18 OCTOBER 1834, Page 8

THE THEATRES.

Alas. Wool) and her husband appeared at Covent Garden on Tuesday, for the first time since their American trip, in Cinderella. We were glad to see the queen of English singers occupying her former station, and in possession of her vocal powers ; for, with all Mrs. Womes musical failings, she is the only lady of our hind who can be styled, with any propriety, a great singer. All time rest have attained different degrees of respectability ; but she is, emphatically, the prima donna of Britain.

La Cenerentola was never an especial favourite with us in its original form ; and the various nuisical additions which it has received, in order to adapt it to the English stage, have not enhanced its value. Tac additions to the Italian libretto are only so far clever as they bring out more of the story, and afford the scene-painter and machinist of Covent Garden excellent scope for display. Still, with all the splendour of scenery which Cinderella presents—and one of its scenes is most splen- did—it is but a velgarized and caricatured representaeion of the origi- nal: and such must be the fate of all efforts to render the Opera Buffet of Italy into our native tongue. The graceful structure and melodious flow of the Italian language invest even nonsense nide an air of ele- gance, which, translated, stands out in mere broad and palpable coarse- ness. The performers, too; on this occasion did their best to vulga- rize their separate parts. Their names and dresses bespoke them of Italy, but their manners were those of Whitechapel : the scene should have been a " wine " at Edmonton — Baron Pumpolino, a retired butcher—Prince Felix, the Alderman of Portsoken Ward ; and all would have been right. The "counterfeit presentment" of the Covent Garden Company is, unluckily, the more palpable as the original is fa- miliar to us. No parody at the Adelphi has exhibited a stronger cari- cature of its original than the acting and singing of EGt IN and Cu DILE! WhCO contrasted with Oa Of TAMBURINI and LABLACIIE orDp ; BEasos. Groattal appeared. for the first time, in his own proper English character, and divested of his assumed " Signor." Mrs. Woou, and MEADOWS (who took KccsEv's oliginal character), were the only real representatives of the parts they assumed. We feared that the lady's Transatlantic visit would not effect much im movement in her style of. singing; nod we regret to say that our fears were realized. Mrs. W000's failing is a constant effort to display her own powers; and in the mistaken endeavour to effect this, those of her suthor are forgotten. It is not the music of llossost that she wishes to be heard, but her own : the former is delivered without effort or interest, while for the latter she reserve's the power ()flier voice and her mental energy. Would that we had the ability to convince her of this bind error, and to satisfy her that perpetual violations of time, and divi- sions and scales of interminable length and endless succession, are not beauties, but deformities. We are among Mrs. Woon's ardent admirers ; in this spirit we speak of her; and it is because we know and admire her ltatural u..utl acquired talents as a singer, that we desire to witness such, a display of them as good taste will approve and sound cri- ticism be justified in applauding. Her reception, as well as that of her haslmand, was enthusiastic ; and the opera was given out for repetition on Thursday. We trust it will soon be followed by some one mote suited to the vocal corps of this theatre, aud at the same time more worthy Mrs. W000's powers. Cinderella is a favourite opera with this cantatrice, although her part has not a single good song: unfortunately, she is regularly encored in the finale, and hence her partiality for it.