The Surrey, this week, has produced a new opera by
Balfe, with great success, and in a manner highly creditable to this suburban house. It is called 17w Devil 's in it ; and is an operatic version of The Devil to Pay ; • the scene being transferred to Germany, Jobson and Nell turned into a drunken basketmaker and his wife, and the squire and his lady into a count and countess. The libretto is Mr. Bunn's ; and very passable, bating tic) large an infusion of magic and devilry, out of place in so light a sub- ject. As in the original farce, the supernatural should have been very slightly treated—enough to explain the plot and no more. In an opening incantation-scene, and a grand finale to the first act, full of witches and fiends, Mr. Balfe has laboriously imitated Spohr and Weber; but in the music proper to the subject he is quite at home—gay, comic, and spark- ling. This new opera is extremely well performed. Miss Romer's Letty is genial and pleasant ; and Miss Poole plays the termagant Countess with great spirit. Mr. Corn, as the basketmaker, is too boisterous, and Mr. Travers, as the Count, is too tame ; but both sing carefully and correctly. The orchestra, chorus, and whole ensemble, deserve approbation.
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