The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-30 00:00:00

THE LATE M. LAPORTE.

The death of M. Laporte, who was known so widely
to the world as the able manager for nearly twelve years
o: the Italian Opera, and by every one regarded also in
the personal light of a very excellent actor, is certified
by letters from Corbeil, near Paris, where he died on-
Saturday last, of apoplexy.
M. Jean-Francois Laporte was the son of a French
comedian, whose Harlequin was in much request at the
Paris theatres; his mother was also an actress in the
same capital. He first came to London with a French
company upon a theatrical speculation, namely, the first
starting of a French Theatre in this country, and which,
at its appearance, was much patronized by the fashionable
world at large. These performances were then given in
the little theatre in Tottenham-street, which has since
been under the lesseeship of Madame Vestris, and now
known as the Queen's Theatre. The circumstance of
French plays in England being a novelty, most of the
exclusives and travelled of the day brought these per-
formances into reputation. and they were Chiefly- sup-
ported by the talents of N. Laporte himself, who was
Very happy as a comic actor.
...Possessing quick parts, M. Laporte soon obtained a
very competent knowledge of English, and appeared, if
we remember rightly, upon the boards of Drury itself,
acting English characters with much judgment. From
this time his success was great, and he made himself
master of many hundreds by engagements and benefits
at various theatres, which gradually accumulated
more and -more as he himself was parsimonious in his
ways of living. M. Laporte now became a person of con-
sequence among the frequenters of the theatres, and was
the admired, it not admirable representative, of the best
comic creations of Moliere. .His fame was co-equally
divided with Dowton and Farren, Potier and Perlet.
At length, in 1828, Ebers, who had long been a re-
spectable and active manager of the Italian Opera, and
who, though unsuccessful, had carried it on with spirit,
resigned, and immediately there was a keen canvass for
the hire of the theatre from year to year. Among the
competitors were Laurent, a Frenchman, a most dashing
speculator, who had already the English theatre
in Paris, a theatre in Brussels, and branches
of. theatres on other parts of the Continent.
-Another was Price, the manager at once of Drury-
lane and another theatre at New . York. Besides
these, <there were so many other candidateS for the Opera
House, that a certain Duke, not over.encumbered with
wealth, declared his profound astonishment that there was
so much money on earth to -be disPoSed of in scenery
and singing. - •
On this -occasion Laporte was the highest bidder, and
having become lessee of the Opera, for four seasons con-
tinued to conduct it so as to make money. During his
administration it must be confessed that we had an op-
portunity of hearing the best 'singers in the world ; and
we are indebied to him for the best specimens of dancing
and instrumental music, in the persons of Taglioni and
Paganitii.. 'He assembled for a series 'of seasons within
the walls of. the King's Theatre the best company in
Europe. .
As a pleasant memento of the past, and a useful refe-
rence hereafter, the • following comparative statement of
the principal performers who appeared during M. La-
porte's management, will serve as a curious record of the
rich treats which he furnished,we may say, to the world:-
1828. 1829. 1830. 1831.
OPERA. OPERA. OPERA. OPERA.
Women. Women. Women. Women.

Pasta Sontag Malibran Pasta
Sontag ➢lalibran Blasis Paton
Schulze Monticelli Lalande Lalande

.
Caradori Poaront Petralia Ve3perman
Brambilla Speech i Speech i Anton
Castelli Ca.telli Castelli Beck

Filiani
Castelli
Men. Men. Men. Men.
Curioni Donzelli Donzelli Curioni

Zuchelli Curioni Curioni Davide
Velluti Zuchelli Labiache Rubini
Torri Bordogni Ambrogi Labiache
PortoPellegrini Galli Santini De Beni
... .._

De Angeli- Grat iani Deville Santin.i
Deville Le Vasseur De Angeli De Angeli .
Deville Deville
De Angeli
The principal performers in the ballets during his
management were Brocard, Albert, Gosselin, Paulini,
Coulon, and the inimitable Taglioni.
Having, at the close of the season in 1831, realised a
good sum, M. Laporte resigned the managership of the
Italian Opera, and left it to enjoy the fruits of his suc-
cess on the Continent. In that year Mr. Monck Mason
became lessee, at the enormous rent of 16,0001, but his
speculations proved unsuccessful. •
In the ensuing year Laporte again took the house,
and has, up to the present time, been its faithful manager.
The history of this aristocratic place of amusement
since that period is still fresh in the memory of the
public ; and it is, therefore, needless to say • more than
that he was perhaps the best manager of th.. _Rattan
Opera that has appeared, a man of great activity and
perseverance, and, we believe, of hign integrity and
honour. His death will be gre9tty lamented. Perhaps
no man was so generally known by the great singers,
musicians, and actori of the present day.