Star.
London, England, 1821-06-04 00:00:00

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Oa Saturday nigh': WAS produced, for the first time,
a new Gra 'id Serious Opera, for the benefit of Miss
Wasuv. e titled, Three; or, The Fatal Urn, avow-
edly takop from META STASIO'S Opera of Demophoonte.
Demophoontr was performed about fifty years ago at the King's
Theatre, in the Havmarket. MANSE/Lt. the celebrated So-
prano Singer, made his el-lost in it. and sang the beautiful Air,
Prfel•nti nu Medi mi Urania in-cents." The exquisite singing
of Maissoct, and • he simple melody, well rendered it a most uni-
versal favourite. BIC:KERET/ITP introduced it in his Opera of the
" School for Fathers," and wrote for it the words, " Oh/ talk nut
to ase of the wealth she possesses !" We are happy to see an Opera
in the style of Artaxerxes produced at our Theatres. It is said
to be the production of the Honourable GEORGE Lasts, and that
the Airs, Duette, &c. have been adapted by him to the differ-
ent celebrated composers, conjoined with some original music by
Hoax and Baanax, which ranks them very high as composers.
The whole of the Music in the Opera of -Direr, is very fine ; to
select the most prominent pieces, we mention an Aria by Ma-
dame VESTS'S, " I came to tell my Brother toed," which she sung
delightfully : her tine counter-alto tones called for an unanimous
f =OTC j and a song by BRRHAM, in the third Act, " Awake,
awake, my soul to glory,' is a powerful and masterly composition,
and was given by this first of all tenor singers, with that power
and energy which be alone can impart. It was loudly encored
from all parts of the House. Every word of his recitative was
distinctly heard, and his acting was throughout very fine.
Miss WILSON was in excellent voice; she gate with exquisite
pathos and expression, " Where strays, where sleeps, where. sports,
my Mid ?" and was rapturously applauded. Miss Povar sung
" Vint repays the Maiden Sigh." with her usual sweetness and
taste. There was also a beautiful Trio between Miss WlLsos.
Hoax, and Baanau. The whole of the Opera was received
wits loud and unanimous approbation, and announced for repe-
tition with bursts of applause. The scenery is beautiful, the
dresses magnificent. Too much praise cannot be given to Mr.
Etztsrow for the expensive and classical manner in which he has
brought forward this fine Opera, and we sincerely hope, that he
will be repaid by full houses, as a reward due to his enterprising
spirit, and zealous attention to the gratification of the Public.
The story of the Opera of Dine is of course classical. The
wrath of Apollo has demanded of the Thracian the annual sa-
crifice of a virgin, and the victim is to be determined by lot.—
Munithes (Beaman), the supposed son of Demophoon (Hoax).
is secretly married to Dire (Miss AV: Lam), the daughter of
Cleanthes. The fatal lot falls on Dins, and Tim:takes, to save
her, reveals his marriage. But the Thracian law punishes
with death the union of a subject with the Royal progeny, and
Airce from a victim becomes a criminal. At the entreaties
of his younger son Cherinthus (Madame Vermin), and of his
mistress, Irma (Miss POVET), her life is spared. Tinian:het,
however, has further trials fur his fbrtitude. He discovers that
Airce is the daughter of Demophoon, and the discovery would be
fatal, did he not ascertain at the same moment, by a most fortu-
nate coincidence, himself to be the son of aeanthes. In this event
is involved the fulfilment of an oracular prediction. The wrath
of Apollo ceases, and the dteadfal sacrifice is abolished.