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Leader (1850-1860), 20th March 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 282

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    • Cnmtnerrial Iffaira.
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      a danger I apprehended , ant I was glad to see Beverley had so skilfully ftV much for the dioramie part . The * " guide , p hilosopher , and friend " whom we usually find expounding the text of a diorama , is in ninety-nine cases a stupendous and overpowering bore , hut in the hundredth case ne is Albert Smith , and sums up in himself all the entertainment missing from the ninety > nine ! His illustrations of the Ascent o £ MontBlanc are of unflagging amusement . \ He sings-, he . < plavs on the piano , on the horn , on the hurdy-gurdy , on the flageolette—he sketches absurd characters , he mimics all voices ; he paints in a word or an accent a national peculiarity , , he never stops , he rushes on like a locomotive of fun—With a yup , yup , yup , tra la la la laand the sides of the audience ache wijfch Homeric laughter !

      So much sentiment and so much fun—so much poetry of nature and so much laughter you cannot elsewhere crowd into two hours : Aois aux amateurs I

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      WHITE MAGIC . On Wednesday Signor Biletta ' s long-talked of comic Opera , White Magic , was produced at the Haymarket . The libretto is as nonsensical as English comic operas claim the privilege to be , without , however , their customary dulness ; the jokes are of an extremeto ^ feeble and comic-opera style ( such as ¦ " then it appeared you disappeared , " which I do not regard as a brilliant flash ); and the ballads have the poetry of opera ballads ^ - 4 kat is to say , the heroine is told she is"as " bright as the rose" and as l ^ ure as the lily , " her eye has " priceless gems within ^ it , " while « Her heart is heaven—ah , whoshaU win it ? O ' er sea and land , o ' er hills and valleys , Her beauty holds its matchless reign . O ! why was Fate unkindly ! ¦ - O ! how could folly blindly Divide us with its idle malice ? The " poet" is anonymous ; if he is wise he will studiously remain so . He wilfpant for obscurity , and deathless tmrenown ! Happily , the music makes amends . It is light , facile , flowing , gay , and fresh . Although an Italian , Signor BHetta has skilfully avoided the old familiar phrases of the modern Italian school—he has avoided even their languid rhythms and Bellini sweetnesses ; the school he belongs to is rattier that of Auberfrom whom he has caught something of the dancing

      , rhythm and piquant orchestral effects , not to mention an occasional melodic reminiscence . Although not rich in melodic ideas , the writing is entitled to the rare praise of originality . By which I mean , that although the ideas themselves may not always be new , yet they are re-created in his new combinations , and bear the character of having flowed spontanedusly from him : elles coulent de source ! There are some passages where the writing is wide of the mark , and one unhappy attempt at a Balfe

      Ballad—««• You are bright as the rose that looks up to the sun ; the failure of which will , I hope , warn Signor Biletta off that clap-trap and sickly ground ; for he is capable of writing very charming music , such as will create a more lasting reputation than all the " Hearts bowed down with weight of woes" that ever " Dreamt in marble halls . " But with these trifling exceptions , the ojtera went delightfully—the music having life and gaiety in its pleasant flow . Its success was genuine . sadlin want of

      I hope it will inaugurate a series of successes . We are y new operas , and do not want grand operas . On the whole , the execution was excellent . Louisa Pyne was _ more charming than ever , the little chubby dodu syren that she is ! Her singing was joyous and gracefully piquant , and would have saved any music . Signor Biletta had fitted her to perfection , and she returned him the compliment by singing his music faultlessly . Nothing could be more elegant than her singing of the elegant romance , " O was I then awake or dreaminir P" if she had not marred one tmsBajre bv the introduction of a

      commonplace cadence—an introduction inexcusable in such a mistress ofjfloriture / Her sister ijlayed the part of a souhrette with some drollery . Weiss sang a good part with care and effect , though occasionally bawling , and singing his tenderness , like a stentor , at the pit , instead of singing it in Louisa's ear ! As for Mr . Harrison—the true British tenor—he sang with his throat , his nose , and his calves , and was much applauded by a delicately discriminating part of the audience . The opera succeeded although he sang in it . ~ Vivian .

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      English Conversation . —The superficiality and insipidity of nearly all the conversations to which I have listened , or in which I have joined , is really depressing . As for as I hear , little is » aid about politics , Which is a good thing , —much better than our German mania for going beyond our depth on such subjects ; but , that narrative and common-places form the whole Staple of conversation , from which all philosophy is excluded , — -that enthusiasm and loftiness of expression arc entirely wanting , depresses me more than any personal neglect of which , as a stranger , I might have to complain ; for of this my share «« not large , and I bear 1 it easily . —Niebuhr * * Life and Letters , ' Convictions . —Deep in the foundations of his character , like the immovable blocks whereon great edifices repose , each man has to lay down for himself certain thoughts , sooner or later , of passing consequence , got ^ Vout of secret and manifold communinga regarding the iS&TVggjk mystery of here and hereafter ; and on those r ^® t 5 > Jg hts ngain , and the more happily and grandly as SWitOTe thoughts are strong , there will still base and pile ^ &E&ni »© lveB , in some loose order or other , conclusions , f UD j ^ Jitoaents , and diverse predilections , extracted pain-MWfflHy or otherwise out of the experience that is gone

      through of life and its ways , and then employed back again in the scrutiny and contemplation of all that the world presents . —North British Review , No . XXXII .

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      ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA . In our Postscript , last week , we were able to announce the opening of tli Royal Italian Opera , for its sixth season , on Tuesday , the 23 rd instant * Passers-by inform me ihat ^ ha favoured , if not strictly fashionable , localuV of Bow-street begins ( to pass from the penny-a-liner to Bunn ) to " throw off its winter gdrb of woe , " and ( to return i » the penny-a-liner ) to "wear an unusually animated appearance / ' In my own substantial lanWaffe I should say that Bow-streetis already preparing , to escape from tEe fell monopoly of imperious " Peelers" and dreary prison-Vans . A furtive glimpse of the interior , through the grand entrance , brought back to me a world of delightful recollections . ^ Ah I it must be confessed that at the end of ^ July one conceives the possibility Of living even without the Opera but in March ! perhaps we think the Opera one of the few things worth living for . Ana lo ! here we are at the sixth season . Well , the directors ( nothing like a majestic plural ) have acted with a wise liberality in . nofc reposing on the success of last year—a success , it may be remembered more than commensurate with the satisfaction of the audiences ; for many and frequent arid grave were the contretemps that beset the direction , and disappointed the public , last year , Therefore , I say , that not to have relied on the great success of last year , but to have strengthened and enlarged the resources of attraction , is a policy as wise as it is liberal , and it will assuredly have its reward . This year ' s programme has an air of quiet certainty and confidence about it which is better than a budget of

      promises . ' *¦ ¦"•¦ Costa ' s glorious band , modified only by accessions ; the choral forces increased in efficiency ( there was a little faUing off in that quarter last year ); Mario ( we trust in renewed voice ) ; Grisi , TamberUk , and Eonconi , loaded with the spoils of Russia and with imperialhonours ; Yiardot and Castellan not forgotten ; Tagliafico , always a thorough artist ; and others , if riot named here ; not less remembered ; with our old friend Marini again , arid a batch of new tenors , such as Herr Arider , the Vienna Propkete , and Guie ' mard , the latest successor to I ) uprezi of Paris j and a soprano or two riot unknown to continental fame ; arid a new contralto , who has the courage to take the place of Alboni and of Arigri ( what can we say more ?) ; and the ballet recruited in itspersonnel , arid ^ restored to some prominence , ( but only , we trust , as & divertissement , ) " is not this a dainty dish to set before a king P' ^ . ^ . ^ _ "

      , _ .. _ "Weber ' s Oberon , duce Costa , Spohr's Faust , Rossini's Comfe Ory , ot delicious memory , and last , riot least , Tietro j % Grande , by the immortal jullien , which I believe , and predict , ^ 11 startle into admiration the most sceptical , for it will , I feel sure , contain melody , skill , esprit , originality , colour , grace , sustained but not overlaid by science . / These are tempting " features" ibr a programme . Meanwhile let us wish a | hearty and genuine success to the Royal Italian Opera and to all whom it may concern ! Aurevoir ! Le Chat-Huant .

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      iTURNEE'S SHIPWRECK . Abotjt to be engraved by Cousins , Turner ' s " Shipwreck " ^ haa been exhibited in the usual way , at the house of Messrs . Paul and Domuuc Colnaghi . It is esteemed one of his finest works , before his manner had crown so ecceritric and unruly , and it is a very striking scene .. The hulk of the great ship lies on her beam ends , the mass forming a kind of wall that shuts in the view to the left of the spectator ; under the lee , boats are engaged in picking up the passengers , many of whom are s « Wl seen clustering on the wreck . A misty , murky light gleams away to windward , lending a glare of horror to the conflict of waters and wina . Described in general terms , the picture would tell as one of unjjuaimea greatness ; and yet it is not so . There is a confusion in the parting as well as in the scene . Turner laboured , perhaps , under the false idea , that to paint a storm with effect , there should be a storm also in tne palette . And some traits of the scene are positively wrong , such as wie angular and even quadrate forms into which the waters are tossea » trait which we doubt on the windward side of billows , however yene . montly heaving and confusedly broken . Call it a g" ^^ . " ;? " ^ sketch , under correction , and it ia a fine conception powerfully mdicaitu ,

      but it fails of perfect truth . * i «« ft « ri » rful ' For the engraver it furnishes an " indication" proportionately P ° * ' V and ho will T > e able to soften its inaccuracies , while he ™ P ^""' bestow a little judicious light on its obscurities . We have no doubt ui it will be a fine engraving .

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      282 - THE LEAP Ejt . , ¦; . ,. ; : >/ ' : ^ jffigfrfoa

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      BEITISn FUNDS FOE THE PAST WEEK . ( Closing Pbiob ^________ ---------

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      8 atlir . Mond . T «« . Wedr , n * r .. - «• Bank Stock shut 2201 *;;; " ' ...... 3 per Cent . Bed ^ but 08 | ...... - : 08 j 08 t 3 per Cent . Con . Ana . Wi 98 98 w » a 3 per Cent . An . 1720 .. ••¦ ••¦••• " Via * 08 J Ot 3 per Cent . Con ., Ao . 97 i 98 984 m SlperOont . An , 100 99 * New 5 p « r Cents , Long Ana ., 1860 » nut ., - \ jXV ¦•¦¦•¦ Indrst . 10 kp « r 0 «« t- - " - JX- " ;« : 7 « P gf , Ditto BondB . jeiOOO ... 73 p 73 p 73 p ¦•¦••• m p CO E-r . Bill 8 , £ 1000 67 p 08 p 08 p « £ P M * 0 Di « o , £ C 00 . 07 P OSP . gg SSp 68 P _ S'i Ditto Small 67 p 08 V ___^ Z-l ^ - ^ -

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      FOBEiaN FUNDS . pIirfl ( L . r Ovum * * g ^ ggSl . F . 05 Brazilian BmaU 100 1 ™^ ' $$% * " ^ ? S Buonoa Ayros , Acot 78 *™* £ ffi % . 0 t . *»* - $ OhilUn 3 per Oont » 09 S ^ SSffi ^ rW ^ V ' oi' » Si& ' . pStt ::::::: £ MiSsSri-- j asSt-sssisK ::: & ¦ lS ^ :. " " S ° r :: ;;;

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      MONEY MARKET AND CITY INTELLIGENCE . Satpbday Moknino , March 20 . Tub Funds have this week been exceedingly buoyant ; not , however , in consequence of the confidence reposed in the new Government , but from , causes independent of them , such as the favourable intelligence ( perhaps overrated ) respecting the Caffire war , tho conversion of the French 6 per cents , a measure much approved of , and last , not least , the pressure upon tho market of unemployed capital , to which there are daily lai go additions . The stock of bullion in tho Bank coffers is now little short of twenty millions sterling , Consols opened on Monday at 97 jk 08 , afterwards touched 89 j , and closed yesterday at 08 ^ . — Exchequer Bills have commanded 05 to 08 premium . The Foreign Market has been active , and in Buenos-Ayres Bonds more especially the operations have been large and at imposing prices . in Kailway Shares there has been much business done , and quotations in . many instances aro highor .

      Cnmtnerrial Iffaira.

      Cnmtnerrial Iffaira .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 20, 1852, page 282, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1927/page/22/