The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-26 00:00:00

ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE.

The second experiment of the season of the Lyceum intro-
duced last night Mr. John Barnett as the composer of a new
grand Opera, in two acts, under the title of the The Moun-
tain Sylph. The rising of the curtain discovers the interior
of a Scotch farmhouse, with Donald (Wilson) asleep in a
chair, Eolia, the mountain sylph (Miss E. Romer), watching
him with anxious solicitude, and the attendant sylphs occupy-
ing the back ground. A kiss which the sylph imprints upon
the cheek of Donald at once informs us of her deep affection
for the Scotch peasant. The pledge of. love awakens him to
himself and new feelings. He is betrothed to Jessie (Miss
Somerville), but his dream, and the seal of tenderness of the
sylph drive all recollections of the past from his memory, and
excite only hopes for the future. It is in vain that his friends
greet him with bridal presents, and the appearance of Hela,
the wizard of the glen (H. Phillips), who is the mortal
enemy of the sylphs, leads to the discovery that his heart
is lost to Jessie. The latter still confides in her lover,
and Donald successfully -resists the allurements of the
sylph until the marriage contract is in the act of being
signed. Here the sylph flits about the spot, appearing
and vanishing, seizing the nuptial contract and ring, and
exercising her fairy and bewitching spells until Donald fol-
lows her, leaving Jessie and her mother and friends dismayed
at his sudden departure. The scene of the Witches' Ocean
Haunt, with the cavern of the Wizard and the cauldron, with
the spot covered over with gigantic human skeletons, supplies
a full dish of horrors and incantation. Hela is the prime mover
as the agent of Astaroth (Sutton) of all this diablerie, in order
to annihilate the sylph, and, after a succession of diabolical
incidents, red fire, demoniac dances, and concatenation of hor-
rific situations, the charm is announced to be complete, or, in
other words, the first act terminates. In the second we find
Donald endeavouring to secure the flying sylph, who seems
disposed at times to be flighty or inclined to mount to the
clouds. Hela, the vindictive wizard, is at hand, and furnishes
Donald with a char Med scarf to prevent the escape of the
sylph. Donald playfully throws it round her, when her wings
drop off, and the demons seize her and carry her off to their
abode. Etheria, the Sylphid Queen (Miss Novello), taking
compassion on the grief of Donald, appears, and gives him a
magic rose, capable of rendering himself and friend invisible.
The lover provides himself with the assistance of Christie
(Keeley), who had been devotedly attached to Jessie, and
who has obtained her affections after the secession of Donald.
The two friends set out for the abode of the demons in the
Salamandine caverns, and, after divers impediments, succeed
in overcoming the powers of the Wizard. The Sylphid Queen
then renders the lovers happy by making the sylph mortal,
who is, sec. art., united to Donald and Christie to Jessie.
The plot possesses sufficient interest to keep the attention alive
to the passing incidents, and excites curiosity for the denoue-
ment. The general arrangement of the stage business is ex-
cellent, and the dances and grouping elegant and effective.
The scenery is highly picturesque, and the machinery, and,
in fact, every thing that has reference to the getting up of the
Opera, is not only upon the most liberal scale, but strict atten-
tion to localities and the effect of the ensemble have been pre-
served. The dramatic portion is claimed by a Mr. Thackrav,
a young barrister of some promise, and who, we are informed,
has done some pretty things in light poetry. His present
efforts display much good taste, and the light subject of the
sylphs has produced some fanciful imagery, and ever and anon
some sparkling passages. The termination of the overture
served as a prelude to the opening chorus of sylphs, as the
curtain rose, which was sufficiently fairy-like. The succeed-
ing air of Donald, " No, no, 'twas no deceptive spell," is a
most delicious melody. The bridal chorus, " See here we
bring," was chiefly remarkable for its clever instrumentation,
introducing the chorus with the Highland fling in a very in-
genious manner, the concerted piece which followed at once
stamped the pretensions of Mr. Barnett as a musician of the
highest order. It was descriptiye throughout of every pas-
sion the words conveyed. One 'little bit, would that it had
been more, a trio between Hela, Donald, and Jessie, was in-
deed exquisite in its way, and H. Phillips, Wilson, and Miss
Somerville did it full justice There was great tact in Mr.
Barnett disposing snatches of the melody with the instrumen-
tal repetition in subsequent parts of the Opera. It was al-
ways a pleasing reminiscence, and amidst mere demonstrations
a grateful relief. The introduction of the opening of the
second act is succeeded by a very pretty solo of the
sylph calling her companions around her, and Miss
Romer was in exquisite voice when she sang this, and her
y:theaoFtvuaeirteslweiose:u:a.rl,
etmdyoeetilmtoilcdmoeyl
odmrli:eoapulfliinyteyttamebi
mountain,"
notes in alto were as clear and as sweet as the fabled h
tenderness, song-
stress of the grove. "The ensuing air falls to Donald, "Canst '
wasrn
ecoldly n
d the received,melaloewd
tones of. Wilson were displayed a merveille in it. The air,
"thisis quitegenl. a
wtneo reneeaue,r and
heard willa
dmeosreer
vie.adp.turoTubseeßncaocreeh.ananaldiawnechnoevruesr
of demons,
tp,a‘tvwo
exist for ever. If Mr. Barnett bad done nothing else he would
instrumentation which any piece in the whole
to our 'al sl
drinkn
master," to our minds displays the most emiraordinary
At the termination of the Opera Mr. Wilsor
theatre. Mr. Barnett wa- it for
representation every evening until further •- announced
notice, an announce-
thement which was received with loudCirdera presents.
dience and by the orch- loudly applauded by the au-
tom so much in He was, according to the cus-
fidence. ' . now-a-days, called for; but, with dif-
.-ne-erin„,o• from all parts of
Ile merely acknowledged the compliment frqtri his
-rac conductor of the band. From what we have written
•