ITALIAN OPERA.
UNDER this head we have rather to anticipate than to report. In preparation, the theatre is promising; in present performance, some- what dull. CIMAROSA'S Matrimomo Segreto is advertised for next week ; and that noble opera Gil Orazzje we understand is also to be- revived. After the surfeit we have had of ROSSINI, the change al prospect will be especially grateful; and if the pieces he well per- formed, the season, thus invigorated at its end, will close with signal eclat. We some time ago recommended the Directors to consider the revival of the good old operas, now unknown to the public ; and men- tioned Wiarranis compositions in particular as likely to succeed. We hope the experiment will yet be made. It should be known, however, that errors in taste are not-always to be.attributed to the management, if a worse kind of music is performed in preference to the better that is desired ; for the truth is, that a portion of the fashionables, who rule over the rulers of opera, are fantastically hostile to good music. We shall scarcely be credited . when we assert the monstrous fact, that there are persons who absolutely abhor MOZART, and who protest they will not visit the theatre on nights when the productions of the Prince of Music are performed. We must add, that the ears of these individuals are not long and hairy, but to all outward ap- pearance precasely .like . those of ordinary human creatures. As Jonathan expresses it, we are men of humanity—indulgent, tole- rant, and lovers of leniency above all things ; but yet an auto the P of those meddling quality Midases would in our judgment IC a garnishment perfectly unexceptionable ; moderate in humanity, the provocation corsidered ; agreeable to the harmony of justice ; and greatly convenient in respect of the cremation of rubbish to the world in general. An inquisition to take cognizance of heresies in tastes, is aatrihumal extremely to be desired. The example of burning a Duchess for blasphemies of MOZART, would be of inestimable advantage, and an infinite comfort to starved musical souls, which thirst for vengeance and deliverance from Use tyranny of maavais gout. Let us hope for better times, when a mistaken humanity may not obstruct the ends of musical justice. The opera has lately been delighting in indisposition. Madame MainsitAN has-paid the penalty of her inordinate vivacity, in a lit of sickness. She performed on Tuesday, for the first time after her ill- ness, with her arm in a sling, and a degree of _languor which left her a very pleasing and sufficiently piquante'"Rosina. We read in the Spec- tator of a gentleman whose boisterousness was so excessive, that copious bleeding and a diet of some days on water gruel were absolutely necessary to render him endurable company. We could instance per- fmaners who would profit prodigiously by the same discipline. During MALIBRAN'S indisposition, SONTAG has been doing double duty, but with slender success. There is an air of dissatisfaction and carelessness about her performance which communicates to the audience the indif- ference she herself feels. She appears to us to act under a profound impression that she is "flinging her pearls to swine ;" a compliment the justness of which we by no means dispute, but it arises from this philosophical and too accurate sentiment, that she does not fling us pearls or good grain en her. We must not omit to mention the improvement we have remarked within it very short time in Mademoiselle SPE CHI ; a young lady of a modest and graceful archness, who bids fair to become a chinning acquisition to the lyric stage. She is not a candidate for the place Of a first-rate singer ; but she has every requisite for excellence in the second class, where merit is so useful and so rare.
Before we close this article, we must call the attention of the Mana- gers to two nuisances, which, we are sure, have only to he noticed, and means to obviate them will be applied. First, we invite M. LAPORTE to enter the pit by the centre passage at any time after the first act of the opera, when his coat will infalli- bly be torn off his back in the enterprise. It is the custom of certain gentlemen to prefer taking their stand here, to passing into the pit; and the consequence of course is, that the narrow entrance is almost choked. In this state no modest woman can with propriety be per- nutted to attempt the passage. A servant or constable of the house should be appointed to sweep out the loungers.
The next nuisance is a similar one on the part of the livery-servants at the Charles Street entrance. There is no authority to keep the thoroughfare open, and people have to win their way through the mob of sTuey lacqueys literally by force of arms. This pleasure is occa- sionally greatly heightened by an encounter with the poles of a chair tilting into the house, while you are, manibus pedibusque, _struggling out. Nothing can be worse me eaged.
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