English Opera-House.
The Times, 1824-07-23T00:00:00

A musical drama, or, as the play-bills call it, a grand musical performance, entitled Der Frciscdluxtz, was played at this theatre for the first time last evening. The manner of its announcement, and the famo of *Veber's opera of thc same name, on which it is founded, had excited a great'sensation in its favour, which its re- presentation is doomed, we fear, in somne measure to disappoint. The original opera was produced about three years ago at Alunich, and immediately became popular to a degree very unusual in the thea- tres of the colntinent. lt ha;s since been played at all the chief ci- ties of Germany, where it has been no ess successful; and it wes entirely the rage at St. Petersburgh during the last winter. The Eng- lish version of the opera, which is saiui to be a literal translation from the German, has themeritof being accompanied by themusicof the original, and extraordinary pains lave been taken in thegettingit up. The orchestra has been enlarged, the chorusses recruited, and What is more to the purpose, carelfully drilled, and the whole opera hra benefitted by the superintendence of MIr. Braham. The story is one of pure diablerie, and turns upon the circamstance of one of the huntsmen of a Bohemian Prince having given his soul to the Devil in exchange for some clarmed bullets, which never fail to hit the object at which their possessor aims. This huntsman, Caspar (Mr. Bennet), as the term of his contract draws near to its expira- ioD, is very desirous to extend it, and seeks to propitiate the Spirit of Evil by sacrificing to him one of his comrades, on contlitiotn of receiving seven other bullets, and three years of longer life. At the opening of the opera, a number of villagers and huntsmen are dis- covered firing at a target. Rodolph (Mtir. Braham), the proposed victim of Caspar, who has always before been the best shot in the country, is here under the influence of the spells of the Black V ager, or in plain English, of the Dcvil himself. lIe misses every thing, is foiled ant laughied at bi' the peasants, and iR perfect despair at the thought of returning to his affianced bride witbout the prize which she will expect to receive from hin. le sings here one of the most beautiful and expressive pieces in the opera ( Oh, I can bear mty feteo ltoneger), where the effect of the music is aided and ex. plained by the appearance of the Black Huntsman crossing the scene exulting over his victim. i'lic Spectator, we think, talks rap- turously somewhere of the agreeable excitement produced on an auldience by the sight of a ghost especially if he appeared in a bloody shirt; bet good as that miglit have been in its way, it is in. comparbly less delightfal and terrific than the real Devil, with glow- ing eyes and a black face, muffed up in a long red cloak, and per. sonated by Mlr. T. P. Cooke, who, it must be observed, plays the Devil in a nianner to move the envy of all his mclo-dramzLic com- peers. Caspar now proposes to Rodolple, affecting to pity his misfor. tunes, the m-eans of remedying his ill-luck; and promises to show him how to cast unerrirrg bullets if he will nest him at midnight in the Wolf's - Glen. Hodolph'a scruples ae remsoee -by -'ks- pat' enabing him to bring down an eagle at an immesise distance with one of these balls. h'le secondl act opens with a scenc between Agnes (Miss Noel), Rodolph's bride, and her companion A,tin (31iss Povey), who are waiting Rodolph's return. in this scene there are some delightful songs by both the ladies, and a veiy long scenea by Agnes. RodoLph enters, but it is only to explain the 3iecessity of his going out again to the 'olf 's Glen. A trio in this scene ( Where ! What ! Oh terror !), remarkable for the ingenuity and beauty of its compo- sition, was loudly encored, as wel as a song (Now, good nhAtyJ by Brahain, and they both deserved the applause they receive_. then came the scene of the glen, where Caspar was discovered raising the Devil, according to the most approved recipe,-that is, withla circle of black stones, and a skuU and hanger. A wild chorus of Spirits is sung while he pertorms the unholy rites, and the yells of unquiet ghosts and screech-owls accompany it. The Demon appears, and the bi.rgain is made; the materials for casting the bullets riseoutof theearth, anEt Rodolph appears true to his appoint. mnent, and undismayed by all the ugly sliapes which as- sail hhin. As each bullet is cast, the borrors accumulate; dreadful sounds, loathsomne birds and reptiles, deformo4 shapes. cluter round thie charmed circle, a phantasnagoric hunt is seen (or rather ought to be seen, or this part of the - scene failed) in the clouds; until at leitgeh the stage looks like the picturcs of i' the temptations of St. Anthony." The clock strikes one-Rodolpfi rushes from the circle, and the curtain falls. The tlird act is either so clumasily mianagedl, or was (perbaps owing to the first representation) so incorrectly playeil, that all we could understand from it was, that when Rodolph is firing his last charmed bullet, in the trial of skill, on which his marriage with Agnes depends, the Demon appears, anei directinig the shotrto the heart of Casper, seizes and disappears with him in a most edifying shower of live. Notlhing of course re. mains hut fbr Rodoit/h to receive the hand of his bride, and to give his best assistauce to theinatae. The dtflicultv of such music as tlat of which Der Freiscltatz consists, and the complicated nature of some parts of the drama, entitle it to the most favourable consi- deration, while the exertions which have been made in its production are highly praiseworthy. Mr. Braham's singing was in every re- spect excellent. Miss Noel wants grace and action and would pro- bably sing easier songs better. Aiss Povey had little to act, and sang her songs ,retfily. A Mr. Bennett, w!ho played Casper, tookinti- aite pains to imitate lr.Alacresdy, and it isonly fairtosay thathesuc. ceed.d.Whe else witches and devils, and toads, and skeletons get well into their several parts we have no doubt tiey will make very respect- ablebeasts;and as soon as the fire-works aremade sensible 't tt.e man- .aer in-whicl they ought to go off, the scene of the inc.nrtation. will be u very powerful one of its kind. In thie mean time the directors ef this tbeatTe must have the praise of having made a v.ry bold ef. fort td introduee at the Bnglish Vpera a piece of first rpte exeellence, and which is no less creditable to their good taste than t.o their spirit ENGLSIJY OPERA-HOUSE.