The National Register. — 1817-04-14 (London, England)

APRIL 14.  THE DRAMA.  KING": THEATRE. THEATRE.  That highly celebrated Opera, the Don .luan of Mozort, was, after being announced for many weeks, at length brought forward on Saturday evening. So 111116 has already appeared in the papers on the musi• cal history and merits of this grand composition, that little of the critics duty remains to be performed. We can but place oft record what had been so generally anticipated; and on the present occasion we have pleasure in stating, that the success of Don Juan was eminent and complete. The acting throughout was just and spirited; the music was delightfully executed; and the new seen c decorations were picturesque and splendid. Ambrogetti acquimd himself with extraordinary energy ; and with respect either to vocal or dramatic action, we have rarely seen any performance more powerful than his, from the opening of the second act, to the conclusion of the supper 'zone, where the Annie and a hest of devils beset Don Pcdro's murderer. Naldi's Leporello was a piece of comic and assured extravagance, which relieved the sombre complexion of the crimes upon which it WAS employed. Crivelli was correct enough, but overpowered by superior organs. Some of the airs by the female performers displayed much taste and feeling; and the noble, and often terrible and thrilling, harmonics were poured forth by the assembled corps of singers with masterly precision. Among the decorations of the Opera must be noticed the striking view of the Cemetery and Equestrian Statue in the second act, where the shades arc managed with unusnal depth and softness, and the moonbeam is thrown with prodigious effect upon the ghastly figure of the horseman. The story may be comprised in the following statement :  Don Juan is a dissolute nobleman, a libertine of the higher class ; regardless of the impediments, moral or divine, that impede the gratification of his passions, h. commences his career with an attempt to violate a lady of beauty, wealth, and rank. Her fatht.r, Don Pedro, conies to her a<si,ia■ce, and receives a wound from the libertine th:.t oho; tie terminates in his death. The hero then proceeds the 'ltch a va. ricty of adventures, all having the same objei t and at length, to avoid the comequeiters of an unfortunate dilemma in s.vhich he has placed himself, lie takes refuge in the een.iitery in which the remains of Don Pedro are di ',mired. If( re commence, the terrific part of the teem,: a %mind ft out the Ecptestrian Statue excites his attention ;—it is the warning •iacc of the figure of Dim which tell, him, that before the dawn his mi►lh will hat e all end; it denounces the v CHpane of beaseit for his da►ing to disturb the ...pose of the dea I ; and says it waits for vengeance on the impious man who deprived hint of life. Don Joan disre:ards these threats, and invites the spectre to stopper. The invitation is accepted. Afterwards, at a splendid banquet, the guests are ills. torbrd and terrified by the entrance of the ghost of Don Pedro, clad in complete white armour. The spirit, in its torn, invites the libertine to *upper; this invitation is likewise accepted: and Don Juan, presenting his hand to the figure, is instantly seized a ith a mortal terror; his conscience his awakened, and he is at once distracted and stung with remorse. Dlemons arise, bearing fiery torches, a flaming abyss opens, into which he ii precipitated, to receive the punishment due to his crimes. Such are the materials of the drama.