Star.
London, England, 1826-04-13 00:00:00

COYENT•GARDSN TIIEATu.

-
Last night, this Theatre boasted a most crowded and
brilliant audience, to witness the first public perfo& mance
of the new operallif Oberon, which has long been in pre.
paratinn, the dusk of which has been composed by
Carl Von WElinit, whbse Der FreisehOlz has made him
so popular in this country. Soon lifter the opening of
the doors every Seat in the Theatre was occupied, and
the private boxes and dress circle contained many per-
sonages of rank arid fashion.
Wzaeit entered the oichestrd with the other instru;
mental performers, and took his seat at the. pianoforte;
amidst the loud plaudits of the audience. The overture
had no sooner commenced, than the utmost silence per.
vaded the House. In our Paper of yesterday we noticed
the rehearsal of this piece on the preceding evening ; bOt
justice to the celebrated composer of the opeia demands
that we should say the effect produced by the music on
this occasion, when the full force of every part of the
orchestra was brought into operation, left that of the
mere rehearsal far behind. The great merit of this
overture is its simplicity, delicacy of construction, and
sweetness of expression. The overture was rapturously
applauded and encored.
The Opera opens in Oberon's bower with a chorus of fairies.
Upon Oberon's (Mr. C. Bland) awaking, he demands of Puck (Miss
11. Cawse), whore be has been since" cock-crow," and is informed
that he has been round the globe. and that among other wonders
witnessed in that short space of tine, he has seen the uufqrtunate
Sir flows-of Bourdeauz (Mr. Brahma) ba,nished by the Jo:niperur
Charlemagne ; and that his return to his native country is to depend
on his obtaining Reis* (Miss Paton) the daughter of the Caliph of
Bagdad for his bride. Oberon having taken an oath not to be re-
conciled to Titania, until
" Some fond pair,
Through weal and woe, mid flood, and chains, and fire,
Should keep their plighted faith inviolate,
Unmoved by pleasure and unbent by pain,"
Conceives the project of subjecting these parties to thi test, for the
redemption of his oath. Puck is commanded to transport Sir
HUM and Shermatin his Squire (Mr. Fawcett) to his presence,
which is forthwith accomplished. The itage opens, and on a
flowery bank which rises they are discovered asleep. Brim is here
introduced to Sir Hum in a vision, and on waking is told by Oberon
that lie shall obtain the Princess and return triumphantly to France.
He then presents Sir Hunts with an ivory horn, whose power Oberon-
tells him is suck, as to

" Bring him to his aide
Tho' planets rolled between them."
He also presents Sherasmin with a golden cup, which will yield
wine to the guiltless, but molten lead to the guilty mouth. The
parties are then conducted to the mouth of the Tigris, and to Bag-
dad, where Sir Huon hears from Namouna (Mrs. Davenport) char
Rein is to be married on the following day (he having previously
tried the test of the cup on the person of Babecan, his rival in the
'erections of Reiza) and he determines upon an interview at all
hazards. We are now introduced to Reiza, and her attendant
(Madame Vestris) in the harem of the Caliph, on the evening
previous to the proposed marriage with Babekan. Reiza is
fully Impressed with the vision she has seen of the Knight
Paladin' • and determines, if he dues not come to her reacue, to
die by her hand. At this moment Sir Hum and Sherasmin
appear ; and eventually, by the assistance of the charmed horn,
succeed in destroying Bakken and in abstracting the Princess
and her attendant
.; leaving ;he royal Court of Bagdad to
disenchant themselves from the transfixed state in which this-
horn had placed them in the best manner they can. Oberon now
appears, and having told Sir Muni that he has redeemed his
knightly pledge, Informs Reiza that if she repents the step she has
tame, she shall be restored to her father the Caliph. She, however,
though aware "that the course of true love never did run smooth,"
is read to embrace difficulty and death rather than part from her
affianced lord, Sir Huon. The parties are then transported to the
pat of Ascalon, where a Greek vessel is ready to depart for Greece ;
they embark, and being overtaken by a storm raised by Oberon. are
shipwrecked on an island in the Mediterranean. Sir Huon appearl
supporting Reiza in an exhausted stare; he supposes her to be
dying, and, after imploring the assistance of " the Ruler of the awful
boor," the golden cup is suddenly washed ashore, the contents of
which soon reanimate the Princess. Sir Hawn then ascends the
heights for the purpose of obtaining succour, when a Tunisian
corsair suddenly appears, the crew of which land,smake " lawfql
prise" of Reisa, and leave Sir Huon wounded on the beach. The
Captain of the corsair, on his arrival at Tunis, presents his fair
captive to Almansor, the Emir, (Mr. Cooper) who becomes ena-
grouted other. Sterasmin and Fatima have also been made captives,
and become slaves; the former being in the occupation of a gardener.
To his garden °beton conveys Sir Huon, who learn, from Fatima
the arrival of she Princess and that she is kept in durance in the
harem of the Emir. He letermines to obtain admission in the
disguise of a slave, and in the gardens finds a bouquet made of
Sowers, which, according to eastern interpretation, conveys the
language of the donor. He applies to Fatima fur a solution of the
enigma, who assures huh it can come from no ether than the Prin-
cess. Sir Huon, in obedience to the injunctions conveyed on a leaf
of one of the lowers, passes into the harem, and rushes to ernhrarce
a veiled lady whom he supposes to be the Princess, but who proies
to be Radians (]Miss Lacy), the wife of Almanzor,who had become
enamoured of the -Christian slave. At this moment Almanzor
enters, and condemns Sir Iluon to instant death, as well as Reiss.,

on account of her refusal of his affections. In the interim, the
Charmed Horn has passed into the bands of Sherasmin, who found
it suspended in Ids garden. At the instigation of Fatima, he is in-
clued to try if it Indeed be the Magic Horn, and she Is, for her
temerity in doubting, condemned to laugh for her folly. On her
recovery from this 6t, she learns the probable fate of Sir Huon arts
the Princess, and conjures Sheraunin to proceed to their assistance.
He does so, and just u the light is about to be applied to the funeral
pile, be sounds. The whole of the attendants are immediately
seized with a dancing mania, and waltz off" to lively music."—
Oberon then appears, and informs the Prince and Princess their
probation is past, transports the fugitives and their brides to the
Court of Charlemagne, and the curtain drops.
The music is extremely beautiful, and the performers
did it justice. Mi,s PATON, on her appearing on the
stage, was received with a warmth of expreision which
conveyed to her the congratnlations of the audience, on
her recovery from the accident of the prece3ing even-
ing. She appeared to be perfectly recovered, and sang
her songs is ith her usual sweetness and exquisite taste.
BRAHMA also was in fine voice; his execution of the
air iu the first Act commencing—
,. 0 'tie a glorious sight to see
The charge of the Christian chivalry;
was given • with .an effect equal to any of his former
efforts. The passage,

The fight is date 1 The field is won !
Theis trumpets startle the setting sun !"
absolutely electrified the House. The e, core which
followed his performance of it was irresistible, and
enforced a repetition. A beautiful Quartetto, at the
commencement of the second Act, between BRAMAN!,
I3AACS, Miss PA roN, and Madame Varrats, was also
neared; as was au Air, sung by the latter Lady with
great sweetness and execution, U, Araby, dear Araby !
and a Duet with Fawcarr, in the second Act. 'tar

chorus of the Spirits of the Storm, in the second
Act, aff riled full scope for the exercise of the genius
of the composer, and he has not failed to nuke the
most of it.—The scenery is extremely splendid, espe-
cially a view of the Port of Ascalon, the House an.l

Garden of Ibrahim, and others. In fact, the Opera was
received throughout with the most decided marks of
approbation. It was announced for repetition this
evening, without a single dissentient voice. After the
falling of the curtain, %%KR, in compliance with the
general call of the House, appeared on the Stage, and
bowed cost respectfully to the audience. Ile retired
amidit the most enthusiastic greetings, and waving of
hats and handkerchiefs.

Yesterday bein; the first day of Terns, the Judges
dined together at Serpant's lon. Cbsocery•lase.
LIViRPOOL, Aram 1 I.—Yestesday awning a •ssnall
past, leolongisir to eat-boat Igo. ti sod' cootaisnot Aso twelve
pilots, capsised of Hoplakec Sad al of sicas Willi Most *stone-
stately dr•svoed.