The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Bro . James Willing's new drama , " The Ruling-Passion , " was produced at the "Standard ( Bro . Douglas ' s house ) on Monday evening .

* * * Bro . Edward Terry will shortly rc-appcar at the "Gaiety ; the new burlesque " Valentine and Orson " being in preparation . * * » Miss I . ila Clay deserves support if only on account of her going out of the beaten track , and proving ( if such a thing were necessary in these days

of women ' s right :- ) that ladies are able to compete with the sterner sex . This talented young lady has shown that there are openings for those of her sex who have to gain their own livelihood . At the " Opera Comique , " now manasred by a ladv , and whose players and

orchestra are all ladies , we are promised a change of programme in the shape of an original opera di camera in one act , by Mr . Saville Clarke . It is called "An Adamless Eden ; " " the music by Mr . Slaughter . It is a lively satire on women ' s rights , and certainly most appropriate to this house under its present management .

* * M . Planquette has done much good suit and service in selecting the story of " Rip Van Winkle " for the plot of the new opera he has brought out at the Royal Comedy . With thehelpof Mr . H . B . Farnie . it has been successfully employed in providingsolos . and specially choruses , which are the backbone of the opera . For the first time , an

English opera has been set to music by a French composer . " Rip Van Winkle , " in its dramatic features , surpasses M . Planquette ' s " Les Cloches- de Corneville , " and the composer more than maintains his already well-earned distinction . Most persons are acquainted , more or less , with the story of " Rip Van Winkle , " that it will be unnecessary , even if our space permitted , to give an elaborate detail . In

the new version Rip is represented as the light-hearted vagabond ; Gretchen is young and amiable , and not the tyrant as usually depicted . Rip ' s motive , therefore , for wandering is not domestic , but is made political . Derrick , Rip ' s creditor , holds a mortgage on the spendthrift's estate , which Rip , who has found a store of gold in the mountains , pays off . This is not legal tender . Derrick , therefore ,

denounces Rip , who makes his escape to the mountains ; there he falls in with Hudson and his crew . He joins in the revels . When he wakes he looks for his dog , which he had tied to a tree , but instead of the animal he finds only the skeleton of a dog . He returns to the village to find everything changed . A touching scene is represented when Rip to establish his identity recalls some

melodies he had sung to Alice and her lover Hans when they were children . His wife , Gretchen , is dead when he returns , but lives again in his daughter Alice , represented b y Miss Violet Cameron , who also is in Act I . his wife . By this music Rip isrecognised by Alice as her father . The whole opera strikes one at once with its melody and brightness . The overture is ably arranged for the orchestra to

display their abilities . Miss Violet Cameron ras developed the promise she has given in "Boccacio , " The " Ma ^ cotte , " and Germaine in Planquette's Opera "Les Cloches de Corneville ; " her singing is warml y applauded , and both as Rip ' s wife Gretchen and his daughter Alice , she plays with delicacy and finish . If she made the success of the other operas great she is likely to make this greater . Bro .

Lionel Brough , Nick Vedder in Act 1 . and Jan Vedder in Act II ., evokes frequent peals of laughter , and as is his wont contributes not a little to the " go " of the piece . As the Innkeeper he has not so much to do as in the last two comic operas ; his rich vein of humour is supplied with sadly inadequate material . Mr . Rising , who sings the " Pipe " song , does so to the very best of his ability , and bears

himself with good effect . Bro . Brough sustains the burden of the opera in the first act , and Mr . Fred . Leslie in the last act . Mr . Leslie ' s impersonation of Rip reveals histiionic powers of the highest class . We are glad to see him here . He has tended to beguile away many a pleasant hour in conjunction with Mr . Kelleher , at the Alhambra . He may be said to have gained the public esteem . The

house laughs at his broken English . Without a trace of exaggeration he portrays the wonders of a man twenty years older than he ought to be ; the astonishment and despair when he comes back to his village and finds his associates know him not , and the consciousness that these are the children of his companions . In the last act he is the best , probably because he has more opportunities . Mr .

Kelleher , the Burgomaster , Mr . Penley , Derrick , Messrs . Darrell , Wilmore and Perry , all strive their utmost to give a good effect to the opera . Miss Martinot , vyho makes her first appearance in England , uses her voice in her character , Katrina , with good result , and acts with much vivacity . Misses Effie Mason and Alice Vicut , act in the first part very well . Miss Clara Graham , of course , acquits

herself to perfection as usual , we often regret she has not up to the present occupied more prominent parts . In a farce she is delicious . Mr . Planquette , who by the way is only thirty-two years of age , this is for our fair readers ' benefit , has by his latest work given promise of something even still higher . The melodies fall with freshness on the ear , and everything in the opera is refined .

The "Letter" song , sung by Miss Cameron ; Mr . Rising ' s love song ; the trio between Rip , Gretchen and Derrick ; the lieutenant's ( Hudson ) bold sea song are amongst the many pretty songs . Miss Ada Wilson in her dancing is charming and graceful , and deserves her nightly encore . Mr . Beverley's scenery is worthy of this skilled artist . The dresses do great credit to the designers and to M . Alias , the maker . Thr orchestra

is most efficient , and have many opportunities for making their mark , under the able conductorship of Mr . van Biene . It requires only to be added thcit Bro . Henderson ' s house , skilfully as it is managed by Bro . D'Albertson , has as yet not been able to hold within its walls all those desirous of witnessing the performance , and from the nightly announcement"house full , " we may unhesitatingly say M . Planqnette ' s new opera is a decided success .

The Theatres.

It is gratify ing to note that the efforts of the Prince of Wales to establish a Royal College of Music are being so ably and so generally seconded throughout the country . Hardly a week passes but we hear of some representative meeting being held for the purpose of raising contributions , while concerts innumerable are taking place everywhere in furtherance of this much needed national instituticn . Among those who have chosen the

latter method of helping forward the good work are the well-known firm of pianoforte manufacturers , the Messrs . Brinsmead , of Wigmore-street , Cavendish-square , who have organised a series of some sixty concerts , to be held in London and the chief provincial centres in aid of the College funds . Some of these , as at Huddersfield and Preston , have already taken place , and with considerable success . The first to be held in London is fixed for Thursday next , the 16 th inst ., atSt . James ' s Hall . The principal

artistes announced tor the occasion are Miss Anna Williams and Madame Patey , Mr . Sims Reeves , Mr . Herbert Reeves , Signor Runcio , Mr . Barrington Foote , and Signor Foli ; while the Chevalier Antonie de Kontski , and Hen- Poznanski will be solo pianist and solo violinist respectively . Mr . Sidney Naylor will wield the baton as conductor . So considerable an effort as that now being made by the Brinsmead Concert Company deserves and will no doubt receive a large measure of public support and patronage .

* * * The performance of Gounod's "Redemption " at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday last , to which we only alluded in passing last week , went off most successfully , thanks in part to the very able direction of Mr . Bamby , but principally to the great care which had been taken to have the concerted parts frequently and thoroughly rehearsed . In these circumstances the audience , some ten thousand in number , had an excellent opportunity

of hearing , as well as it is possible in this hall , and appreciating a performance of M . Gounod ' s great work , which fell little short of that at the Birmingham Festival under the direction of the composer himself . Among the principal vocalists were Madame Albani , Mr . Lloyd , and Bro . Santley , who repeated their Birmingham triumphs , while the places of Mesdames Marie Roze and Patey , and Mr . King at the first performance were taken on this occasion by Miss Santley , Madame Fassett , and Mr . Pyatt .

» * * Madame Christine Neilsson met with a most enthusiastic reception at Boston on the evening of the 1 st instant , on the occasion of her first concert during her visit to the United States .

* * # A vocal concert formed part of the entertainment given by the mayor and corporation of Brighton on Friday iast , in the Royal Pavilion , to the 4 th Dragoon Guards on their return from Egypt . The artistes engaged included Madame Suter , Miss Helen Heath , Miss Bertha Moore , Mr . Coates , Mr . Winn , and Mr . William Hogarth .

# # * The Promenade Concerts at Covent Garden have not , after all , come to an end , as announced , and for the future we shall give up prophesying the occurrence of such an event until it has actually taken place . Indeed , Mr . Crowe appears to have had some very brave nights lately , notably , on Saturday last , which was " Inkerman Night . " The chief attraction of the entertainment was the British Armv Quadrilles , the performance of which , always

inspiriting , was made still more so by the fact that Corporal Golding , Sir Baker Russell ' s trumpeter in the recent Egyptian campaign , sounded the Reveille and the Charge . The principal vocalists were Madame Lemmens Sherrington , Madame Enriquez , and Mr . Burgon . Miss Ascher , aged twelve , was solo pianist , and Mr . Carrodus , as usual , principal violin . This week the services of Mr . Levy , the great cornet player , had been secured , but , unfortunately , the engagement seems to have broken down .

* * * The Dome , Brighton , was crowded in every part on Saturday last , on the occasion of Mr . George Watts ' s third Philharmonic Concert , the great feature of which was the performance of the Garden Scene from Gounod's " Faust . " Madame Cave Ashton , in the unavoidable absence through indisposition of Madame Rose Hersee , Madame Trebelli

sang the music of Margherita ; was Sicbel ; Mdlle de Varney , Marta ; Mr . Vernon Rigby , Faust ; and Mr . Barrington Foote , Mefistofele . Among the other artistes who took part in the concert were Mi « s Clements and Mr . Sims Reeves , the latter of whom , in response to a double call for Hatton ' s " Goodbye , Sweetheart , " sang , to the great delight of the audience , Dibdin's "Tom Bowling . "

* # * Notwithstanding the inauspicious state of the weather , there was a large audience in the Dome , Brighton , on Tuesday , the opening day of Bro . Kuhc's twelfth Brighton Musical Festival . As we announced last week , the programme consisted of two works by well-known English composers—Mr . Sullivan ' s "Martyrof Antioch " and Mr . Cowen ' s "Scandinavian " Symphony—both of which

are firmly established in public estimation . Band and chorus at Brighton are not so strong numerically as at other festivals that have recently occurred—the available space forbids ; but the former included some of our best London instrumentalists , Mr . Carrodus being of the number ; while the latter , thanks to the care of their trainer , Mr . King , did their work with precision and taste . Mr . Sullivan ' s work experienced a quiet , but cordial , reception , the chief feature being the manner in which the solo numbers

were rendered by Mesdames Albani and Trebelli , Mr . Lloyd , and Mr . King . Mr . Cowen's Symphony gave the orchestra an opportunity they readily availed themselves of to prove their excellence , each movement developing some points of exceptional merit , so that the whole work , so far as the strength of the orchestra went , was worthily set before the audience . Both composers conducted in person . 'lhe National Anthem , as arranged by Bro . Sir Michael Costa , and the " Hallelujah" from Beethoven's " Mount of

The Theatres.

Olives , " opened and closed the performance respectively Bro . Kuhe , it is needless to say , on presenting himself to conduct the former , was very heartily acclaimed by the audience . # * * We gave the principal items in the programmes

of last Saturday's and Monday ' s " Pops " in our last number , and it only needs that we should add on the present occasion that the audiences expressed the utmost satisfaction with the manner in which they were carried out . On Saturday , Bro . Santley , who was the vocalist , sang a new song by Signor Piatti , " Hymn to God , the Father , " and Gounod's " Mcdje . "

The programme for to-day ' s " Pop " includes Beethoven ' s Quartet in F major , Schumann ' s Pianoforte Quintet in E Hat , Beethoven's Sonata Patetica , for pianoforte alone , and Piatti ' s " Elegia " and " Siciliana , " for violoncello . Madame Fassett will be the vocalist . On Monday next will be given Mozart ' s Quartet in D major , Hadyn's Quartet in C major , Schubert ' s " Gliicke im Volkston , " for pianoforte and violoncello , and Chopin's Sonata in B minor , for pianoforte alone .

# # * At the second concert this season by the Royal Albert Hall Choral Society , on Wednesday , the 22 nd inst ., will be given Mendelsohn ' s "Elijah . " The principal artistes will include Madame Albani , Miss Fenna , Madame Fassett , Mr . Joseph Maas , and Bro . Santley .

Lord Braye presided at the first meeting , held on Wednesday , the 1 st inst ., at the Marlborough-rooms , Regent-street , of the Longfellow Memorial Committee , the object of which is to raise funds in order to place a bust in Poets' Corner , Westminster Abbey , in memory of the

great American poet . The principal speaker was Bro . the Earl Granville , who eloquently seconded the resolution for the appoiniment of a committee . Subscriptions to the extent of £ 500 were announced before the meeting separated , after paying the usual compliment to the chairman for his services .

* * * His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has since written to express his readiness to accept the position of president of the said committee .

* # # Some interesting experiments in electricity were made at the soiree , given by the Mayor and Mayoress of Brighton , on Thursday , the 2 nd inst ., in the Royal Pavilion . 'The most important was an attempt to convey , by means of the telephone , to those in the Pavilion , the performance

of the Compton Comedy Company in the theatre . This was done with a fair amount of success , though in some cases I the utterances were indistinct , owing , it may be , to the recorders being placed at the side of the stage . The distance was about 250 yards .

* * # On Friday , the 3 rd inst ., Mr . Froude , as President of the Birmingham and Midland Institute , delivered his inaugural address in the Birmingham Town Hall . The address , which was a very eloquent one , was frequently interrupted b y the ' applause of the audience , and at the close a vote of thanks to the learned gentleman was passed with acclamation .

* * * At a further meeting held at the South Kensington Museum , on Friday , the 3 rd inst ., of the Royal Commission on Technical Instruction , the evidence of Mr . T . Armstrong , director for art , and Mr . H . A . Bowler , assistant director , was taken in connection with the art teaching of the department and its influence on industry , and that of Mr . J . Sparkes , principal of the National Art Training School , as to the working of that institution . On Saturday , sundry of Her Majesty ' s Inspectors of Schools

were examined . * # * It is still an open question who first discovered the great comet which has recently appeared and is still visible . Mr . Ellery of the Melbourne Observatory , writes that a very bright comet was seen on the 7 th September , but no observations were made until 5 . 20 a . m . on the 10 th

September . Mr . Finlay , of the Cape Observatory , did not see it till 5 a . m . on the Sth of that month , but within twenty-four hours of discerning it he succeeded in obtaining an observation . It is the opinion of Mr . Hind , who is one of the highest authorities in cometary astronomy , that in all probability this comet will return in October , 1883 .

* On Saturday last the town of Derby was the scene of three interesting ceremonies ; an art gallery , built at the joint expense of Bro . Bass , M . P ., and the Mayor , was opened with considerable ceremony ; a commencement was made in preparing for public use a recreation ground , provided by the Corporation ; and the Arboretum grounds .

given by Mr . Joseph Strutt for the town use , subject to certain restrictions , were declared free to all . In honourof the triple event there was a grand banquet given by the Mayor , in the Drill Hall , there being nearly 1000 guests present , among whom were the Home Secretary , Bro . the Lord Mayor of London , Lord Belper , Lord Scarsdale , Sir H . Wilmot , M . P ., and others .

* * * The death is recorded of Ninagawa Noritane , a well-known Japanese antiquary , who is said to have been the greatest authority of his day on all subjects connected with the Ceramic arts in Japan . The gentleman in question fell a victim to the cholera .

* * # In addition to the Fine Art Exhibitions now open to the public , which we referred to last week , should be mentioned the Dore Gallery , 35 , New Bond-street , and the Exhibition at 53 , Pall Mall , where are to be seen some of Mr . John Martin ' s celebrated works . It should also be noted that the first division of the Bartolozzi Exhibition will be shortly on view .