The Sun.
London, England, 1850-06-10 00:00:00

RER MA JEST Y'S THEATRE.
Q
, .
that
evening wilt the future LithlAYl.ll
there
was produced at her Majesty's Theatre in Lon-
(1)n, then the first ly tical Establishment in the world,
the-chof d'cezwre of the groat composer lialevy, the im-
. %anal La Tempesta. We say the immortal La Tem-
Vve.Btai and we say it advisedly, for it is a work tint
World will not willingly let die. Both Scribe and
004 vy appear to have become inspired the study
Shekspere—to have become thoroughly imbued
with the true Shaksperian spirit, and by ministering
reverently and faithfully at his altar, to have caught
the
reflex of his genius. As a proof of the spirit in
w'h'ich M. Scribe has prepared his portion of the work,
toe subjoin his letter to Mr. Lumley on forwarding
7, the renowned Impresario the libretto of La
4elupesta
" Paris, 24th Dec., 1846.
Pe`` Annexed you will find the poem founded on Shake
Tempest, which you did me the honour to coal-
186ien me to write. I have done the utmost to respect
th
Q Inspirations of your immortal author. All the musi-
;lll situations I have created are but suggestions tAkeo
;42 Shakespere's ideas, and as all the honour must
heuerne to him, I may be allowed to state that there are
t ley/ sub'ects so well adapted for musical intertne-
tation,
641 have no doubt that this pcem, confided, as it will
by you to some eminent composer, will afford an
sTession for an exalted and very great musical success.
h will esteem myself happy if I have at all contri-
ated •
d to it, however small my share of merit in .the un-
ortaltieg. "Deign to receive, Sir,
4 The expression of my most distinguished consideration,
(Signed) ",EUGENE SCRIBE,
"De l'Academie Frangaise.

-J.:, 07

"B. Lumley, Esq.,
I,"Proprietor of Her Majesty's Theatre, &c., &c."
Lumley had entered into an engagement with
odelssohn, whose music to Midsummer Night's
I ream pointed him out as the composer par excel-
he'lee to whom the illustration of Shakspere should
Ili! confided. Mendelsshon joyfully undertook this
ear of love, but his sudden death occurred imme-
diately after his acceptance, and before he had com-
:used a single bar of the music. Under these cir-
,4,toStances Mr. Lumley, after much and careful con-
-04'cl-t-gen, determined to confide the libretto to M.
Issleiry, and, considering the antecedents of the great
:rich composer, we are not surprised that the
isucioe should have fallen upon him. La Tempesta
tt," a grand opera," in which there are intricate
uoral effects and grand harmonies ;" who so fit to do
Justice to a grand opera of this character as the corn-
ruse rof Guido et Genevra ' La Tempesta is also
magnificent spectacle ; who so fit to compose
the music as the composer of La Juice It embodies
ballet
with music and spectacle ; the composer of
it,;? rentation is of all others he who has been success-
:," in such a combination. But the music must be
;40 light, graceful, and fairy-like ; who, then, so fit
11 the composer of Le Val d' Andorre and La Fee
dux7, Roses? Upon Hal6vy, therefore, the choice of
tr• Lumley fell, and he has more than justified that
choice; for Her Majesty's Theatre he has composed
his chef d'oeuvre, and on Saturday night Mr. Lumley
bad the satisfaction of producing the most beautiful
!rand opera and the most superb spectacle ever produced
°nthe English lyrical stage ; an opera which, high as
t /P9otation had been raised, completely surpassed the
t
I,Ni:teflon of the most sanguine, and the success of
)\l'ilich was, from beginning to end, a triumph. There
as been recently a controversy on the subject of
the manner in which Shakspere would have written
fe Tempest had he lived in this our day ; and many
tour best dramatists and critics have given it as
leir opinion that he would have written it as the
libretto of an opera. Foremost in the rank of the
bPporters of this opinion is Mr. Morris Barnett, who
s, written a most entertaining pamphlet on the
title:led, in which he discusses the ques-
en with much critical acumen, and coin-
Pares the original of Shakspere with the achip-
iition of Scribe. His analysis of the libretto of M.
Scribe, is so admirable, and is written so thoroughly
e°,4 Elmore, that we feel our readers will be delighted
pith its perusal, and we therefore subjoin it :
6‘ We proceed to sketch an outline of the genital
la
ore,tof The Tempest, as adapted by the tasteful tact
11. •Lia• Smite to operatic purposes. The curtain rises
bP°l:l the storm-tossed ship at sea ; mingling with the
of the elements, choirs of invisible spirits chaunt
e coming vengeance of the magician, Prospero, and
I.Ariel alighting upon the deck, the conscience-stricken
prigs of the tyrant Duke and the weakly-consenting
Ing- The storm increases. The crew wail and
Pafter
aloud ; the spirit chorus mock their agonies, and
ship,
a magnificent crescendo, the curtain falls on the
shipwhich goes into splinters amid the breakers
vf hi h
gird the Enchanted Isle. So much is pro-
Rue• Then comes the first act of the opera. The
ZenoZ is the Grot of Prospero, where the sage necro-
ancer, drawing inspiration from his magic book,
proclaims his power over the elements, and the
`4tinlaer in which he has exercised it to bring his
;414rping brother within his power. Miranda
?tdily appears upon the scene, and in a delicious
"'batiste are expressed the budding sentiments
led half painful, half pleasing emotions and
impulses of coming womanhood. In the graceful
'erties of M. Scribe the tone and spirit of the comes-
l'hcliding scene in the original play are beautifully
reserved. Then the atmosphere of dainty and poetic
ii,°ll/ig is clouded. Caliban appears, and in a power-
;l"Y-effective and intensely-dramatic trio the cha-
acters of the three interlocutors are further developed.
Tae
; innocent loveliness and exquisite purity of Ali-
itn(la, the stern wisdom of Prospero, and the brutal
.nature of Caliban, who dares to wish that he were
again king of the isle, with Mirandi for his queen.
contrast is the key-stone of the dramatic arch. I,li-
ti!nda withdraws to her chamber, Caliban slinks into
15
den, the elfin form of Ariel swoops from above the
tree tops as in warblings he informs his lord of all
thatt7; he has done, and of the safe bestowal of the crew
attendant
wrecked ship. Prospero gives charge to his
.‘ericlant sprites to watch over Miranda, and en-
st`Anter and sylph disappear. Here are heard the
Pins of the invisible chorus of the air, who guide
ill"dinand's steps by their luring music. The meet-
Ly of the Prince and the gentle and pure-souled
tchie follows; and after the meeting, us Prospero
,14 Well foreseen, love. The exquisite Shakesperian
1e is preserved in all its original depth of colour
sod delicacy of tint, and with the re-appearance of
thrniTero—his feigned anger but secret satisfaction at
e success of his schemes—the humble submission of
the
Prince, and eloquent and love-lorn pleadings of
act
for the stranger, the act closes. The second
1 Opens with a malediction scene fur Caliban, and an
iroeation of his mother, Sycorax. The witch is not
et dead, but imprisoned beneath the weight of mas-
i'te Cocks, chained there by the arts of Prospero.
o,°o dam of Caliban is not slow to answer the prayer
ti her cub. Upon the cliffy ridge grows a bunch of
scarlet flowers, of potent might for charm and spell.
liberty
Caliban is directed to pluck, and so armed is at
Miraculously
to form three wishes, each of which will be
il:rticillously granted. The conversation is inter-
b Pted hy the entrance of Prospero and Ariel. The
care
Duke again recommends his child to the
comes
of the blithsome sprite, and passes on. Now
the moment for Caliban. Vengeance upon
,Caspero is that for which he thirsts ; and that ven-
itletlnce
when he his impri
has ra fished Miranda from her sam informs him will be coire.
rn-
ti eediess of the groans of Sycorax, and her entreaties
that his first wish will be for her liberation, Caliban
tiNts the magic flowers, in an instant shuts Ariel in
Iltletrunk of a mighty tree, and seizing upon the now
guarded Miranda, a scene full of passion and dra-
vigour ensues. Caliban makes hideous love veto
etle,gentle child of Prospero—with purest virgin
leness of heart she defies and scorns the maddened
tub mtti
e• n• The howls of the pent-up Sycorax mingle
esrte singing; a chorus of demons sounds from the
of help the air, and the trees ; and Miranda, despairing
10, is about to plunge a poignard into her heart,
the breathing of the second wish seals up her
lot'es in a soft and balmy sleep. Snatching up his
htitnsible burden, Caliban gazes for an instant upon
ftite, charms, and then starting to hear a joyous re-
sw!ri echoing through the woods, bears Miranda
ebirtlY away. He dares not go far. The new-heard
mianisters and the shipwrecked crew, beaded by Ste-
Apiatio and Trinculo, are making merry upon the
Saved from the wreck ; they perceive and stop
$l4
e monster. A skilfully-managed and very dreamt°
th no follows. The sailors pause in their Bac-
-441 chorus to mock Caliban, and threaten him
piss he gives up the still sleeping Miranda.
a he monster promises to lead them to Prospero's cell,
vibesike them kings in the island. Then the festi-
, shilare renewed—Caliban and the seamen drink,
n lit, and exult in chorus, until, in the midst of the
• sePsr,4_,ri Miranda, roused from her
.charmed sleep,
moieties the enchanted bouquet, which the drunken
la line, has dropped, and stays his pursuit by forming
Roblin. mind the third wish—the sailors and their
Th_ guest are rooted to the spot wheron they stood.
third act introduces Antonio and Alonzo be-
N,,riciinfe their hard fate and the supposed death of
sad tiheanj• Prospero, unrecognised by his brother
oriio,e King of Naples, reproaches them with their
tern, The Duke pot King, subdued and terror-
tr'..en, follow the pnt magician, and listen in
to h,t and wonder as the enchanter summons Ariel
the
el 4. presence. Melancholy accents—the voice of
itifta.tniiarre, -imprisoned spirit—respond to the call, and
A toov I tospero of the triumphant malice of Caliban.
"nent of the sage's arm suffices to break the
heroi spell ; and then, in wrath, he informs his
lest th:Y:following companions that if his daughter is
is the eir doom is sealed also. And where all this time
theuer gentle lady ? After her escape from Caliban and
tw she wanders wildly through the thickets,
bee steps are arrested by the voice of
e°ungOra
now lulled into hypocritical softness, hick
true' : her to stab the stranger, Ferdinand, as a
enchanter.
&rotto. The scene again changes to-the
11,_ Ferdinand, worn out with unaccustomed
'ceps tranquilly ; Miranda enters, the dagger