KING'S THEATRE.-Rossini's...
The Times, 1824-07-19T00:00:00

AI NG S i HEATRE.--Itossinit's seriousopera of Semiranide which was first produced in this country a few evenings since, for the benefit of Signor Garcia, was repeated on Saturday. The plot pos. sesses more interest than is usuallv f'ouud in the subjects dramatized by the modern ItaliAn pocts, who seem to think that if thev produce a given number of verses, no matter how trite and trifling, their work is done: the rest is left to the ingenuity of the composer, whose pleasantduty it becoines to clothe these poetical abortions in the rich robes of tasteful hlarmiony. The fable, :n the present instance, em. braces some strikingly interesting situations-situations which have given the composer an opportunity for describing the more violent as well as tlhe gentler passions of our nature. The music of this opera is of an elevated and heroic character. Rossini felt that the personages introduced were "1 the hoaourable of the earth"-princesses, princes, and warriors ; and he has endea- voured very successf'ully to give them strains befitting their proud and lofcy tortunes. We think, however, that the opera never Vill be popular. it is from beginning to end too abstrusely and elaborate- ly scientiic to please the milhon. To those whe are well acquaint-, ed with the science of harmony, many of the marches and chorusses will allord great delight; hut there is little in the opera that can give pleasure to the lover of pure melody. From this general obser- vation, we must, however, except the love scenes of Idr enzes, whicb are very tender, and the duet between Assur and Serniramide, in the second act, beginning_ s QueUlasricordate "Natte di morte,"' which is distinguished by profound feeling. The sceue to which this duet belongs IS, we think, the finestin the opera. Theviolent temperof ihedisappoin ted Assm, andthescornfae dignity of the insulted queen, are beautullypreserved in every movement. Great knowledge has been displayed in the composhion of the chorusses. They arc per- haps sco powerful fbrany theatre however extensive. The concerted pieces are full of fire and energy. The finale to the first act, "Ah! Sconvolta nefl'ordine eterno E' na:ura in si orribilegiorno," was excellently dercriptive of a sate of chaotic confusion. The mu- sic in the scene where the spirit of NVinus appears was also very ap- propriate. Its deep and solemn character reminded us a good deal of the statue in Don Giovztni. The opera has been considerably curtailed-in somle parts, we think injudiciously. Thus the greater portion of the scene itt which Arsaces discovers io Sesniramide that ne is her son-oneof the finest incidents in the opera-has been omit- ted.Anadame Pastarepresented Semiramide with admirable effect.She wore her royal robes with dignity, and looked "' every inch a queen." Her effrts were ably seconded by Signor Itemorini, who sustasned the character of Assur. We have rarely heard a singer, with a voice of equal depth, wvho could introduce, with so much success, so many ornaments as tliisgentlemati does. Signor Garcia, as the Indian King, [di enus, had a mere sinecure. The little, howerer, whiclh was al- lotted to hin, lie executed with his accustomed excellence. Great attention has been paid to the getting up of the oper. The scenery is splendid, and the dresses rich and appropriate. The opera was very well received by a very full house. The late Baron Wood is supposed to have died worlh nearly 300,0001., atcquired by reat eminence and labour in his pro- fession, the bulk of which wiul devolve upon numerous relatives, in comsparatively humbler walks of life. A corresponident states, that the Rev. Mr. Colton landed a few days ugo at Liverpool, from North America, in the slhip George, and is expected irn town immediately.-Senldaay paper. Mrs. H. Baring is the daughter of Mr. Binghanu, a rich Senator of the United States who kept a splendid open house for the French emigrant nobkesse in Philudelphia, among whom was a Count Tilly, with whom she eloped when he was 22, and she about 16. They were lawfully married the same night, but before morning she was forced back to her fatliers house bya party hbeded by her uncue, antd the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an act to annul the marriage. She was shortly after married to Mlr. H. Baring. LAdvertiscinent.]-UAPTAIN BASIL HALL, ON SOUTIs xj=E- nic.A&-A third edition of this popular and highly ititeresting work, withsonie particulars relating to the character of the ex-Emperor Iturbide, is published this day by Archibald Constable and Co., Edinburgh; and Hurst, Robinson, and Co. 9Q, (Jhepside, end i 1'sl-msll, London; in 2 vols. 8vo, price 11. is.boaidvr