. miss Pyne and Mr. Harrison have further extended their
Drury Lane "curriculum" by the reproduction of The Croton _Diamonds, which was one of the chief attractions last season at the Lyceum. It is now per- -termed nearly in the same way as it was last year, the changes being only in one or two of the subordinate characters. There is no part in which Louisa Pyne appears to greater advantage than that of Cathrina it suits her lively manner of acting, and the music is so entirely in her way that it would almost seem that Auber had her in view while writing it. As- suredly he has never heard it sung with greater lightness and brilliancy by any star of the Opera Comique. Harrison, too, has a part well adapted to his means ; and the elder Miss Pyne is a most satisfactory Seoonda donna—quiet and unpretending, but a sound musician, and an 'intelligent and agreeable actress. The opera was received with great favour on Monday : and the company, having now four favourite pieces to give by turns, will be able, we suppose, to trade upon their present stock till the term of their occupation of Drury Lane comes to an end. The three principal performers, however, have to appear every night without intermission or relief—a labour sufficient to exhaust their strength and wear out their voices. The company, we understand, is to be much strengthened when they open Covent Garden. It is rumoured that an engagement has been offered to Sims Reeves, but we think his acceptance very unlikely ; as his course of "starring it" in London and the country, with a budget of popular songs and ballads, must bring him much more than the highest salary that Miss Pyne and Mr. Harrison could afford to pay him ; and we scarcely expect that Mr. Reeves will sacrifice his pocket to a disinterested love of his art. Should he do so, however, he will be entitled to the thanks of the public; for with his ea- sistanee and that of one or two more whose names are obvious, we might have a National opera worthy of the nation.
The Reunion des Arts, a Society which, devoting itself chiefly to the art of music, has gained some reputation for its musical performances, commenced its series of Concerts for the season at the Harley Street Booms on Wednesday evening. There was a large assemblage of mem- bers and subscribers, amateurs, and professional artists, who were enter- tained with an agreeable selection of classical music, on the whole very well performed. Herr Gollmick, well known as an excellent pianist and composer, played several of his own elegant moreeaux cle salon; Herr Goffrie the Society's able director, performed a violin caprice by de Kontsky with great brilliancy; and Mr. Daubert, in a solo on the vio- loncello, shoved that, Piatti excepted, he has no superior among us. The singers were Miss Therese Jefferys, Miss Armstrong, and Miss Gerard, —all of them young, but highly promising performers.
Previous page
