On this page

• Text (2)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    tionand far haThad of T I of E i L _gl? ...

  • 

    A Dakuru at TiiKATitics.—"A Subscriber" ...

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    Her Majesty's Theatre.—-Mr. /Lumleyr Who...

    tion ; and as far we haTe had opportunities of judging , has been met more than half way by public feeling and opinion . The heroine's part in the Traviata has been as brilliantly supported during the past season as it -was heretofore created before a London audience by Mdlle . Piceolommi , and was sustained by her on Saturday night with undiniiiiished spirit and , indeed , success . She also , with Signor Giuglini , sang an extract from the Italianised Bohemian Girl , from which the audience selected " You'll remember me" for an encore . In the course of the evening the national anthem was introduced , in compliance with time-honoured custom ; and the performances closed with a ballet , in ¦ which Madlle . Boschetti was the leading artiste . Hoval Italian Opera . —We are somewhat at

    issue with our German friends and contemporaries , tvho find the Martha of Herr Flotow a masterpiece of comic opera ; , but we are in no wise inclined to censure the light , nmsic-loving portion otour operagoing public who so enthusiastically applaud its silver strains at each repetition . To the latter , we look upon music a 3 agreeable , in proportion to the relief it offers from all the cares and ills that Britons of all quality seem doomed to inherit . The former , ¦ who have time ancl brains to spare for the appreciation of more serious works , have , we sometimes think , really no business to have installed such operas as Martha among operatic successes . Our dear national " Last rose of summer" is alotie sufficient

    to account for our sympathy with the composer , who lias so flattered our taste as to set it as a gem among the minor sparks of his own device ; and on Saturday , as erst , this choice morceau carried the burden of tlie entire composition to a brilliant success . Mr . Gye has effected arrangements which have enabled ihini to" have the last word" in the operatic campaign . While Piccolomini is en route for America , and Mr . Lumley perhaps , with characteristic diligence , already on the move in search of novelties , the Co vent Garden management has presented the ' Don Giovanni , on Monday , and , on Tuesday , Herold ' s Zampa . The simple intimation , the hero ' s part is taken by Signor Taraberlik , is sufficient to assure

    the reader of its correct reading and lyrical treatment . The marine picture in the second act was a perfect masterpiece of scenic art . Thursday ' s opera was Les Huguenots , and that for to-night , the closing one , will bring , we trust , to a satisfactory end the three months' season of 1858 . Having opened under circumstances of considerable disadvantage , and having had an up-hill game to play against those illfounded rumours of deficiencies and unhealthiness which it is so very _ afe and pleasant for the laudatores temporis acti to indulge in upon the inauguration of every new theatre or place of public

    resort , where capacity for sound and public comfort are especially demanded , Mr . Gye has , to our thinking , redeemed with marvellous exactitude his promises to the portion of the public whose support he most courted . Ten operas have teen produced during the season , and we fully agree with a contemporary , who says that , when it is considered that every scene , every dress , and every piece of machinery was of necessity new , it is impossible to over-estimate the spirit , diligence , and zeal of the administration , or to -withhold the praise vhich is justly due to the managers of each and every department

    . Lyceum Theatre . —Mrs . Howard Paul having sufficient engagement in her entertaining entertainment of Patchwork at the Egyptian Hall , and Mr . Ira Aldridge having quitted us for Prague , where his powerful Shakspearean delineations find even more favour than in this country , the Lyceum Theatre lina subsided from tragedy and operetta into drama and farce . We had sincere pleasure on Saturday last in welcoming once more our old favourite , Mr . Leigh Murray , whom ill health has long parted from his London admirers . As we hoped—but that , alas ! was against hope—for the return of Tyrone Power , we bo have hoped for one more season of Murray , a comedian whom it is no exaggeration to atyle unapproachable in his particular line of narts . full the town is of

    ^ onsiaermg now emptiness , the Lyceum , we thought , could boaBt of an ample audience on Saturday , who wero raainly collected by the magic of a name . SHU Waters run Deep waa the comody Belected for the rentrte of Mr . Murray , and though manifestly only convalescent , and therefore something below the mark in physical power and nervous fire , we were glad to'hear the familiar words of the gifted uuthor in the once familiar voice of our favourite actor . Mr . Murray had not , wo believe before played the part of Mildmay in a metropolitan theatre , and from this cause , possibly , or from tliat previously hinted at , his reading of the part struck us as somewhat too unimpassioned for even such a cool hand as the John Mildmay of Mr . Tom Taylor ' s conception . In tho great scene , again , with Cantain

    tiawhesUy ( Mr . I ' ltjyamos ) , he had to contrast with a something too highly coloured , and , at that time , imperfect performance , and to this mny in some measure bo attributed the " palonew" of his reading .

    1 he farce of . Sarah ' s Young Man , which succeeded ' the play , is an eminently successful importation from the Surrey Theatre , let us always say , when it brings with it its own " sloe-leaf , " Mr . H . Widdicomb . In certain shades of his rapid intonation this gentleman lias one singular peculiarity . He reminded us one moment of Mr . Charles Kean , and another of Mr . Robson . He has some little mannerisms which seem to combine those of the latter gentlemen and Mr . Wright . But as no trace of servile copyism appeared on the surface , we can only leave it to more accurate critics to decide whether these resemblances are singular and original coincidences or involuntary tints of imitation . It seems to us that an artist

    possessing so much genuine vis comica , will , with some little direction and correction of exuberances , be a most valuable acquisition to the cispontine theatrical world , at present lamenting the unavoidable absence of the old Adelphi favourite , Mr . Wright . Mons . Jollien has , we hear , secured the Lyceum Theatre for a series of promenade concerts to commence in November next . His reason for removing this entertainment from its now accustomed domicile at Her Majesty ' s Theatre will be supplied , we suppose , when the winter arrangements of Mr . Lumley shall transpire .

    Royal Strand THEATnE . —During a provincial journey , in which she is accompanied by an important part of her dramatic company , the fair and popular lessee has resolved by way of experiment on keeping open house at the Strand , the part of the hostess being omitted . She has , however , left a fairly strong detachment to do the honours in her absence ! . On Monday last was revived with considerable care and elegance Mr . Plancties highly-finished little comedy , Court Favour , in which the principal parts were supported by Miss Marie Wilton and Mr . Emery . This gentleman ' sperformance of the Duke of' Altemarlewas not more crude than might have been expected of an actor transferred front tlie line

    of strong character parts in which he is so successful to that of the fast man cf the Restoration epoch . Miss Wilton is as rapidly advancinginpopularfavour , as her aptitude , sense of humour , and industry deserve . As the JLtKy Jkfortoii , which is a long part and sustains the chief burden of the comedy , this lady conducted the intrigues which deceived the timeserving old guardian , Sir Andrew AUsides , lured oh and put to use the vicious Aibemarle , infused energy into her stupid lover with unflagging wit and perseverance , and carried the drama to a successful end , we might almost say on her own shoulders . Mr . Belford , as David Brown , was conscientiously correct . His utter simplicity was a little too near

    the borders of the stupid ; although , on reflection , any deviation from the yet more terrible inanity of the traditional stage lover , any infusion at all of characteristic into his ordinary unshaded character , ought to be acceptable . The mue en scene was , with the exception of a strong anachronism in Miss Wilton's first dress , remarkably good : and , to conclude , this very creditable attempt of the management to domicile elegant comedy at their little theatre was received with considerable favour by a numerous audience . Mr . Charles Selby ' s farce , Hunting a Turtle , has been given at the Strand during tho week as second piece , Mr . Belford , as LevUon , sharing vell-deaerved honours with Marie Wilton , as Mrs , Turtle . Mr . Clarke , as Timothy

    Dandelion , requires a little toning down . If he introduces no more of physical force demonstrations thiin is set down for him , we recommend him to reduce on his own responsibility the needlessly strong relief in which that feature of the part has been cast by his author . We may add , too , that the introduced song of ?• Down in the West Country" could befitted to a much more successful , yet still comic , air of its class . This artist , and Mr . 11 . J . Turner , who played Smatter , the " gentleman ' s gentleman , " form together a strong foTce of low comedy in so small a company , and in Hunting a Turtle , especially , contributed in no small . degree to the delight of the visitors by their contrast of town and country servant-mannora .

    Ik riH Heimi Otto Mundlkh—A long and interesting communication , eigned "One of the Public , " has appeared in the columns of more than one of our contemporaries . " One of tho Public" is a friend of our late expert da la Galerie Nutiomde da Londres , and professes to refute and explain away what ho styles Lord Elcho's egregious misrepresentation of facts . In our opinion ho corroborates the noble lord ' s statement ; nor are wo prepared to acquiesce in tho unsupported assertion of an

    anonymous writer that no more eligible a person than Mr . MUndler could havo been found to represent our lino art departments abroad , though we admit , at the samo time , that he may havo been a hard-working , learned , and honest man . It never appeared to us that the enhancement of the market price of pictures by his known presence at the marts < r near the ateliers of the copyist * was imputed to the travelling expert as a crime or even as a fault . " One of tho Public" has raised this imaginary " charge" only to

    combat it . \ Yere the writer of the defence himself ( whom we shrewdly guess at through his disguLS or any of the other learned and competent nJn }) eligible for the post , to travel as the rep ? ese S ^ of the trustees avowedly and openly , the same til would occur . Sensible buyers who ransack Son 5 pictures and curiosities do not , certainly , send hem ISbefore them and announce their quality cntheirvisiT ing cards ; but setting even that aside , we doubt if anv public commis & ionnaire could preserve so strict an i cognito as to escape the vigilance offlne artdealpi- " who are quite as alive to their own interests aso W tradespeople . To assert that Herr Mundler ' s services have mainly contributed to that conspicuous emrirlT mentof the National Gallery which the last three ™™ have effected , and that his services are of such calibre as to demand our gratitudeis sheer non

    , sense . It is evident that no buyer of ordinary nudement , with even the limited purse of the National Gallery trustees at his back , could have failed to add as many square yards of well-covered canvas to the collection ; and as to the taste of the selection the aggregate public have not the same abounding confidence in it as its single atom which takes the lists for Herr MUndler . We sincerely liope that the discharged expert—if he really be a deserving manwill find a more easy bed than the British service . Ho lias not been overpaid and he has done some work . He may possibly have made a mistake . He may have been taken in . But the cleverest occasionally blunder , and Lord Elcho himself may have been , as " One of the Public" suggests , the dupe of disappointed and mendacious witnesses . But even

    if not guilty upon the indictment , we should still regard his sacrifice as a nccesssiry evil , or , if his champion will , piece of erueUj * . If we could not have had the subordinate , we should have called for Sir diaries Locke Enstlake to be deliverei to the Tarliamcntarvfine art Furies , who , by the way , quite represent the feeling out of doors . The fall-of Herr Munilkr was acceptable , ' -not . because , people disliked him , cared about him , or believed half the talcs ' against liiin- ^ for he was thoroughly immaterial , and insignificant —but because he was a little wheel in an objectionable train which could be dispensed with without . throwing the whole machine out of gear . He hardly stands in need ' of ' . his amiable friend's defence against LorJ Elcho . His dismissal was a convenient form of

    expression for want of confidence , and involves very little reflection upon ^ cither . hin character or talents . Lord Lyndhurst has given notice that he should draw attention , at an early period of next session , to the Itoyal Academy , and their tenure of the Rational Gallery . As an amateur and the son of an artist , the noble lord has , as he says , a good right to take a lively interest in all that concerns the body ; but it is sincerely to be hoped that the weight of his splendid talent will not be thrown into the scale , now trembling ou tho beam , against the loudlyexpressed wishes of the public The decree has gone forth that the Academicians ' occupancy must terminate , and were oven Lord Lyn-lhurst to arrny himself with the defenders of the abuse , the removal must soon take place . A return of correspondence

    between the Treasury and the trustees of the National Gallery with reference to the employment and services of the travelling agent , has been laid on the table of the House of Commons . It appears , from a letter of Sir Charles Eastlake , that the purchase of the Pisani picture above the market value was effected by order of the Lords of the Treasury themselves , in spite of his own advice upon tho subject . Sir Charles echoes " One of the Public , " who might have signed himself , we think with propriety , " A Friend of the Itamily ; " and concludes his letter by au impertinently worded request for compensation to Herr MUndler for his abrupt dismissal . A yen ' a warning is enough in all conscience ; and if the director-general sind his lieutenant couhl not take the very fair notice given a twelvemonth back , they must have been obtuse indeed .

    GOVEIINMKNT FlNK AllT MOVEMENTS . —It 18 Stated thnt upon tho recommendation of a special committee , composed of Lord John Itussoll , Lord Klclio , and Mr . Coninghnm , M . P ., tho Government intenil to purchase Sir George Ilayter ' a large painting ot the first meeting of tho llonso of Commons after the passing of tho lteform Bill . It is expected that the erection of a National Gnllerv for Ireland will be forthwith put in hand at Dublin . The espouse will bo defrayed by a grant of f > 000 / ., passed in this year ' s estimates , another of 7000 / . promised by tho Chancellor of the Exchequer for next year , » »'' " sum of 11 . 0 O 0 A alrendy applicable- to the purpose in the treasury of the lioyiil Irish Institution .

    Tionand Far Hathad Of T I Of E I L _Gl? ...

    i _ gl ? _ ____ _ , _ T I , ^_ Ii _^ i j ^ JLfi , __ L g ! 4 ? 8 > August 14 / 1858 .

    A Dakuru At Tiikatitics.—"A Subscriber" ...

    A Dakuru at TiiKATitics . — "A Subscriber" to th « Times complains of llio careless way in wliioh pood attending tho theatres placo their opera-glasses on Hi " fronts of tho boxes , lie montiona an iiifltnnoc of om " tumbling down into tho pit Htnlls nt tho Uoynl Italian Opera last Saturday evening ; and wft believe that tnia in of not unfrcquent occurrence . Tho peril to theso below is of courao very great .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 14, 1858, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14081858/page/20/