Star.
London, England, 1830-11-08 00:00:00

KING'S THSATRE.

Saturday night their Majesties attended the first public
performance of Lord Burghersh's opera, which took place In the great

connect-room of this theatre. A Foot Guard of Honour attended en the
occasion; but, with this exception, there was neither parade nor osten.
laden. Their Majesties came to the theatre in a private manner, with
only two carriages in their suite. The King was not in uniform. The
Queen wore an elegant and fashionable dress of light-coloured silkorith
a black velvet hat and feathers. Both their Majesties, we were happy
to observe, looked in remarkably good health. The Dukes of Sussex
end Cumberland also honoured the opera with their presence. The'
performance began at between half past eight and nine o'clock. To the
merits of the opera we have already alluded generally, in our notice of
its rehearsal, and we feel too well satisfied with the efforts of its Noble
Author to proceed to Minute, and, perhaps, unavoidably severe aid.
elem. It was scarcely judicious in his Lordship to have selected for
his theme a subject (the Siege to Belgrade), upon which the musical
talents of a professor had already been exercised. By so doing be seemed
to court a comparison with the original composition; and in this case, as
far as the simple airs are concerned, we rather apprehend that his .ri.
'rally has been unsuccessful. Perhaps his Lordship never contemplated
the production of his opera in this country. There is not much
originality in any part of it, while in some of its last passages, there is
a very close, but doubtless unintentional, imitation of some of our
("teemed masters. We occasionally fancied we heard repetitions or
Rossini, more than once, but particularly in the first air by CaMarisse,
2d act, we almost recognised some of blusinghi's tender and melan.
choly passages, and the last chorus is strongly tinctured with Auber's
characteristic style. His Lordship, no doubt, has been enthusiastically
devoted to music ; and his mind, stored with the choicest of its pm-
ductions, now resembles a vase, in which the blossoms d many flowers
nave been deposited, and whisk emits odours of various fragstince,
none of which are its own. Miss Childe, who performed the part of
Catherine, is a young lady of a tall and not ungraceful figure. Her
countenance, however, is not very prepossessing, and she is rather
inanimate. Her voice is of excellent quality and compass; her taste
seems pure, and when she becomes mistress of the difficulties of execs-
don, she will be a considerable acquisition to our Opera. Miss
Baommyr, a lively petite personage, who performed La's, poetises
much of the talent of Mrs. KEILZY, with superior personal attractions.
Her voice is not very strong as yet, but it is sett and sweet in its tones,
and is under good tuition. She will one day be a public favourite. Alio
t.►enoune is a modest girl, with a pleasing manner, and of vocal pro-
mise similar to Miss BIO3IILET. Mr. BENNETT, who performed the
Smokier, has a voice of great power and richness, and it is well cul.
tivated. His serenade song" The dews of night in silence," A;
was sung with admirable purity of taste, and was deservedly and
highly applauded. In the bravura in the last act he was more
unequal. The composition is indifferent. Mr. BINNIGTT hat
a great deal to overcome before he can be a gentlemanly or agreeable
actor. Mr. Seguin possesses a bass voice of much mellowness and
depth, and he acted the Seraskier's attendant with propriety. Mr.
E. Spagnioletti, who ',trimmed the ra-nenate Leopokl, has a good
strong tenor, a fare well calculated for the stage, and, perhaps, some
talent for acting ; hut if he don't beware his confider:cc will ruin hint.
The selection of the Celery: Coheldwi g was unfortunate. The trios
and quartettes in the piece were sung with a Frccision which is
creditable to the Academy. The same remark may extend to the

choruses—althongh some of those seemed noisy, harsh, and unmu-
sical—faults which must be divided amongst the singers, orchestra
and composer, leaving, we fear, the lion's share to the latter:
The accompaniments to some of the soles were too oud ; in
other respects the labours of the orchestra were creditable to
its young members. On the whole, although there was much in my
Lord Burghersh'slippera to give us considerable pleasure and excite
more admiration, we must look upon it as his " Hours of Idleness," the
precursor of far better thirty. At the termination of the piece, as at its
commencement, "Don save the King," was sung by the whole forte of
the Academy, and their Majesties retired amid the salutations of an un.
usually select audience...—Among the company present were their Royal
Highnesses the Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex, the Breebleklinietees
the Dukes of Buckingham and Newcastle, the Marchioness Dowager of
Salisbury, Lords Maryborough, Morley, Comberrnere, and F. Somerset;
Ladles Curtis, Clark, Maryborough, Clarendon, Flint, D'Urben, and E.
Lowther; the Muter of the Rolls, the 800. Mrs. Hope, and Sir F.
'Marg. 1

4
A performance of music, by steam, is announced at
Taunton !