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Leader (1850-1860), 11th August 1860, Edition 2 of 2, Page 13

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      Record. Of The Week. Home And Colonial. ...

      The German press declare that Prussia , lias decisively refused to join in guaranteeing the possession of Venetia to Austria . The protocols on the Syrian disturbances provide , that the great Powers seek neither- territorial aggrandisement , nor exclusive influence , nor commercial advantages ; and all , except Prussia , undertake to furnish naval assistance in case of its becoming necessary . The mutual iealousy and suspicion evinced in the framing of this provision is very sueeestive and edifying . The Sultan , in another passage , is admonished to be what the " copy slips" tell little boys—" punctual in the performance of engagements , " with special reference to the Treaty of 1856 article 9 ; and a further passage declares that the Sultan has been ' and will continue to be mindful of his obligations—the one clause neutralizing the other . The preclusion of " commercial advantages" is also n ullified by an ' additional clause , that they ace to be permissible not for the exclusive benefit of any particular nation , but for the common advantage of all . '

      „ , -,. Abd-el-Kader lias been presented with the grand cross of the legion of honour by the French Emperor , for his magnanimous conduct in protecting Christians during the late massacres . On behalf of the revolutionary party in Sicily , a statement has been put forth with an . intended conciliatory view , to the effect that the expectation that the party in question would seek to republieaniso Italy , was not well-founded—an adhesion to monarchical principles being thus considered , as it would appear , af commendation rather than a B The cabinets of Vienna and Berlin have simultaneously sent notes to Paris , that they consider that the affair of Savoy does not require any conference , and that the French government ought to give specific and satisfactory explanations as to the obligations imposed upon , or undertaken by her , in respect of her new acquisitions . This seems to indicate something like that unity of action which the ; . German populations have always beenin favour of . ¦ .,, __ « ¦ - , -..- / __ . __ ..-, _ r lias b received bthe federal council of

      A note , dated 18 th July , een y Switzerland from the Swedish government , to the effect that it is the intention ' of the latter tp support the claims , of Switzerland at the conference on the affairs of Savoy . The'French" ' Emperor has reviewed the troops in camp at Chalons , where he was received with enthusiasm . At Belgrade , the capital of Servia , it serious disturbance , probably a sympathetic reverberation of the Syrian outbreak , has taken place . Some Turks , stated to be soldiers from the fort garrisons and some sailors from the ships in the Save and Danube , came to blows with , the native population , and people were killed and wounded on both sides . - Tlia following Address was delivered by the Emperor of--the French to the troops destined for Syria : — " Soldiers ! you leave for Syria . Franco hails with joy an expedition the sole aim of which is to cause the rights of-justice and humanity to triumph . You do not make wara ° ainst any foreign Power * but to assist the Sultan -in bringing back the obedience of his subject ? , who arc blinded by the fanaticism

      of a fornier age . In that distant land , rich in great reminiscences , fulfil your duty ; shew yourselves the worthy children pf those who once gloriously carried into that country the banner of Christ . You do not leave in great numbers , but your courage and prestige will supply the deficiency ; because , wherever the French flag is , seen to pass , nations know that a great cause precedes it , and that a great people follow it . "

      Aug. 11, I860.] The Saturday Analyst And...

      Aug . 11 , I 860 . ] The Saturday Analyst and Leader . 725

      Entertainments. Eoyai Italian Opejja.—Ha...

      ENTERTAINMENTS . EoYAi Italian Opejja . —Haying in our last impression noticed the -ppnfni-mancca of the closing week of tho season at this superb theatre , " we now give a rapid sketch of the season Uselfr ^ t ^ miremS ^ OTrtlrer 10 th of April , the subscription consisting of forty nights , and it has included the usual number of extra performances , bringing up the sum total to fifty-six . Meyerbeer's " Dinorah " . was the opening opera of the season , and six performances were subsequently given in addition to the first . Donizetti ' s fayourito " Favoritu" was repeated thrice ; Aubor ' s " Fra Diavolo " four times ; Verdi ' s " Trovntoro" five times ; Mozart ' s " Don Giovanni" ( after Sig . Alary ) four times ; Rossini's " Gazza Ladra" four times ;„• Meyerbeer ' s " Huguenots " live times j Bellini ' s " 1 ' uritani" onco ; Flotow ' s " Martha" three times ; Gluck ' s " Orfeo o Euridico " four times ; Bellini ' s " Norma" twice j Donizetti's

      " liucrezia Borgia" twico ; Meyorbew's " Propheto" six times ; and Verdi ' s " Rigoletto , " Bossini's " Bnrbicre di Siviglin , " nnd Beothoven ' s " Fidel | o , "—the latter ropoatedly given , either in whole or in part , — wore the remaining three of the sixteen operas produced , five of these being virtually now productions , or revivals with all the attributes of perfect novelty . Among the most noteworthy " first appearances , " wo have to record those of Madame Miolnn Carvnlho , as Mosinn , in" II Barbioro , " and as Zerlina , in " Fra Diavolo j" Madame Penco , as Ninetta , in " La Gazzn Ladra , " Lathi Henrietta , in "Martha , " and Gild-a , in " Rigolptto . " This lady also undertook , at a few hours ' notice , tho part of Leonora , in " Troyatore , " which wns substituted for " Le Prophote , " na tho seooncl performance of tho last week of tlio Season . In addition to theso , nnd , though lust in order , by no monns least in interest , woro tho debuts of two artistes now to this country , namoly , Madame Rosa Osillag , from tho Imporiul Opera nt Vionna , nnd

      M . Fanre , from tho Opora Oomiquo at , Paris , in tho characters of Leonora (" Fidelia" ) and lloel ( "Dinorah" ) . Tho porformaneo which for the first time was wit . nossod in , England was thai ; of " Orlco o Euridioe . " Thoro woro also four grand concerts—morning and ovoning—in tho Floral Hall , to which tlio aubsoribore to tho opora had tlio eritf * co ~~ gvtlti 6 i ~ tynd this -inn gnifioent-8 tinioturo ,-brUliantly _ . illuminatod and filled with tho choicest , ilowors , whoso delicious odours turned tho vory atmosphere into iiorfumo , while their drizzling hues mndo tho whole area roaplondont , contributed largely towards tJio attractions of Mr . Gyo ' a unrivalled establishment . On tho 10 th of May , tho band of tho Coldstroam GuardH ]) layod lioro till midnight ; . Among tlio other features worthy of npooification womny mention M . Dosplaeo's ballots of "Los Amours do Diano , " and " Azclin . " Mndumo Q-nsi ' ela 8 t " announcod " twolvo apponranous wore , by a happy stroko of managerial arithmotio , converted into eovontoon . May wo cxproBH ft hopo that this process of addition , or a still more liberal ono of multiplication , may bo repoatod

      next season ? In that case we may be able to witness at least once ' more her matchless characterizations in " Semiramide , " " Anna Bolcna , ** " La Gazza Ladra , " " Puritani , " Don Pasquale , " " II Barbiere , " " " Nozze di Figaro , " & c , a pleasure which was subtracted from the sum " of our musical gratifications this summer . If we take the combination of powers requisite to make a first class artiste for the lyric stage , we find they are the most distinct , not to say the most incompatible that can be well imagined ; inasmuch as the study and application requisite for either of the two leading qualifications is such as to furnish almost a life ' s work for the greatest human capacity . The most perfect natural capabilities of voice cultivated to the highest pitch of excellence , is only one of the essential elements that enter into this very complex character . In addition to this , not only is an amount of dramatic power , also matured by incessant training and practice , equal , at least , to the

      requirements of the non-lyric 6 tage , indispensable ; but there is besides the desideratum of versatility for enabling the consummate Operatic performer to assume all parts from the deepest tragedy to the lightest comedy . These gifts and accomplishments are but rarely found concentrated in one and the same individual ; still their realization is not without precedent . Nature and art have conspired to produce in Madame Grisi one of these prodigies so seldom found at all , and then like the phoenix , solitary and unique . Hervoieeisnotwhatitwas , butherhistrionic powers as they seem to develope and expand instead of declining , compensate for the slow deterioration of her still incomparable organ . It is in general only the soprano and the tenor to whom the first roles are allotted . The baritone and bass are > as a rule , subordinate—the contrary is the exception . Lablache was one , Alboni of whom wo speak with reference to her vocalization merely is another . Ronconi ,

      with whom we have specially to , do in this notice , possesses a degree of versatility and genius as an actor * which would place him in the highest rank on any stage , and this is more than sufficient to counterbalance any imperfection pf voice as a singer . Mario is another , in whom all these requisitions indicated arc satisfied ; nor must we omit , in the category of first-class artistes ( all of whom existent in the world at any one time , can generally be all but counted on the fingers of one hand ) , who are inscribed iii the prospectus of this theatre , . the name of Signor Tamberlik . It is this , coupled with the possession of a band , which Mr . Costa has brought in every element of completeness and excellence to a perfection that cannot be even approached elsewhere , that renders this house so famous for its performances , in a musical and dramatic point of view alone . In addition , to the " first appearances in this country" that we have signalised there , are the familiar names of

      Gardoni , Luchesi , Neri-Baraldi , TagliaficOj Patriossi , Polomni , Rossi , Zelger , and the first baritone in point of voice on the stage , Graziaid ; Mdile . Didice andJMdlle . Corbari , Madame Tagliafico , and Madame Leva , and the newcomer , Mdlle . Giudita Sylvia , enough in themselves to make a tolerably strong operatic company . But all the other apjjliances and means of . an :- ancillary character are in unison with the main features we have indicated . There is no starving of one department-to exaggerate another—no jarring mental discords in the painful contrast between gigantic development in one direction , and puny , nieagre attenuation in another . When we consider , that at the burning of the former house ,, the mountings and properties of 60 operas are said to have been destroyed , we ask ourselves in astonishment , how all this loss can have been repaired in the magnificent ¦ m ise en scene in every opera produced , and of which the representation

      of " Le Propheto" may be cited as a remarkable , though not an isolated , example . Mr . Gyc has shown what capital , judgment , energy , an indoinitablb resolution in a manager to do the best that human resources can accomplish in catering for his subscribers , will achieve . Every department is upon the best footing , aiid every detail under tho "TtR ^ trefnriicnTt- ^ TrpervisTO the scenery , in " . the designing and production of which the tasto and practical ability of Mr . Beverly and Messrs . Grieve and Telbin aro conspicuous ; the machinery , appointments , and costumes , in connection with which wo may mention the names of Messrs . Sloman , Prescott , and Combes ; M . Hennier nnd Madame Marzio ( of Paris ) , nnd Mrs . James , avo all in tho highest stylo of excellence . In this necessarily fragmentary article we must notico the departments according to the exigencies of composition , without exnet regard to their order in importance . Having disposed of these adjuncts , so essential to tho completeness of a finished ensemble , wo must specify tho literary

      department , under the able direction of Sig . Maggioni . Tho choruB , so indispensable in an operatic performance , occupies a prominent place in tho exoollenco of tho representations at this theatre ; and tho name of its " inaster , " Mr . Smythson , deserves creditablo mention ; ns do alsothoso of M . Dosplaeo ' s '' niaitro , " nnd M . Nudaud , leader of the ballet , in which we find tho names of Mdlle . Zina Richard , Mdllo . Espor , & c , with a first rate corps de ballet . The military band and its leader , Mr . Godfrey , coinplcto tho items that occur to us for eriumeration . 'With- nuvqudm dormio optics vigilantly scanning all these various departments , and following every detail through its ramifications up to tho point of consummation , 3 Vlr . Nolson , tho privnto secretary of tlio establishment , deserves spocial mention , no loss for tho courtesy which all who have to consult him on business can thoroughly appreciate , than for his assiduona and careful attotition to all matters coining beforo him . Wo heartily wish Mr . Gyo in future seasons tho buccobs of which ho lifts hitherto shown hiinsolf so well deserving , and which it requires no gift of prophecy 1 o predict , awnita him .

      pjtmciess ' s Thkatiik . — " Tho Lndy of Lyons , " " La Fillo Terrible , " nnd " Thrico Married , " drew full houses during tho week . In tho ilrst , Miss Heath nnd Mr . Melville sustained tho loading parts of Paulino uncLC ^ a ! MfclMfl / Ho / i ^ jwith fidelity niicl spirit . But tho incompnrnblo porsohntion of iVinnlo ohnriioiofV ' Viylll' ^ years of ago !) , tind tho Zoiuivo Glatigny ( pvinoipnl Hoprnno of ( ho company !) , as her jnoihor , tho nov <« lly being only ctjiiallud by the gnij ) hio nnd ' litb-lilu ) act ing of thnao porfonncrc , is tho chief feature of all ruction Ufc'Mr . lIarri . s ' H elegant , thontro . Madamk Tubsaud'r ! . —Tho propriotor of this remarkable galJorv Jins boon nt considerable paii ^ s and cxiionso to mult o what i « tunned tho " Napoleon" room attractive and iiifltruotivc . 3 To has ro-nrrnngod tho mass of objects which illustrates many public ovontH in tho hintory and exploits of tho first Emporor , and moro particularly show the economy

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 11, 1860, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11081860/page/13/