The Sun. — 1825-01-05 (London, England)

EDINBURGH THEATRE.  Last night Der Fre'schute was produced to a most fashionable audience; and, in good truth, " The Srrenth Bullet" was fired with great effect. We heartily desire that the spirited proprietors of our dramatic establishment may ultimately reap the full benefit of their arduous and praiseworthy paeseverance.—j Here follows an account of the plot, with which our readers are by this time pretty well acquainted.l—Making due allowance for the almost insurmountable difficulties that this popular opera presents, we were surprised by the excellent manner with which a great part of the music was given.— The overture, in its performance, may safely claim the largest share of unqualified praise. Indeed, when we say it was encored—though a very elaborate production, and containing but small portions of melody or motive, it may be considered a very surprising circumstance, and certainly forms an era in the history of music in Edinburgh. Even the " Gods " themselves were awed into most unusual silence ! We were delighted by the successful appearance of Illiss Noel, the vocal heroine. Her voice is of a very rich and tine quality, tolerably extensive, hut what is of greater importance, her style is pure, free from vulgar ornament, or abortive attempts to give effect by an introduction of note splitting, so utterly repugnant to good feeling and common sense. We may, therefore, congratulate our musical friends upon the accession of this most promising young lady to our Theatre. We trust her stay will not be a short one. With the exception of Miss Noel and Mr. Thorne, we cannot say very much that is laudatory for the remainder of the vocal department, if we except the. Chorus," who, whether as Villagers, Huntsmen, Fiends, or Spirits, acquitted themselves exceedingly well, considering every circumstance. We were informed yesterday that it is to the efforts of our Professional Society of Musicians we are indebted for their proficiency, as well as the improvement of our instrumentalists, I so indisputably evinced by the performance of this evening._ No small praise we think is due to our worthy leader, Dewar, whose talents, it is now very evident, will be more highly ap_ preciatetl the more frequently he has an opportunity of spewing them. It is impossible to make mention of the several beauties of the composition, but we think the music throughout of the incantation scene was the most incomparable. It opens with a chorus of spirits, part of whom merely imitate the screeching of owls and other ominous birds of night, and though (as a musical critic justly remarks) " the effect be not strictly musical, it is highly dramatic," and magically effective. The " Jager chorus," we have been told, is not original, but is merely worked up, and very cleverly, by Weber. We could have wished our chorus friends to have given it us with a little more fire and animation. The words too " more trippingly from the tongue," it draws too much at present to •be duly effective. We would respectfully recommend Miss Dyer not to attempt the beautiful Polonaise in the first act—a murder which, even in a female, and that a pretty one, and ono too who ought to be a favourite, will not be tolerated. Let it be given to some one else ; why not to Miss Noel ? instead of one of the heavy songs she sings at present. Any arrangement to this end will be for the better. The most charming little air in the whole opera is that of RodoZph—" Thro' the Forest, thro' the Meadow ;" and it was very sweetly sung by Mr. Thorne. The succeeding portion is very elaborate, and was also given with very considerable energy and effect by this gentleman.— We know -not if what we are about to mention be natural to Mr. T., but there is a tremulousness at times in his sustained notes that is far from pleasant, and which we fear is an acquired habit. Mr. Brahain assumes it, we know; and, generally speaking, it is one of his greatest defects. We trust Mr. Thorne has too much pride and good sense to become an imitator of so impure a model in many particulars.—Murray, Pritchard, and Mackay, acquitted themselves in the most able manner; but we have now neithet time nor space to be more particular. We must therefore conclude this hurried notice, by strongly recommending every person fond of dramatic entertainments to witness the representation of this splendid opera. If they go once they will go again, for it requires time and the exercise of intellect to comprehend the full meaning of its music, and an intimate acquaintance with its various parts. fully to develope its almost innumerable beauties.—(Edinburgh Evening. Cont-ant, Dec. SO.)