene is laid at Munster, now in possession.
of the Anabaptists, and the time is the day of the coro-
nation of John the Prophet. In the market-place or
Munster a mendicant woman, begging alms for the purpose'
of purchasing masses for the repose of the soul of
her son, meets with a young pilgrim, they recognise
each other, the mendicant is Fides, the pilgrim 16'
Berta—Berta asks for her lover, Fides 806'
he has been murdered; she had found his clothes-
in Zher cottage covered with blood, she heard a Toie,a,
which said, "Thou shalt see him no more, it is the will
of the Prophet;" and Berta vows to stab the Prophet,
the murderer of her lover .The scene then changes
to the
t
coronation of John in the Cathedral of MunsterAinellse
the crowd assembled to witnes the ceremonial. is Filrie
eh/recognizes John, and exclaims "My son." John
stretches out his hand to her, but is restrained by
the threats of Mathisen. The crowd begin t°
doubt; they raise their daggers over Fides; Jc'hri
rushes forward, declares that she is mad,
and that a miracle only can restore her. lie commands
her to go on her knees, and then, turning to the crowd,
he commands them to strike him it he is an imposter, tc't
slay him if she says he is her son. Fides falters out that
he is not her son, and the people shout a miraclwe
e.This is the great scene of the opera, and never hav° f
seen anything to equal the sublimity of the acting °
Madame Viardot Garcia in this scene. She was ad-
mirably supported by Mario, and this scene is certain's);
the finest acting scene cn the lyric stage. In the las
act we find the Anabaptist leaders plotting against John'
and seeking to deliver him up to his enemies. Fides aia.
deavours to awaken him to a sense of his duty, and he "e;
to rmines to fly with her, Berta joins them ; but on a soldier _
entering, and addressing John as the Prophet, she stab:
herself and dies. John then determines to
revenged on all, He orders a magnificent ban-
quet to be prepared, to which he invites the Anat,
baptist leaders, and then sets fire to the Palace'
the gates of which he has closed, and all perish in till,
flames. Such is the plot of the Prophete, a work
we repeat, is the chef d'ccuvre of Meyerbeer, and wni_.`h
;,.,
must be heard again and again to be prelo'
appreciated. All the artistes were called on at theoa ony.
at
elusion, and then there were loud calls for Costa, w"
length appeared, and was received with enthusiatic cheers.
Tho theatre was crowded,

RICHMOND INSTITUTION AND FARMERS' DEi
FERRED ANNUITY SOCIETY.—At a special gene"
meeting of the patrons of this institution, held yesterday
at Palace Chambers, Et. James's street—his Grace the
Duke of Richmond in the chair—the following resole'
tion was unanimously adopted:—"lt appearing at this
meeting to be the general impression that the attempt to
form a deferred annuity society amongst farmers would
fail of success, and that the legal difficulties attendant
on a national society under the Friendly Acts were con'
siderable, it was proposed and seconded and carried tbat
a general meeting of the subscribers be called for the
purpose of proposing to make use of the money in hand
by creating a single charity fund (either by annuity or
otherwise), for the benefit of decayed farmers, or til6t
any other proposal may be then made and considered.
At ter a vote of thanks to his Grace, the proceeding'
terminated.

BIRTHS.
On the 20th inst., at Avenue road, Regent's ark, the wife
of A. Devaux, Esq., of a daughter. - Bala
On the 22d inst., at Upper Gower-street, Mrs. W. Da"-
tine, of a daughter.
ilk Of
On the 22d inst., at Woodcote-grove, Epsom, the w -
A. Crowe, Esq., of a son.
On the 22d inst., in Endsleigh-street, Mrs. Mellor, of E°lll.

On the 18th inst., at the.3fARRIED
Greyfriars Elgin, James PD1i8°11:
Esq., Commander of the ship Collingwood,' to Isabella.Ml3
elder daughter of 0. Forsyth, Esq., late of Clapham-roe:
On the IPth inst., at Stoke Gabriel, E. C. Donaville, F.;s2.o'
Lieutenant Roy-al 11arines, to Ellen Jane, daughter of Jo'
Churchward, Esq., of Stoke Gabriel.

DIED
At Portsmouth, on the 18th inst., W. Birrill, M.P.'
Surgeon to the Forces, H.P., aged 56.
On the 22d inst., at Beckford-place, Clapham- road, A`l4/11
Gerard, Esq., of Ludgate. hill, aged 48. pad,
On the 22d inst., at Marlborough-place, Walwortll4
W. R. Croggon, Esq , aged 45. F j rprrivg,
At Brixton-hill, on the 22d inst., aged 27, P. • t.
second surviving son of Mr. R. W.
Suddenly, ;ved 25, William F. Grant, nephew of 'lll.'
Grant, Fend: arch -street Hecring, of Flee-,-streir.

cf
London: Printed and Published by ATURDO Yotr,,;':):ll2,
No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sum OfEce, tv Of
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the
Middlenez, Wednesday, July 25,1849,