THE BRUSSELS COMPANY AT COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.
The company of the Grand Opera at Brussels gave the first of a series of representations at Covent Garden last night; commencing with Guillaume Tell. Although the first impression of this important work was somewhat dulled by the previous performance of a slight niusical piece called Le airdet—an injudicious arrangement in every respect—the audience were quite captivated by the level excellence in every department of the opera, which exhibited, as a whole, a charm in the finishing and details that is the most admirable characteristic of the Continental study of operas. The en- tire performance seemed the work of an assemblage of artists, playing, in- deed, up to one another, but without desire of undue prominence; and, from this ambition of general effect, the result was as we have stated, and satisfied the ideal in the mind of the spectator. How much finer the effects proceeding from even middling talent so directed, than from our own sys- tem, in which the splendid efforts of the " stars " alternate with inanities in the details of opera, too poor for criticism or even attention.
M. Laborde, the Arnold of the present company, has a good tenor voice, and singe with taste ittid fire. He has elosely modelled the part on- the performance of Dupree, as was evident from his attitudes and the inflections °flak voice. Madame Laborde, who performed Nathilde, has a clear, me- tallic, and ringing voice; the beautiful quality of which is matched with befitting skill in the management. She is best in the expressive and soste- nute style, and when she forbears to force her tones. Of roulades we have heard better and choicer. The Tell of M. Laurent Quilleveri was ad- mirably acted, picturesquely dressed, and well sung. But though, in con- formity with custom, we mention these principal performers, the concerted scenes in which they took part with the chorus rest more particularly in ear memory. The affray between the emissaries of the Governor and the populace, in the finale of the first act, was managed with a natural group- ing and truth of choral expression which threw extraordinary effect into the composition. The female chorus was throughout particularly excel- lent, and bore the palm from the men.
We have seldom heard such fine accompanying as that of the orchestra. noir Asondition speaks volumes in favour of the musical progress of Brus- sels. The violins are strong and brilliant, the basses fine iii tone and qua-
lity, '- the solo wind-instiuments of the first character. Their correct per-
formance of the arduous score seemed to cost the conductor, M. Charles Hanssens, the least possible labour. It is pleasant to see -the office so ef- fectively and yet so unobtrusively filled: but this is one of the results of living in an orchestra.
We shall be glad to make further acquaintance With the repertory of these Belgian artists, and trust that their efforts will fuid,,,if not a more en- thusiastic recognition, a more adequate one in point of the number of their audience, than befell them on their first entrance on the British boards; an accident for which the Queen's ball may in some measure account.
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