GERMAN OPERA.
WE have been anxiously expecting the production of some novelty in this department of the King's Theatre, and at length the Zampa of HEROLD has made its appearance. Under the direction of such a man as HUMMEL, something better might have been expected; and we marvel that he had not vanity enough to pro- duce his own Matilda, in place of an 'opera little known in this country. Zampa is a kind of compilation, both as regards story and music. The hero is a naval Don Giovanni, and the Statue is his deceased wife. The plot is of that outrageous character which certain living German playwrights are so fond of; and, like most others of the same genus, is too spectral even to make us laugh. It is merely tedious and dull. The music is neither very good nor very bad : it is of no school—not German, yet Germanish—not Italian, yet with a sprinkling of the Neapolitan school—noisy, like the French opera, but without the melody of the English. Never- theless, there are some clever parts in Zampa. The choruses oc- casionally, are well wrought out ; and there is one, in particular, of which the effect is both novel and striking. The Corsair and his crew are singing a spirited drinking-chorus in a room in which stands the mysterious statue. To their horror and dismay, it makes some sign; which, like his prototype Don Giovanni, the Corsair answers by defiance and scorn, and calls on his comrades to renew their chorus. They attempt it, but every line changes into a strain of terror. The finale to the third act was rewritten by Hummae, and is the best thing in the opera. Madame PIRSCHER was, of course, the prima donna ; but her simple, unadorned style, is not enough for such airs as those of M. HEROLD. MOZART, WEBMR, SPOHR, may be left to take care of themselves ; but inferior 'writers must be dealt with after a different fashion. BINDER was too smooth-faced and soft-spoken a pirate; but his singing, as far as his powers permitted, was very satisfac- tory. BLUME, his lieutenant, looked, acted, and sung, better than we have ever seen or heard him. As a whole, the opera was so performed as to enable us fully to judge of what it is. It was not very attractive, nor will it grow into public favour.
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