Rumours are current among musical people that Drury Lane will
be once more opened next season as an English operahouse ; and they seem
to receive countenance from the operatic character,of a performance in that theatre, on Wednesday, for the benefit of-Mr. Sims Reeves. Fra Diavolo, which has so long held a place on our stage that it may be classed as an English opera, was followed by Dibdin's pretty musical afterpiece The Waterman. Both were received with unmistakeable nutrks of satis- faction and pleasure by a very numerous audience. Fra .Thavolo was got up as carefully and completely as it used to be at Covent Garden twenty years ago. The dramatic characters were well sustained ; there was a capital orchestra, conducted by Benedict, with a very good chorus. Alto- gether, this performance showed that there is no want of means to esta- blish an English opera, nor of disposition on the part of the public to support it. What, then, is the real desideratum, which constantly mars
its success ?—An honest, intelligent, and liberal manager. -
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