Covent Garden Theatre, in its capacity of " the Royal
English Opera House," opened on Thursday, with Mr. Howard Glover's new opera Ray Bias, the opening having been postponed for some days in order to complete the preparations for the production of this work. As far as can be judged from the sometimes deceitful ap. pearances of a first night, Mr. Glover's debut as a composer for the stage has been a successful one. The house was "a bumper," mil the audience contained a large sprinkling of our musical notabilities. The applause during the piece was frequent and loud, and the fall of the curtain was attended with a regular ovation in all the forms ; the composer, as well as the principal performers, having been called upon the stage to receive the accustomed manifestations of public favour. Of the opera itself little requires to be said; for it is iden- tical with Victor lingo's celebrated play, which has been made familiar to the London public by Fechter's very striking performance of the principal character at the Princess's. Mr. Glover (who has written the libretto as well as the music) has followed the original, scene for scene, making such alterations only as were necessary for musical purposes ; every situation and incident of this powerful drama being preserved. Mr. Glover's music certainly has muck merit. The airs, generally speaking, are melodious, and calculated to be popular; and the concerted music is often vigorous and dramatic, showing a considerable command of the resources of construction and harmony. Some of these concerted pieces seemed prolix and heavy, but this may have—in part at least—proceeded from the imperfect execution of a first night. Too much praise cannot be given to Har- rison, who seemed to have taken a leaf out of Fechter's book, for he exhibited, especially in the closing scene, a degree of tragic power of which we did not suppose him capable. Miss Louisa Fyne, as the Queen, was charming, and sang with a brilliancy which no other English vocalist can approach. Santley, as Don Sallust, sang admi- rably, and acted with more ease and animation than has hitherto been his wont. Au rate, the piece is excellently got up ; the scenery, dancing, and everything pertaining to the spectacle, being beautiful and splendid. We shall recur to Buy. Blas when it has stood the test of a few nights more.
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