The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-09 00:00:00

MISS BIRCH IN PARIS.

SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF ENGLISH AR-
TISTES BY FRENCH MANAGERS.

The French correspondent of the Jll, 4rateCl News
gives the following account of the treatment which
Miss Birch has received from the French artistes of
the Academy. The letter, which is dated Paris,
Wednesday, says—

" Whenl addressed my last letter to you, it was
under the anticipation of being enabled to announce,
in my present communication, the triumph on French
operatic boards of a gifted English vocalist. I was
present when Mr. Duponchel, the Director of the Aca-
demie Royal de Musique, announced to Miss Birch
that her deldit was fixed for Friday last. A full re-
hearsal was fixed for Thursday evening. On that
morning I was informed that a change had taken
place—that a later night had been chosen by the ma-
nagement. An invitation having been given to at-
tend the rehearsal, I arrived at the theatre at the be-
s,wsb,rnellocti:uhledlrisot
ginning of the second act, when Mathilde, in Rossini's
Guillaume Tell, makes her entrance. I cannot
describe to you my mingled feelings of disgust and
indignation at finding Miss Birch at the wing of the
stage, left alone, without a single person connected
with the theatre, to support or to address her with a
word of consolation. The trembling debutante—
about to appear before a French audience, in presence
stage—with MM. Duponchel ,
E I.* h
ound only in two English-
men, is -
of the most distinguishedartistesanodf tßheogkureepnicahn, lyricthe
present lessees—found . _
were accidently present, the
men, as it
her position ought to have
sympathy which .
gthaellanFtrreyncahnodfficeihail‘s•aelroyn.necAtleyd
tehbde°;sfle'rtaolgmeasGc.roaslldahl"cy' and rudely pass by the English
without a word of commiseration—without a
of acknowledgment. Is it possible, I said to
myself, that we have been so generous and hospitable
to French artistes to merit such a return as this ?
And yet the poor Englishwoman went through the
rehearsal with heroic courage. Her splendid voice,
worth all the voices of the establishment put together,
rang through the edifice, in thrilling strains ; her
nfereo from
atsh
choked,
stage.
deportment was easy and graceful. Duprez, who
He came sing
but I said to the great tenor, ' I have sustained you
i.
in England ; pray do all you can for Miss Birch.
itongs'pAearknotlod,me.
as over I was
recogniseduttemrae
He muttered some words of empty compliment--
stated
presented
stated that he could not tell when she would appear,
and then withdrew to sing in the trio. Miss Birch
measure, but
eburethaesarnsoa rehearsal
directory
evidently felt that she was sacrificed, and was deeply
himself, I could only retire with the ill-used English
eanffraecgteedd.
beßyoyndthme
et
artiste, thoroughly disgusted with the treatment
had been subjected to. Now, a
Duponchel and Roqueplan. Iviis word with MM,
them—they engaged her. They kept
s Birch did not seek
two months waiting for a debut. her upwards of
for Friday last. The tell h They fixed the day
that her accent is not sufficient) at the eleventh hour
French ears. They
adm.ty good for the delicate
to any artiste on their b
i that her voice is superior
They oards—that her style is un-
exceptionable.
of the majority ofacknowledge that the enuncia-
tionnot a word can • French singers is so bad that
be distinguished. And yet they
wantonly trifle with the feelings
they have enticed to their country , they forget the
laws of hospitality—the
y despise the dictates of
re-
ciprocity—they are oblivious altogether to what we
have done for French artistes in London— and they
add insult to injury. May this be a warning to us
for the future. Aliss Birch has been much indisposed
since the rehearsal, but she is better thi3 morning.
The English in Paris are in a fury about her ill
treatment."

SHAKSPERE'S HOUSE.—The lessee of Covent-gar-
den, in the most prompt and handsome manner, has lent
the theatre,: and all ittt appliances, to the joint com-
mittee of London and Stratford, for a performance in
aid of the fund for the purchase of ShakspFre's house in
his native town. The entertainment will consist of
selected scenes from various plays by our great drama-
tist, to be supported by actors and actresses of the
highest rank in the various London companies, who
have all volunteered their gratuitous assistance ea the,
occasion.