31insir.
The French comic opera troupe at the St. James's Theatre performed Herold's celebrated opera, is Pre aux Clercs, on Saturday last, and, as this is a work of sterling quality, and within the company's means, their representation of it was satisfactory and successful. As a drama, it is a lively picture of the manners of the French aristocracy in the sixteenth century, when the the country was torn by factions and the court sunk in libertinism; while much interest is excited by the hero and heroine, a youthful pair Of lovers belonging to the rural nobility-, whose purity and simplicity, in the midst of the court, contrast agreeably with the profli- gate intrigues in which they are involved. Herold died at an early age, about five-and-twenty years ago, having, however, left two works, Zampa and is Pri aux Clercs, by which his name will live. Be had an original genius, and his style is a happy mixture of French lightness and brilliancy with the strength of the German schooL The performance at the St. James's is, as to acting, excellent; and, as to singing, quite good enough to give pleasure to ears not hypercritical. We have never seen and heard Madame Faure to greater advantage ; and the pretty Made- moiselle Celine Mathieu plays a little Parisian grisette to admiration. O si sie (mania! but really this company seem more than usually un- aware of what they can do and what they cannot.
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