311nsir.
As the " Season" draws to an end, musical matter, in so far at least as London is concerned, shrinks into a narrow compass. No occurrence of any interest—no appearance of a new piece or a new performer, is now to be expected—indeed most of the tuneful tribe who have flocked to our shores in such multitudes this season, are now returning to the places whence they came. Mr. Smith, of Her Majesty's Theatre, is giving a series of extra nights at reduced prices, as his predecessor, M. Lumley, did in the last two or three years of his management, with anything but advantage to himself. We earnestly and repeatedly warned Mr. Lumley against a course which lowered the character of the theatre, and de- stroyed the prestige attached to it as the great, time-honoured temple of the lyrical drama, and we regret that Mr. Smith, whose management in many respects is worthy of praise, should have adopted a policy so short- sighted. The same article cannot have two prices in the market : if the vendor lowers its price, he must also lower its quality; and this is what Mr. Lumley did, Mid Mr. Smith is doing. Some of the most eminent members of the company have already departed, while the orchestra and the chorus are reduced in strength and efficiency. The rival manager, at Covent Garden, gives no cheap nights ; he maintains to th,e last his prices, and, with them the quality of his performances. According to his announcement, his theatre will close this day fortnight.
! The Norwich Festival, the principal provincial music-meeting of this season, is to be held during the week commencing on the 17th of Sep- tember. Its plan presents some interesting novelties, particularly an oratorio entitled Abraham, composed for the festival by Molique, a can- tata, Undine, by Benedict, and Gluck's opera, ..,4r2nida, which will form a part of one of the evening concerts. The principal vocal performers are Madame Clara Novello, Mr. Sims Reeves, Madame Borghi-Mamo, Mr. and Mrs. Weiss, Mr. Wilbye Cooper, Mr. Santley, and Signor Bel- letti. The orchestra and chorus will be nearly four hundred strong. Mr. Benedict, as heretofore, will be the conductor of the festival. Rossini's Semiramide has been brought out, in a French dress, at the Grand Opera, and two young Italian sisters, Carlotta and Barbara Mar- chisio, a soprano and contralto, have appeared in the characters of Semi- ramis and Arsace. These ladies, who are Venetian; have lately created an extraordinary sensation in Italy by their performance of these cha- racters; and they seem at Paris to have made good their reputation. No doubt Mr. Smith or Mr. Gye will introduce them to our acquaint- ance next season. Rossini's gorgeous opera is got up with a splendour quite unprecedented, and with such attention to archaeological accu- racy that the audietrce may almost be said to have before their eyes the "Babylon the Great" of three thousand years ago.
Previous page
