331iritr.
-Mies-Louisa Pyne, having recovered from a severe attack of bronchitis brought on .by excessive exertion, has resumed her -labours, and reap- peared in Dinorah with her usual eclat. We hope, nevertheless, both for the sake of the performer and of the opera itself, that some reldche will take place in its performances, and that other novelties will now be brought forward ; because the finest and most popular work always suffers by being too long kept constantly before the public. We learn that a new opera in one act, by Mr. Alfred Mellon, is in rehearsal and will speedily be produced. It is founded on the old Adeiphi drama of riCIOS'itle; or I will sleep on a, in which so great an effect was produced by the fine acting of Mrs. Yates. The subject is full of interest ; and though this opera is Mr. Mellon's coup &easel. in dramatic composition, yet his tried powers as a musician make us feel confident as to the re- sult In this piece the, part of the heroine, we believe, will be sustained by-Miss Pampa.
The only noteworthy concerts of this week have been, the Monday Popular Concert, which was very like-too like-that of the previous Monday; and.the Sacred Harmonic. Society's first concert of the season, last evening, at. Exeter Hall. The performances consisted of Spohr's oratorio, The Last Judgment, and Mozart's Requiem; pieces well known to the Exeter Hall public. The principal singers were Madame Lem- mans Sherrington, Miss Dolby, Herr Reichardt, and Mr. Weiss. Costa, as usual, was the conductor, and the chorus and instrumental band were of the wood magnitude and power.
A series of promenade concerts, in imitation of those of M. Jullien, is to begin this evening at Drury Lane Theatre. The anonymous projectors promise great things-what they will accomplish remains to be seen. The Theatre Lyrique, the third musical theatre in Paris, has done it- self great.honour by the production of Gliick's celebrated opera, Orfeo or Orphde), which was splendidly performed on Friday last week. When will our first musical theatre give such a proof of taste and spirit ? or rather, when will the London public expect or desire it ? Whatever may be said of the progress of music, in some of its branches, in this country, nothing can be said in favour of the music of the stage. Were a manager to reproduce the works of the great masters which were re- ceived with enthusiasm throughout Europe, England included, half a century ago, it is very possible that he might now perform them to empty benches. They therefore stick to such things as the Traviata, the Trovatore, &c., which fill their houses ; and who can blame them for consulting their own interest rather than making Quixotic sacrifices for the good of art ? They manage these things better in Germany, and even in France, where, notwithstanding the alleged national levity, the great works of the old school still have a public to admire them. The present performance of Gliick's most beautiful work is admirable. The character of Orpheus displays the highest qualities of Madame Viardot as an actress and a singer, and Mademoiselle Moreau is a charming-Eu- rydice. The wonderfully dramatic choruses are given with immense effect, the singers, as well as the instrumental orchestra, having been carefully trained by Berlioz : and the spectacle is distinguished, not only by richness and magnificence of scenery and decorations, but by pure and classical taste. When-we cannot help repeating-shall we witness such a performance in London ?
At the Theatre Italien' Meyerbeer's opera, II Crociato in Egitto, which laid the foundation of his-fame almost forty years ago, is in rehearsal and about to be revived.
Mario has fought a duel with M. San Miguel, the director of the theatre del Principe at Madrid. The cause of quarrel does not appear, but it may be presumed to have arisen out of the unworthy laelitmeat received by Grin on her first appearance in that city. The rival managers fought with swords, and were both wounded, but not dangerously.
We think it right to say that, in mentioning last week that Herr Paner had been appointed Principal of the Royal Academy of Music in the room of .Mr. Potter, we were not accurately informed. Mr. Lucas has become Principal of the Academy, and M. Pauer has been appointed principal professor of the pianoforte.
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