The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-08
Meyorbeer's New Opera or The Prophsts.


ton, which characterize Meyerbeer's genius llar-
mony there Ia Of the ampest kind, but generally II
has not The meowed grandeur suited in the oratorio
whose style u approaches nearest and Of which
Mendeseohn was so complete master. To The
lyrical operate style II is greatly opposedhaving
none Of those contrasts Of light and shade and but
very few indeed of those melodies which the ear
se2ea and the memory retains. Meyerbeer appears
here 10 have forgotten more than In any OF his more
recent works, thai the rich and the powerful and
those whose days are spent in labor Of commerce and
OF art do not go TO m opera for fierce excitement 10
renew The fatigue Of the day. but for repose OF the
mind BY changes of impression. which nothing
dramatic musical cnn afford when II Is constantly
oyerairained and OF lugubrious sameness, and the
appeal 10 the ear and understanding are carried on by
the sheer physical force Of voices and instruments.
In The choice Of John OF Ieyden"--a choice clear
" dictated by AIeyerbeera greater error has been
committed than In The selection OF ''Robert lie Dia.
be.1 In which the occasional approach 20 subjects
which all men Of good taste, moi 10 speak Of the
lgons rapudiaie on The stage Is yelled by the dis
lance and the mingled snpersiions Of the med
ieyal period. Whether as a tailor, an enthusiast an
uanrper of power or n religoniHt-ihe selection OF
| 'John Of Leyden'' for hero is most extraordi-
nary thought, and ha rreyerent dnngs in his stage
character are mi likely TO pease either the Catholic,
or the Protestant or the dissenier; still more ccr-
tainy would II be offensive 10 the Anabaptist since
the stern devotee here has revels worthy Of Julius
I H., Il not of Rorpia The socialist alone will be
perfectly suited by the breo of this opera therefore
was noi astonlshed 10 see amongst The audience
applaud, The last to cease. You viii see that whilst
il connot afford desirable inspiration the compo-
SER its hero and lis plot exclude from performance
in most countries. IL IL surely not under the do
minon OF the Aus,rians, the Pope, IL Is not at
Vienna or in Italy that il will be performed. The
king Of Prussia himself Meyerbeer's royal master
and liege lord & ~ like the example OF the burn
ing Of pniaces in tsAsious and political enthusiasm
which This opera affords. Asto England, OF course
new breto must be written II ns L is said, Ma
dame Yiardo s 10 have leave, the 7ih of Jnly, TO
90 over and perform ID. | need not say that what.
the defect of the work generally there are some
portions worthy Of the PALMER days Of Meyerbecrs
genius The two first nets are heavy and ennlysur
but the others offer some bright exceptions, amongst
which must particularly mention singular buiio
trio, OF highly artistic construction, betwxt Ober-
thral and Two Anabaptls preachers, supported by
the chorus Of Anabaptist In the third act; and the
snnzas sung by the Prophet, with goblet Of wine
! IN his hand, before he acconplIshes his destructive
purpose on the palace In the fifth act. There is also
an excellent trio in this act befwixt Fdes (ViardoD
the Prophet Roger and Bertha (Castclian)
As regards mise scene, nothing has been spared,
plctorially or otherwise. Duponche who was the
first TO make yocalists sing trio on horseback,
spares nothing for costume and other theatrical ef-
fects OF Appearance. Nothing is wanting, not even
dancing OF skating. The dancers were Plunkeit and
Peiifpns, and tho skaters performcda bdiidbie. Tie
constant rehearsals OF the music Of this OPERA which
keeps the voices Of the singers perpetualy ON the
stretch, has so much straned those OF the vocasis
who perform the principal parts, that il would be
Unjust to Judge them by the result Of the first night
when some emotion must have added TO their ia
tigue. CASTELAR,, who has secondary and less bur-
thensome part, written expressly for her alone came
out with full effect AZ further proof Of bad taste In
the French capital will only add that, besides this
Anapabtist prophet there has been another hero of
the same kind enacted on the boulevard; whilst
even The mariyred Louis XVI. Is not respected
Frederic Iemaler playing this royal parsonage with
every probable horrible detail, at the Porte ST.
Marlin.