was good and effective, and Mr. Russell conducted with his usual ability. The theatre was by no means so full as it might have been, and we regret to learn that loss is the result. Let us hope, however, that the "Creation," to-night, may attract, as it deserves, a crowded house.
Theatre Royal.
Friday.—The repetition of "Martha" last night must have made many regret that the real and sterling merits of our little opera company are so scantily recognised. The selection of "Martha" was at first a doubtful step, but a better work could not have been adopted with respect to the general talents of the corps. The opera has improved on every repetition, and last night was performed admirably in every respect. It well deserves to be repeated again and again—but real lovers of music are still to be quoted as "scarce," and the manager, it is to be feared, finds novelty more attractive than excellence. The latter cannot be expected if a production like "Martha," with Bishop, Laglaise, and Coulon, added to Guerin, Howson, &c., will not draw for five or six nights. The smoothness and perfection of last night showed the advantage of a few nights' run. May the remaining eight nights prove more profitable.
Wednesday.—Some great authority lately stated, that tragic opera had few charms for an English, and still fewer for a Victorian audience. The best answer to this assertion is, the reception of "Lucrezia Borgia" last night; a result owing no less to the intrinsic merits of the opera itself, than to the manner in which the artistes acquitted themselves. Since the advent of opera among us, our ears, after being delighted by the strains of a Hayes or a Bishop, have been generally annoyed by whole pages of spoken English libretto of the most namby-pamby and unmusical character. Such, however, was not the case last night. From the rising of the curtain till its fall the attention of the audience was riveted to the stage; recitative took the place of that twaddling dialogue which would have well nigh destroyed the
