Another novelty has been produced at Her Majesty's Theatre ;
an Ita- lian version of Auber's last opera, Ls Corbeille d' Oranges, which has been BO unanimously pronounced a total failure that we think it superfluous to take any further notice of it. With many admirable qualities as a mana- ger—enterprise, liberality, and most honourable dealing—Mr. Lumley falls into one error. He has not faith in the taste and judgment of the public, but thinks it necessary.to minister to their supposed insatiable appetite for mere novelty. During this season, instead of a well-matched working company, composing an efficient whole, and perfected by much practice together, we have had a number of "stars," produced in succes- sion, and heralded as objects of individual and for the time exclusive attraction. We have had Caroline Duprez, Sontag, Alaymo, Fioren- tini, Cruvelli, Alboni; each a prima donna having her own particular sphere, and conducing nothing by their number to the strength of the company, for scarcely any two of them can be brought into combination. While one has shone, the others have disappeared. Then there has been a constant succession of new pieces, most of them of such a quality that their run for above a night or two could not have been reasonably antici- pated. No judicious counsellor would have advised the production of Le Tre Nozze, or Florinda, or the Corbeille d' Oranges. '
The other house has been pursuing an opposite policy. The Covent Garden company can bring its whole strength to bear upon one point, while it does not contain a single new name of any consequence ; and a few masterpieces of standard excellence are performed with a perfection of ensemble which satisfies the most refined taste, while it nightly fills the house to overflowing.
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