The Brussels Opera Company brought their performances at Drury Lane
to a close last Saturday evening, and took their departure in a body on the following morning. The speculation which brought them here has been much the reverse of successful; and, during this last sojourn, they have certainly not realized the expectations excited by their debut of last year. Not that the company was not good, or would not stand a compa- rison with most musical companies we have met with; but it has not quite been able to stand a comparison with itself. The principal performers, indeed, were the same as last year, and exhibited the same powers; but the comparative incompleteness of some of the accessories impaired the effect of their exertions. Last year, the entire orchestra andchorus were imported from Brussels: this year their number was made up by recruits picked up (it is said at small cost) in London; and though, owing to the quality of the nucleus, and the skilful drilling of M. Hanssens, the whole body made an excellent figure compared to the theatrical orchestras and choruses we are accustomed to, yet there was a manifest falling-off in the smoothness and precision of their execution. The stringed instruments were too few and feeble, and the brass band `(especially in Meyerbeer's operas, where the brass instruments demand the most delicate handling,) was often fearfully obstreperous. The choice of pieces, moreover, was not remarkably judi- cious.
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