TILE ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE.
TIIE reign of Meas. ADANTE, as we predicted, has been but short ; and the company have reaped neither fame nor pecuniary profit from El/sue Claudio. This is as it should be : they will, perhaps, be the better for the profit which experience has furnished. On Nionday night, a new piece called the Dire of Death, was produced—one of those pieces of diavoleria which seem such especial favourites at this house, but which are very little to our taste. A gentleman playing at dice in a churchyard with a ghost, and the Devil for a looker-on, may be a novel idea, but what feel- ing can it engender in the mind of any rational being save that of disgust? Really it is too bad to be compelled thus to oscillate between diabolism and dulness—to choose between MERCA., DANTE'S draught of ditch water or this German decoction of brandy and assafirtida. Supernatural agency is not very easy for a dramatist to deal with, and is only manageable by such men as SII AKSPE ARE and GOETHE ; and tenfold more difficult when rendered plain and palpable to the eye: accordingly, the Mephis- tophiles of this piece (though enacted by Mr. 0. Ssneu) rather provoked laughter than terror. The music, by Mr. E. LODER, formed but a slight ingredient in the drama, but it was good of its kind, and possessed, as in this instance it ought, a strong German flavour. The chorus which sings out the old year was excellent—worth the whole of MERCADANTE'S opera.
We are glad to see that the managers are experimentalizing upon the true English Opera. They have begun to feel the public opinion by the revival of the Quaker and the Waterman. and the decided success of these minor pieces ought to be followed by the revival of some good opera. There were some excellent remarks in last Tuesday's Chronicle on this subject; which we hope will not be lost on those who have the direction of affairs at this theatre. All the operas of a date prior to BISHOP'S may re- (1.) Duet, " Forsake me not."
quire instrumental revision and addition, in order to fit them to (4.) Quartet, " Blest are the departe.q." the present improved state of our orchestras ; and to Mr. Lome (2.) Solo, " Jehovah now comfit." who seems attached to this house, the task might safely be con- (3.) Chorus, " Destroyed is Babylon."
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