Cmoderne the pertinacity with which it is meged that England is Det musel bere must be a vast amount of sarige scals at the present Demoć zwarting inspiration: Se never Ed music in this country find What with gpers, ecorers, entertainments, and remicos, tere is a dying that Mars mies abroad, Apollo reigns at bome in the face of this, i as werted that we are not musical, on the grineu, perhage

By some, we are compared to other countries, and found to be lamentably dedevens Suit commentators should pay beed to a modern

- Italy is not the and of Sane, though it be a land fertile in exquisite voices and good sugars, and redundant in scifu zachers: fre there al intellectual exertion is brary restored to the multination of the fine arts. But no country is less the land or Sing than Italy, and in to country is there less renine and general appreciation of ro and in no land in Earage are the native melodies so few or so little worth. Arun me Taluats are not a 303008 of mascians. Instrumental music never was anderstood by more than some two or three of thete composers-is never adequately rendered, re properly performed, at any of their churces or theatres, and never in the itast rom preden det se reusded by any of their videos. Indeed, too. of those Composers, the only meridiala wan have deplayed deep musical science and a power ef isramentancam vid hs their two great works, namely, La Vestale' and *Gullane Ta, to the level of the Germa school, are Spontini formerly, and more recently Rossi The operas of Don retti and Belini, though a tew of them are in a digme satisfactory and on the whole pleasing, and in parts charming, are not to be compared with the tumblest productions of Gluck, Mezirt, Weber, Mendelsshon, Mererieer, or Beethore. And as to the fashionable composer of the day, Signor Veral las operis generally are about the worst and the noisiest that ever yet vexed and split the ears é an audience, abused the functions of an orchestra, lacerated the voces of the singers, or disgraced the stage of a lyric theatre. Then, as to the great Itim engen—the Pistas, Grisis, Persianis, Angris, Albonis, Rubinis, Salvis, Tamburas. Ronconis, Marios, and Lablaches-the moment their voices are formed, and their dramatic education completed, they betake themselves to London and Farts, where alone grand operas are properly pat upon the stage, where they have andiences that can appreciate their high powers, where they have artists to support them in their representations, and where they find bands and chorusses, with all accessories to the performance of the lyric drama, in perfection, and Italy hears them no more. In fact, the Ithan stage is only a school for singers, and their principal vocalists are at all times, with scarcely an exception, merely learners, native or foreign, who leave a most dreary unmusical country, with its incapable and ungrateful andiences, as soon as they consider themselves sufficiently taught to win gold and glory in those lands where alone good taste and liberality really do prevail. It may be remarked, too, that to the full as many of the scholars who graduate on the Italian stage and grow into celebrities, have come from foreign parts as from the Ausonian soil."

The thanks of the musical world should be, and of course will be, voted to Mr. Mitchell for the praiseworthy, patriotic, and politic course he has pursued in bringing over to this country the COLOGNE CHORAL UNION, whose concerts, at the Hanover-square Rooms, have been the

universal theme. Not to have partaken of this musical treat, is to argue oneself unknown. If there should linger one of our species whose misfortune it is not to have heard these wonderful singers, let him or her live in hope-[latest definition: a sentiment expressed in the wag of a dog's tail, when he's waiting for a bone]-for it is more than possible that on their return from the provinces, these matchless exponents of song will give more (two more) concerts-" positively the last."

66

After the morning concert at Hanover-square, the OPERA presents its attraction, which, as the season advances, heightens; star after star rising-Mario and Lablache being the most prominent; and very shortly, one whose advent is eagerly anticipated, and a speedy setting as deeply deplored, that " bright, particular star," Grisi. Another and another still succeeds;" yet firm and unshaken, and “ as true as the sun to the dial," is the belief in the incomparable personifier of some of the greatest of operatic creations. But now that the direful tidings are known, that she is so soon to wing her flight, the interest increases, if possible,

"As birds whose beauties languish half concealed,

Till mounted on the wing, their glossy plumes expanded shine
In azure, green, and gold-how blessings brighten

As they take their flight!"

The greatest success as yet has undeniably been "Il Barbière di Seviglia," with Mario, Lablache, and. Mademoiselle Bosio, whose advancement is one of the memorable events of the season.

Still in the sphere of music, at DRURY LANE the very low prices of admission must alone cause an influx; but this is not all, for excellence in the class of entertainment must be added, combining, as the programme does, the compositions of some of the best masters, interpreted generally by those in every way qualified. To the repertoire is now added English opera, making tria juncta in uno; of the whole, perhaps the German may be considered to bear off the palm, very likely to be accounted for by being not dependent on one or two singers alone. In English opera, Mr. Sims Reeves is not to be excelled; but there is a somewhat worn proverb relating to one swallow, &c. Amongst the latest successes achieved may be mentioned "Don Giovanni," and "Fidelio." In the former, the Ottavio of Herr Reichardt, and the Zerlina of Mademoiselle Bury, must be particularly specified; the air "Il mio tesoro" is given with correctness and taste, which do not always characterise the representatives of Ottavio; and the charming rusticity and pleasing simplicity with which Mademoiselle Bury invests her part, at once stamps her Zerlina as the very model of a country maiden. As for the Leporello of Herr Formes, that is well known, and being so well known, can never be forgotton. Suffice it to say, that in this performance he has not moulted a feather. But his version of the gaoler, in "Fidelio,' not being so familiarised to an English audience, it is but fair to observe that a performance so approaching perfection was never witnessed on any stage. No straining after effect, not the remotest attempt to make points for the sake of sudden contrast; indeed, a more finished portraiture could not be.

"Our young remembrance cannot fellow it."

The Florestan of Herr Reichardt, and the Fidelio of Madame

Mr. Lier has said the remainder of his stud, consisting of Redemptira. Spr.: Bodenia 3 yrs: Tavistock, 4 yrs, and the brood mares Cheerfil with a r by Bay Mileson and Phabe (with a filly by Newton, □ Mr. T. Fove The horses have left E. Jones's for Stevens's statues, at sier. Waverley has been purchased for a Belgian genteman fir £2000, and has left for the Continent. Mr. Armstrong has boughs Sir James Graham, 3 yrs. ol, and the Moor of Venice, 2 yra, cid; they have arrived at Newmarket. Mr. Norton has sold his two-year-old exit Alston to Mr. Redfern, of Glasgow. Lord Eglinton soud Vandendecken at Chester to Mr. Magenis, with his engagements, for £500, and half the Cheshire Stakes, which he won. Mr. J. Ashoom had sold Gleam, by Lanereost (own brother to Loup Garou), and he has been shipped on board The Racer, for Melbourne.

THE ROYAL STUD, HAMPTON COURT.-In addition to the losses, at the Royal Stod, of Chadlington Maid and Spangle (the dam of Bolingbroke, after foaling, and of a fine yearling filly by Orlando out of Volley, the colt by Birdcatcher out of Martha Lynn, having broken his arm, has been destroyed. Being half-brother to Voltigeur, he would no doubt have fetched a large sum. The yearlings are advertised for sale at Tattersall's on the 19th of June, the Monday after Ascot.

We have to record the death of Hiett, the jockey, at Lambourne, on Friday 26th May. He was in the twenty-second year of his age. His chief performances were for the Messrs. Parr; one of his most prominent riding, Barbarian-the second for the Derby in Daniel O'Rourke's year.

END OF VOL. XXXI.

Printed by Rogerson and Tuxford, 248, Strand, London.

INDE X.