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Leader (1850-1860), 21st April 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 21, | ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. We have elsewhere...

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      Apbh. 21,1855.1 The Leadbb. 381 ¦ ¦

      Apbh . 21 , 1855 . 1 THE LEADBB . 381 ¦ ¦

      — . _^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^...

      — . _^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ j ^ j THE NATIONAL INSTITUTION . * T « rb is a gallery of pictures affording the judicious visitor at least two points S Sew He ma take up safe ground for the exercise of half the function of criticism as defined by Dr . Johnson- " the discovery of faults in the moderns ^ Hf beauties " n the ancients » -or he may praise heartily , if he be in the ^ l m £ d to or ^ ise The exhibition at the Portland Gallery , Langham-place , JfKsh ^ rT , aneStion so various in merit as to include almost the very ex-^ T 5 fp ^ anTbond brwn ? cn - this fraternity of talent is held together , JSjlZEZt of too the plan works well . We should observe that the National SKtSffiErfEbS Arts founded , like the Society of British Artists in Suffolk-Sreet and like the two societies of water-colour painters . - on a proprietary n , pmWhh > Offerings from without are not slighted ; but the most prominent SI Xnlraliy the pictures by regular exhibitors-that is to say , by arsons wto are at least aslikely to take an interest in the character of the display as to be inconveniently solicitous about getting their own productions into the chief places . The evident advantage is balanced by a loss which is more easily discerned , perhaps , in the catalogue than on the walls of the exhibition . The OToprietar / members who govern the affairs of the National Institution being pSters and not patrons , never catch an RA ., or so much as an expectant S Associate" while the British Institution in Pall-Mali , which promotes the Fine Arts in the United Kingdom after a manner peculiarly its own , but which boasts half the peerage a s its hereditary governors , has grown to be quite a chapel-of-ease to the Royal Academy . Mr . R . S . Lattoer makes good his title S the leadership at the Portland Gallery . His picture of the " Gow-chrom and Louise" may , on the whole , be pronounced the best subject-picture ^ in the . exhibition . In the first place , we have a good representation , characteristic of the two pe rsonages , and at once intelligible as a scene . Next the design is altogether pleasing . If we did not recognise the armourer of Perth we should still have before us a very energetic expression of manhood , pleasant to behold . Stra ^ eers to '' Louise" will see in the trembling glee-maiden as much feminine bea ^ f Is wiU make them curious to know something more about her . Can Se be a more decided pictorial success than such a fact implies ? We have more to say in commendation of this work : of its colouring and delicacy of touch ,. Sne ^ i allv Too frequentlv as much excellence of intention as Mr . -Laser ' s wmbefrustrated by the mere want of tact like his in the management of fleshes Mr . X ^ Lacder wants not only the skill of his relation in the . Sme partSuiarTbut he falls immeasurably behind him in j igour of conception . Thefacesofhis women are all weak and inanimate . He has , however , qualities which ought not to be despised , and among them is the quality of making himself understood . Expression in its highest nature he has not ; but Ins pictures are eWessive in the sense that they tell their story with great clearness and , n Seraof Teading incident and ^ detail with some force We wouldespeciany remark that the plant in the foreground of his largest picture ,- Sir Iramtns Teaching La Beale Isonde to Play the Harp " -is painted with exquisite feekng . Its grace almost persuades us into the belief tbat Mr . ^ AtTDEB had a womanly ideal before him when he sketched the slender outline . . ] 5 [ Ws " Battle of the Stone Ferry "—an incident of the American waris ^ the unmistak able M 'Ian stamp ; firm and clear as any of the well-known impressions of that feudal hand . The story-that of the peasant heroes in Eraser ' s Highland regiment gaining time for the British garrison by a despe-Sfick ^ ofaTtron ^ columnVthf enemy -is nicely fitted to the- tragicalhisforical-pastoral" bent of the artist . As we should expect in a " Powerful incident" treated by M'Ian , there is immense labour , not the least bit of which Start . It is a piece of earnest action ; very natural , and very grim in itsi confusion of lapelled scarlet coats and powdered hair with a death-harvest , cut down in a heap and trodden under foot . We have named the three most striking wks and certainly the three which will be most generally remembered ; but there are very few persons with any feeling for pure and true art who will pass unobservingly by Miss Howitt ' s imaginative little work , with its quaint , gem-- likfsetUrS An exquisite " Missal" might be formed if every poeml of Shi £ - i ! ey ' s were illustrated as Miss Howitt illustrates the " Sensitive Plant .. We commend this task to her as a labour of love . C A ^ X ^ n ^ tints ; would hav e m ade -Mr B ^ Ws Picture of " William Tell ' s Son" a perfect thing of its kind . In the Pkfure by Mr Sukes , called " Reading a Chapter , " the want of careisniore cenerally noticeable ; And it is a want that ought to be repaired , as the artist Sssesses that natural tact for distinguishing small varieties of character which would enable him to surpass Goouai , L , with half Goooali / s mgenu . ty and iaUence Among works of the same calibre as this of Mr . Dukes , the most meritorious are those by Provis and Passmore . The two Unpkrhiixs do not fmprove on acquaintance . The eccentricity of painting in such a m anner as to nTake it appear that the work is done on a blanket , is only endurable as a novelty . Amonff the landscapes , the most beautiful are by A . Gilbert and G . A . Williams but the whole alphabet of Williamses , contribute works of scarcely inferiormerit . Mr . Robins has one or two fine water-pieces ; and it is also in marine painting that a versatile artist , Mr . W . Parhott , seems most successful . Mr Barraudferves , as usual , to remind us how Miss Sharps " smoothes her horrentbrow * ( after ' the decorously agonising example of Dr . Darwin ) at the Water-Colour Gallery . ' In addition , liowcver , to romantic sentimentahsm , Mr , Babrauo has , for the last few years , been spec ulating in spiritual sentimentaHsm ; and has published , with immense success , the Rubrical series of prints which * ended th 0 P other day , let us hope , with the piously responsive tile " Good Lord , deliver us . " We protest heartily against the principle on which painters like Mr . Barrauu are allowed to escape ridicule under the shelter ot a devotional subject .

      Births, Marriages, And Deaths. Births. A...

      BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS . BIRTHS . ANSTED . —April 15 , at No . 17 . Mauchostor-stroot , tho wifo of Professor Anstod : ft daughter . TAYLOR . —April 14 . at 28 . Portland-placo , tho Lady Charlotto Watson Taylor : twin daughters . MARRIAGES . 1 IAWKES — BAYL 13 Y . —X ) cc . 1 ft . at St . John ' s Church , Adelaide , Georgo Wright , fourth son » f Major Hawkos . to Edith Jano Stewart , only daughter of John Uayloy , Esq ., nophow of tho lato Sir John llayloy , Bart . MulsTER-ERSKINB—April 17 . at All SaintB * ¦ Church , Ennlsmoro-ploco , Knightsbrldgo , tho Earl of MunHtor , to Miss Kennedy Erskfiio , oldest daughter or tho Lady Augusta Gordon Hallyburton . 1 > EATIIS . BEOHB .-April 13 , Sir Henry Thomas Do la Booho , 0-B . F . R . 8 .. F . G . S ., Oorrpsponding Member of tho AoodGmlo dos Sciences , Ac . , . . _ , , . „ , BROWNE . —Maroh 23 , in tho tronohoa boforo Sobastopol ,

      whilst gallantly loading a detachment of his rogimont against a sortio of tho cnomy , tho Hon . Cavendish Browne , Captain Royal tfusillora , aged twenty-five , third sou of 1 IIJNLOK 12 . — April 13 , at hor rosidonco . Twiukonham , MIhs Hunloko , only surviving sister of tho Dowagor Countoss of Alboinarlo , and of tho lato Sir Windsor Hunloko , Bart ., of Wingorworth , Derbyshire ,,-.,. ,, ., . LA RICH . — March 10 , at Jncmel , Haiti , Joanne , Cathorino Scholastiquo Louiao Dufrono , tho bolovod wile of William Larko , 10 sq ., and daughter of tho Duko and JDuchoss of Tiburon .

      | Royal Italian Opera. We Have Elsewhere...

      | ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA . We have elsewhere described the decorations of the theatre on Thursday . The attention of the vast audience was so completely absorbed by the Imperial and Royal dramatis persona , that the republican Beethoven had no chance of a hearing , even with a new prima-donna for his Fidelio . Mademoiselle Jenny Ney comes to us recommended by a considerable reputation in Germany , and by the name of Jenny , which ever since the days of the Lind has possessed a singular fascination for the British public . Mademoiselle , Ney made her debut under circumstances most' trying ,. but she appeared nothing daunted , and from first to last performed with ease and self-possession , singing and acting with a perfect mastery of her faculties , and a perfect control over her emotions , in the face of all that brilliant distraction . Mademoiselle Ney apparently enjoys the advantage ( which so many would gladly forego !) of experience and maturity in her art . Powerfully constructed , and with a decided capacity for boots , with a fair complexion and a very German countenance , she wears a frank and pleasing aspect . Her voice , a thoroughly-trained and strong mezzo soprano , is round an d rich in the medium notes ; rather rough , it appeared to us , in the lower ; and rather flat in the higher part of the register . She sang the long and difficult scena with sustained dignity and a finely-reserved emotion , and with a purity and correctness of intonation that never failed . We trust it maybe said that Mile . Jenny Ney , though not a Joanna Wagner , is a real acquisition to the theatre . Formes was thoroughly at home , and always en scene , in the part of the bluff but kindly gaoler ; and Tagmafico is always the finished artist . On Thursday , however , he once or twice appeared a little absent , and sang beside the note . It must be confessed that the music ascribed to Fizarro is almost as ungrateful as the part , and seldom repays the most correct singing , so far as the audience is concerned . Tambebhk , who was gladly recognised on his prison pallet , was looking a little thinner perhaps , but in capital vocal preservation . The large phrasing and the passionate vibrato were welcomed with satisfaction by the regular opera-goers , and he gave the C in [ alt as a sort of emphasis to his European reputation . Mr . Costa s orchestra played the two overtures , especially the Leonora , -with even more than the usual spirit , decision , and delicacy . The chorus was neither ineffective nor remarkable . The Prisoners' chorus went off without a hand : this , however , may perhaps be fairly ascribed to the distraction of the audience rather than to defective execution . Eva , the new divertissement , introduced Madlle . Cerito , who is looking delightfully fresh and vigorous , and who dances with all the luxurious refinement peculiar to he r style . Mr . William Beverley—Jiis mark—was visible in the exquisite scene which served as a framework to the groups . Through a trellis of vine-leaves , reminding us of a . description in Leigh Hunt ' s Story of Rimini , is seen a purple distance of sea shut in by mountains , which recals for a moment the shores of Spezzia .

      At Drury Lane The "Royal Opera" Season H...

      At Drury Lane the " Royal Opera" season has begun auspiciously , ana we trust the fair promise of success may be fulfilled . This will depend on the management . There is a larger public in London for Italian Opera at playhouse "" -prices than in any other city in Europe ; and , what is not so generally admitted , a larger musical public , not always-discriminating , but always indulgent . The one great condition of success is , that an Opera at playhouse prices shall be completely unexclusive . Dress regulations are quite proper m the Opera , which is essentially an aristocratic institution ; but there is an intelligent , respectable , and paying musical democracy in England which can afford to-do everything but " dress" for an evening ' s rational amusement . Ta tins-democracy the Royal Opera" may , we think , appeal with hopefulness . We were glad to observe o Monday evening that , notwithstanding the liberty of costume , the house was filled with a most respectable audience . The opera was the everdelightful Sonnambula , and it was very creditably performed . Indeed , the xlmina and the liodolpho were far above the average , and the FJvmo was at least agreeable . Madame Gassier , who was a favourite at the Italian Opera in Paris last winter , is a Spanish lady , with a most Castiliiin countenance and most Andalusian eyebrows and lashes . She looks all energy and confidence , too short in figure to be graceful , but still engaging and attractive . This is not exactly the picture of Amina ; and Madame Gassikk , we may say at once , has not the air ot an inqfwe . But with a piercing soprano , flexible and powerful to an extraordinary degree ,. and attaining unheard-of altitudes with perfect nonchalance , she j the Gome per me brilliantly , and with the finale Ah non giumjc " carried away the house . It is , however , in the Barbkre di Seviglia , in which she is announced to sine on Monday , that she is seen and heard to the best advantage . Monsieur Gassier has a clear , powerful , and smooth barytone voice , which he manages with exce llent taste , and his acting is smart and intelligent . We were agreeably disappointed at finding the Signor Bettini not the robust tenor' of that name , but a young man apparently new to the stage , raw and awkward in his gestures , destitute of any dramatic pretensions , but gifted with a sweet and facile voice , well taught and judiciously used . It is a voice really pleasing to listen to , and the singer ' s unaffected and unassuming manner secures at once the sympathy of the audience . 1 he minor parts were not so efficiently represented as they might bo without ruining the management . The chorus is painstaking , and the orchestra , ably conducted by Mr . J . H . Tujlly , and composed , in a great measure of refugees from the despotism of Mr . Schallen , the Louis Napoleon of tho Crystal Palace Band , plays with steadiness and spirit . The present management o f Dnunv Lank announces , wo observe , the engagement of a Fre nch troupe from tho Gaitk theatre in Paris , for the pe rformance of Lcs Cosaques , an anti-Russian drama , which had an immense run while the war was in its prime . We have no great sympathy for this bluster , but as a spectacle , and as a curious dramatic ensemble , Lcs Cosaques will doubtless do found a powerful diversion in the new operatic campaign at Dkuky Lane . ^

      Trom The London Gazette. Tuesday, April ...

      TROM THE LONDON GAZETTE . Tuesday , April 17 . BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED . —Hodiiam Buti . tjr Wis-KEit , CaHtlo-8 troot , Holborn , tailor . BANKRUPTS . —Thomas Bim . ino , CambrldRo , cooper—Benjamin Nmwton , Brighton , brush manufacturer—Wn--tiAM Hoixaday and Ja ^ ihs Oi-emitson , Wntling-stroot , wnrohouHomen—Wiltjam Listed , Groat Quoon-stroot , Lincoln ' a-lnn-flolds , jowol caso-makor—Matxiiisw

      Richmonb Stkei / e , Loiccstor . Hnoiidrttimr-nMNFfcLn Rticir-I . OSKR . Rod Lion-street , Holborn , t . i"or-BouKM ! W"Bn uk Bennjctt , Wostbromlch , brewer- Waltku and ¦ •**»« £ " Horton , Wednesbury , timber "' olcll "' ^ r : ^" ( l 1 ^ (! AFUANCia 1 'kvbujsllm . Birmingham . 'VJT ^^^ opki ' nho ^ John Wjjijueu , Birmingham , Jjro ™ r- John Iltoi KiNbow , Nottingham , rocor- ]) ANiKi . biufl . O dhr " % , " ^ , " "' Gloucestershire , wlrodraww-H » fci > w « cic laAiNM . L . ltrlsiffil tinilwr merchant -l ) ANiur < HENNTvix , jun ., isriHiwi , BSff & jR ^ nffiSK ^ SffiMSSi &^ j tord YoS Pro . stuff morohant-WJJ . iJAM . Aai-mN and aJXuhtub WiLwam Okd , GatOHlioad-on-Tyuo , commit '" Ramiirs ^ QUKSTltATIONS . -ll . BujtNKsaMontrosc , bakor -A ! , KKi » TaiaBgow , grocor-T . Duncan , Gores , Vifo-Hhir 01 Friday , April 20 . BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED . —llENBY 1 ' HII . UPB , Bothnal Grcon-rond , corn dealer .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 21, 1855, page 21, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_21041855/page/21/