King's Theatre.
The Times, 1824-04-05T00:00:00

The pledge which w9as so liberauy given at the commencement of the opera season, that the public should be regaled with a congtant succession of excellence and novelty, has not been redeemed. Ros- sini's Zel7nira is the only new piece which has beea produced. 11 Barbiere di Scrog4a, the work of Rossini, with which we were pre- viously *vell acquainted; Il Fanatico per iUts mica, the composi. tion of Allayer, but altered, we wiU not sav amended, by Rossini ; and lastly, Ricciardo e Zoraide, another of Rossini's operas, which was broueht out in June last, and revived on Saturday evening :_ such, and so meagre, is the list of operas performed since the opening of this theatre. With respect to thenew performers, there has been little of novelty, and less of excellence The best singers at the theatre are those whom we heard long before the concern got into the hands by which its affairs are manarged at present. To the opera of Rieciardo e Zoraide, which was nerformed on Saturday, the torn were not strangers. But,,though aU its great features are retained, yet certain transpositions of scenes have been made, and some al- terations, by the omission of particular passages and the insertion of new ones, have been tffected, whichwender the plotmore intelligible, and add to the general iuterest of the opera. (arcia, as Agorante, the hero of the piece, expressed all the passions of the African con- queror with a force and energy befitting one of' the fiery " ehildren of the Sun." The trio, ".Seaa ralma delusa schterrnifa," in which he took a most prominent part, was encored. It is, perhaps, the boldest and mostcharacteristic composition in the opera * and was, unquestionably, the finest effort of the evening. Curioni, whose sweetness of voice and delicacy of taste are perfectly suited to. the personation of love-lorn swains, sarg the airs allotted to Ricciardo very pleasingly. Thelatterpartof the duobetween himand Dladame C. Rossini, " Proteggi amorc," was expressively sung,and was very loudly encored.. Dladarne Colbrand Roasini appeared as Zoraidec.She has succeeded Camporese in the character, and unfortunately her powers are not calculated to make us forget those of lier prede- cessor. She got through the part respectablv. giving us an idea not of present but of past exceUlence.-Troja kiit. Signor Franceschi, another of the novelties, yersonated the French Amnbassador in a very ludicrous style. For the parpose of contrast, and fbr this pur- pose only, Signor Franceschi may be useful. Porto, as Ircana, had not much to do; his deep and sonorous voice was heard to greatad- vantage in the air ".Dunque invano i perigli c la wrtoe." Ma- dame Vestris sastained the partof Zomira: her performance was pleasing. A great deal of attention has been paid to the scenery and decorations of the opera, and much pains have been bestowed on the chorusses. One of them, scezadi propigio, a chorus at a dis- tance, is remarlutbly soft and expressive; it was finely sung. The opera went osf well. The house wvas not well attended at the com- mencement of the opera; bat before nine o'clock the pit and boxea were fiBled. KlING'S TrtEATRMB.