_Mello. By Ludwig Von Beethoven. [Standard Lyric Drama, Vol. VIM}
This publication of Beethoven's dramatic chef-deseuvre has taken place at a seasonable time, when so much attention is excited by its perform- ance in an Italian dress at both the great Operahouses. We have here a complete and correct edition of the opera in its original form, with the German words, and an English version also adapted to the music. The orchestral score is compressed into an accompaniment for the pianoforte, with the same judgment shown in the previous volumes of the series ; and the careful manner in which the employment of the various instru- ments is indicated gives this compressed accompaniment much of the in- terest of the full score. By means of this publication, tilt reader can compare the opera as it left the composer's hand with the Italian versions of it now used at the two theatres. They are indeed almost the same; - but the spoken dialogue in the original has been thrown into recitative by the respective music- directors, Mr. Balfe and Mr. Costa. This was necessary, spoken dialogue being unknown on the Italian stage ; but it is not the less to be regretted that Beethoven's own intentions should be interfered with. He has him- self thrown some Of the most impassioned language into recitative, and has in several places accompanied the spoken dialogue with melodramatic music which wonderfully heightens the agitation of the scene. In the dungeon-scene, the rapid and broken phrases of the actors, blended with the wild and gloomy bursts from the orchestra, arc poorly replaced by passages of Italian recitative. Of the four overtures, written by Beethoven at different times, three are contained in this edition ; the third is omitted, as being little more than a simplification of the second. The volume also contains a memoir of Beethoven ; and an account of the original production of the opera, and its various performances in this country.
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