Reviews Of Uew Books.

incidents . It is the * work of a man and for its intrinsic literary merit deserves to take a high and independent position . " The American Freemason ^ Louisville and JSTew York . Copies of this admirable periodical have reached us up to July , and we shall best attest our estimation of the contents by quoting considerably from them . To be appreciated , however , fully , it must be seen , when even a

brief inspection of the numerous topics of interest , illustrated by an almost endless variety of engravings , will equally surprise as delight . How such a paper can be concocted at the price , is to us a marvel , and we do not hesitate to pronounce our unqualified admiration at the manner in which it blends general as well as Masonic information with entertainment and mental exhilaration . All honour be to its supporters .

Music.

MUSIC .

EOYAL ITALIAN OPERA . Duking- the past season , ten operas have been produced at the Lyceum . Of the manner in which these operas were performed we now proceed briefly to speak . II Trovatore . —This opera has gone through many changes as regards its cast . The first change , on the first night of the season , was the substitution of Madame Didiee for Madame Yiardot ; the latter lady , however , has made the part of Azucena so entirely her own , that rivalry here is quite out of the question . The next change , which came somewhat later , was unavoidable ; for

Signor Tamberlik ' s engagement terminating early in the season , if the opera was to be performed at all , no one but Signor Mario could fill his place . Another change was rendered necessary by the subsequent departure of Madame Jenny Ney , who had so thoroughly identified herself with the part of Leonora ( the only one in which she has appeared in England , if we except her debut in Fidelio ) , that even Madame Bosio , coining after her , could hardly escape disadvantageous comparison . As regards the " mounting" of the opera , it was nothing short of magnificent ; and the orchestra and chorus were of course up to the true Covent Garden standard .

L Eh sir d , Amove . —Ronconi was Dulcamara ; Gardoni , Nemorino ; and Mdlle . Marai , Adiua , on the occasion of the first performance , Madame Bosio being unwell . The opera went admirably from beginning to end , Mdlle . Marai proving , by no means for the first time , that she is fully capable of taking leading parts when necessary . A new ballet ( Les Ilaniadryades ) was produced after the opera , but was not very successful . Subsequently the opera was repeated , with Madame Bosio as Adina .

II Conte Ory . —The cast was the same as last year ; the music , of course , as delicious as ever , and relished more and more on each successive performance . Rigoletto . —The original cast . The entire performance , including scenery , dresses , & c , as near perfection as possible . II Bar Mere . —A splendid performance of Rossini ' s comic masterpiece , Mario , Ronconi , Formes , Tagliafico , and Madame Bosio , taking the principal parts . In the singing lesson , Madame Bosio introduced , with great success , a new and lively air , which was also very popular at the Crystal Palace concerts .

Don Giomuni . —We render ourselves liable to a charge of musical high-treason when we say that this opera is not at all to our taste . The music is , of course , splendid , magnificent , incomparable ; but somehow or another it is not , as a whole , effective . Then for the plot—what can be more dreary than the abortive gallantries of the hero , and the pointless buffooneries of his valet ?—what more dismally uninteresting than the exits and entrances of those two ladies so hapless and so ill-used ?—what more absurd and tedious than the stony Comviendatore , first astride on his stony steed , and then , with ghost-like steps , inarching into the supper-room ?—what more melodramaticall y inconsistent with all our modem ideas , than the last lire-and-brinistone scene , where conventional demons , in tight-