The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-08-04 00:00:00

•••=1•01
THEATRICA IA%.

THE ITALIAN OPERA.

As this great hoose of refined entertainment to the lovers
of .tette harmony and of Terpsichore, is now drawing to its
cote fur the season, we feel it a ditty incumbent on lot to
express our sentiments generally on the performances ; an I
to say a few words on the merits of the foreign perform 're,
eho hare been gratifying the splendid audiences that resort
to the Italian Opera.
The Opera of Ricciardo e Zoraide, compiled hp
Rossi at, has chiefly engrossed the attention of the tonsical
world, during the last few weeks; and as t ie plot is already,
known, we shell confine our notice of it to the psi faKnaiiers
The music possesses beauties of a grand, striktne, and de.
fightfitl raat, and is altogether perhaps one of the best of
ROSSINI'S compositions. The overture is pleasing, parti-
coterie where the key changes bytre introduction of a
martial movement of a marked character, in which the
composer brings in• his favourite triplets with goo I enact;
and the movement (or the flute deserves great praise. Kos-
sun has sot been in -attentive to the peculiar of
every instrument in the composition now before us, by
assigning to each instrument characteristic accomiisnime..ts,
which ahem all its powers; and it is very gratify; sgto It •sr
the principal performers of a choice orchestra axe. ate iwea-
sional difficult, or pleasing passages, in success on, Sr see
?totem's firmness and precision as a Leader are wail
known, he has filled the anitions post with eclat, an I the
whole orchestra bas derived many ailsantages front Ilia in-
defatigable exertion,. We could notiee the pardeular tee
rite of other professors in the orchestra. lint our time send
not permit, and it would be invidioso to name any one in
particular.
The introduction of Military Bands on the stage for the
marches-kat a plod effect. ant they are almost too stnnni nes
and too much in French taste for an English eusienee.—
The.discrepance besides of their eines:ion with so fate ass
orchestra, is observable, and unpleasant.
With respect to the cast of the principal char tete, s of the
Piece. the composer himself. it he were lucre, w nl a
lighted, fur they are most ably sustained by Auk Dr Cs la-
PoicaSA, Madame Vesruis. )manor eURION I, Signor t
A, and Signor POR7O.—An Opera to an Italian atioaence
would be nothing without a great deal of recitative—r •as
English one,liowever, which at best is bet iinperfei the ae-
;painted eith the Italian language, it is apt to fatigue; hat
the exquisite thietta and tries to fticciarda, relieve any lie
guor that nil! impereeptibly creep on the midi ors; lost
from the striking contrast, we are brought into new mijoy-
meat of the composer's beauties.
The thirst of " Temo eal Perfitio" *pot; the key of E,
replete wills feeling and sentiment, and the pert...l:teener of
it, and chaste acting of 31 ethane CSAIPORESS. and Signor
ehattuNti, cannot be too highly commended. The trio a Sin
%%aline Dense" is the most attroetive co aposition in the
Opera, the air of it being brilliantly empli tie and full of
passion! It has been very ably stag sin. d by Madame
CAMP 'NEM )Isalanse VESTRIS, and Signor liaect t.
Itt-
deed,the feeling and beaniitnl action display-el by AI +risme
caueongsc, was ill itself a high treat, and the music gate
an excellent opportunity of 'hewing the skil and taste iie
the prima Dowse. She introdeces so twisted einbelfi lo-
west% or any ad ',Winans and lung shakes to entrap ti e
ears of the a usliense. (ss is too •li the ease even wite
many of the best English singers, who would do well to
teke a &asset Prow CANYONS-3es style ;) but her singing is
a finished, equal perfonnause, adorned with parity and
grace through eve, v bar. Iler iu.ii nation inwards Agoiemes
the man that she sFespises, is triumphant, and she u; the, Der
audience fed that it is so We are happy to -ec a fatorite,
Madame Vest:sus, enrolled with such u respectable Corps
of principal singers ; and that she shawls her gr, mei with
such eclat. Het voice is retold. sleep, and rice, and her f r-
ing, and correct taste, are tisii!e as conspicooDs at the tilital
Opera, et at any of our natiencl theatres.-130th Sfaiisise
VesTers and Signor listiciA acquitted thrhasders in the
be,t style in their parts in the I'rio. IV;it la regard, hower-r,
to the acting of Wiwi A, iii the )))) re ye lielnent ()Arts tif he
Opera, lie pot us too much iu mind of a Isriiii ce..„ and
his singing and performance altogether appear to he i ',le-
gion compared to Custom. Cceioafts style of singing and
playing pleases us extremely, and his graceful aaseareace
is notch in his favour. PoRTo'S Bess is:m.lPN! ttoog pow-
. rhil, wonderfully deep, and pleasing, and, would. Andre I,
let a great acquisition to the best °paretic company. H.
has •h, however, to learn, as to hit ac iag, as lie shear,
appears sluggish, unwi.itly, and cosatratued i• all nit
action.
The thinness, want of strength and .correctness In the
choruss department are truly miserable. The chorus sins•-
ers arc, it is said, underpaid, which of comae can add lode
to timer zeal ; and, uotii a riedit;ul improvement takes pl tee
in that department, and a greater number are engsged. it
will be rite impossible to bring out any fine t.pera is
proper style.
No one will question the abilities of the principal srene
painter, sud that there is good scenery at the I 'alien Opera;
butt, nevertheless, some of the scenei note in use mere.
tumid di-grace a miner-theatre; and what can Ile more
bankrupt-like or threadbare thou the drop, which is now
hardly an atti!ogy for tine.
It is to Oat the new decors ions will he in purer
taste, and that there will be cousistepey thoughisai in he
paintitigs on the boxes, the ceiling, and the prose. Mom,
iu order to supersede the present Ilsining figure., par Jr
coloured flags, &c. In Me Italian Opera !louse of hon.
don every thing oazzlit to be pare, classical, perpitt, and
in beautiful harmony.
Next se awn, we least, that the scenes will be all equally
goo I, and that they will be shifted on a better and spiiiker
priuCiple; and as to the perform:vises, let us mitielpitie
greater variety in the I Iptm to be produced, which nia) he
effected chiefly by hiring a better and more nmueroes set of
Glarus singers on liberal terns, who could penman the
most difficult chorusses of Mozart, 'widen those of all the
Italian composers. We intended to have passed some re-
marks on the corps de ballet, hat we are obliged to punt-
pone toes fur a future day.
A Lelia.

HATItanKIIT THICATRIL—It is no 11.54 honour:l6le lo the
taste of the town than lo the judgment of the manver and
the talents of the peiforosers, that this theatre owl-
tinues to he crowded al t beyond example. The
Opera of Tile Barber of Seri& was represented loc.
the first tune this season on Saturday night. with resat
success. Mr. LISrON'S Figaro anal bliss PATTEN'S tiOrinor,
bring, of coarse, the principal attractions. Of 11 r.
TON s merit in this part the metropolis hail experience tie.
fore siren other boards; hit small theatres are the places
to exhibit drama is talent to advantage, so that great as his
f sine was already, he ponsinues to gain groanehin
estimation. Asies RAYON was is line voice. The ext. um.'
that delightful air, " Ably and Decetnher," with greet
spirit, anal was rapturously encored. She litt'e ones act
piece, called, receive Precisely, o hide followed, poovided
us with another treat in the es. mit versatility of Alr-.l..sirT-
TetiLgY, alto went through live different character., with
a variety of manner and accent, whirls not only entitled her
to the applause of the audience, hut just.fied the astonish-
ment of every note of admiration which leases before her
name in the bills. We now tome to the last piece, a rese
Farce, in two acts, entitles!, speosisk Bonds. or Wart it
Wedlock, of which we ?rood to say. that we cannot spe alt
favourably. The scene is laid in .p sin, and Mr. Livros, as
Dom dire, and Mrs. JONES. as his Donna, are the panties
hose bielicrings give s ise to the second title ; for, as to •he
first, the Piece might as well have been called Feemen Se-
curities, or, ituscrirelll 1/011118, for any chir.etioht
that either could have WWI the .object. The lisle
and her linsleand favour the ashlresoces of tau 'lie.
ereet suitors for the hand of their &milder isibcThs
'Mrs. CHATTENLIT), and this, with a little jeal
in the part of the young lady seresrsis the lover she pr. fer,
..rats the ground-work of tin' plot. Timmy, tars' With ga
the advantages the Theatre could ..ffvrd, it Istieguislw.i

~ifeiar.ilrc