Star.
London, England, 1830-06-14 00:00:00

TUEATRE.

Rossini's opera, La Centre-idola, wi-s represented on Saturday
evening, probably for the purpose of affording Signor Lablache an
opportunity to display his comic power,/ in die character of Don
Magnifico. Many portions of this opera have been modelled on
Cimarosa's Matriinonio Scg..cto. Geronimo was evidently a pro-
totype of Don Illugnifico, and the duet in the second act, Un
greto d'imporlanza, owes its origin to the celebrated one between
Geronimo and Robinson, Se fiat° in corpo uvetc. In some re-
spects, however, the two male characters differ materially. The one
is meant to represent a good-natured old bourgeois, actuated as much
by the consideration of his daughter's welfare, in the proposed
match with the Count, as by the whispers of vanity for the honour
of such an alliance the other is an aristocrat of small wit and great
pretensions, full of bombastic absurdity in his mode of displaying
the presumed importance of his rank, as his title of Alontiliascone
indicates, and who thinks that much weight would be added to
it by the acquisition of such a son-in-law as a Prince. Not.
withstanding, therefore, the affinity established by the imitation,
the two characters require each a different conception. Of this,
Signor Lablache's performance has afforded abundant proof. In
Geronimo he is perfect ; but with regard to Mayiiifieo we have seen
others sustain the character with greater truth. Too great a so-
lemnity and stillness of manner are adhered to. That rich comic
humour, so much at his command, is but sparingly imparted to
the Baron di Montifiascone. Neither his introductory comic
air, nor the duet at the opening of the second act. Un ,relo d'im-
portunta, excited that degree of laughter which corresponding
situations in the other opera have invariably done. We make these
remarks, not because we think that Signor Lablache's performance
on Saturday was of an inferior kind, but merely because we expected
to have found it infinitely more in accordance with the spirit of the
character he had to sustain. His singing was excellent, and his fine
bass voice was never heard to better advantage. Madame Malibran
was the heroine, anti being in good voice she indulged in great re-
dundancy or ornament in her singing. She would have produced
better effect had she evinced less impatierce to display the extent of
her vocal pool rs. She had a proper opportunity for that purpose
in the rondo with which the opera closes, and there she sang with
appropriate brilliancy. The other parts were filled as before.

The season at Drury Lane Theatre being new brought to a close
of its first.tate performers, some go to slar it in the country. Mr.
Cooper remains in town, purpositn to devote hi. leisure to the in-
&traction of aspirants to the Bar, the Pulpit, or the Stage, in the
art of Elocution.

Mitt!' FANNY Kum ur.r: concluded her engagement at the Bath
Theatre on Tu:;-day tvAtilisr, when, tor her own benefit, she per-
sonated La,ie Tom Wet/ in The okol Thulium! ; Mr. KEMBLE
acted Lord Townley. The house was crowded to excess long before
the drawing up of the curtain, anti the entire orchestra, which had
been converted into stalls was likewise full. Atter 3liss KEIIBLE'II
tune appearance at Bath In the character of Juliet, some extremely
ill-natured remarks upon ;hat perthrmance were inserted in one of
'be Bath newspapers, which were subsequently copied into the Lon-
don jcurnais. These observations occasioned a considerable excite-
:nen: aniunge the play-going people, and on each subsequent even-
Olg, when KEMIBLE acted, the theatre overflowed, and Kcene's
N4l/1 Journal and The Balk Herald, in consequence of their eulo-
gi:s on Miss KEMDLE'S genius and powers, occasioned an entire
tea,' ion. The eight evenings. this lady performed at Bath realized
to her b:twecn six anti seven hundred pounds. After the conclusion
of i/sc Provoker/ //usband, on Tuesday, Mr. KEMBLE and his
daughter departed for London, where they arrived on ‘Vednesda7 ;
and on tl:e evening of that day went on board the James V. att
stenni.boat, and set sail for Edinburgh.
THE LONDON UNIVERSITY.—It must appear extraordinary
that at a time when knowledge is making such rapid advances
amongst all classes of society, that the Londoners, for whose especial
improvetnent the London University was reared, should so sparingly
avail themselves of its advantages. That this must be the case,
however unaccountable, may be inferred from the fact, that of Ai
medals distributed at the last distribution of honours, only three
were bestowed upon pupils resident in London. The medical school
is that which has attracted the greatest number of pupils, which is
probably owing to the necessity that the student should complete
his education in the metropolis before he can obtain a license to
practise as a surgeon or apothecary. The Council have resolved to
grant a diploma to students in medicine and surgery, and as there is
a lot. stamp in the diploma of the College of Surgeons, which is
inerely honorary, that circumstance will probably obtain a pre-
ference for the untaxed certificate of the University.