THE DRURY LANE "BARBER."
"THERE has been a "march' of music since the Barber of Seville made his first appearance in an English dress. At that time, Mrs. Dicsorvs and Mr. PYNE were the only two singers in the Co- vent Garden company who could be depended on for their parts. JONES played the count; and, like other nobles, was allowed to discharge part of his duty by proxy. This was and is the Barber of Seville of Covent Garden. At Drury Lane, the entire opera was attempted on Tuesday. We say attempted, because its per- formance conveyed but a faint idea of the original. We could scarcely have contemplated the having to witness so faded a re- semblance. It was ROSSINI'S champagne not only decanted, but diluted. Those who have seen and beard DONZELLI, DE BEGNIS, and LABLACHE, in the Count, Bartolo, and Figaro, would scarcely have recognized the same characters in the hands of WOOD, SEGUIN, and PHILLIPS. PENSON, at the other house, far inferior as he is to the latter as a singer, makes a more effective stand in the Barber. "All' idea," which, even in a concert-room, is always "a palpable hit" when sung by CORIONI and Ds BEGNIS, was dull and spiritless. Such an effect from such a composition, speaks, too plainly to be misunderstood, the general tone of the performance. Of enthusiasm on the part of the audience (a nu- merous one) there was scarcely a particle. The overture was encored, and Mrs. WOOD'S introduced ballad ; but applause had generally ended before the last bar of the symphony of each song. Of Mrs. WOOD we have a very different tale to tell. Never had Rosina a more efficient representative on the English stage, seldom on the Italian. The diffi- culties of ROSSINI are mere sport to her,—as she is too anxious to show, by her frequent endeavours to augment them. One of her cadences was so long, so elaborate, so destitute of the appear- ance of improvisation, as to become absolutely tedious. But whenever she chose to be perfect, she was so. It is impossible to regard deviations from good taste in such a singer, but as sacri- fices to the taste of the most ill-judging portion of the audience. In addition to the songs of the piece, she introduced, whimsically enough, the scena " Riedi al soglio," from the Zelmira of the same author, preserving the original Italian words. It was ac- companied by the Coldstream Band, in full uniform, on the stage! How such an army of performers, vocal and instrumental, contrived to gain admittance into Dr. Bartolo's well-guarded residence, was not very satisfactorily explained : but when a prima donna has a point of this sort to carry, probability or possibility are seldom allowed to urge their impertinent claims to attention. The finale to La Cenerentola was substituted for that of the opera,—to the manifest delight of Mrs. Woon, who appeared to sing it with un- usual spirit and power. We doubt the permanent success of " The Barber" in his new house. However clever some of the singers may be in their pro- per departments, they may rely upon it that few laurels will accrue to them from attempting what is evidently out of their line.
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