Public Amusements.

Verdi and Mr . Mapleson owe uniform gratitude to the executants . Titiens and Giuglini did much for both of them . The singing of the former was characteristic throughout the opera by its usual fidelity , brilliancy , and spirit , while in the latter she had a coadjutor of priceless ability . To the exertions of these admirable artists the success of the opera may be mainly attributed , for , if ever music demanded adroit and plausible representation , A erdi "" s is that music , The assistance ofthe clever Madame Gassierwho layed the

, p Page , was also of sensible service , as certain of the airs in which she was ¦ concerned exhibited her rare facilities in their best light . Signor Dehe Sedi as the Governor , M . Gassier as the Avenging Secretary , ancl Madame Lemaire as the Sorceress , were each diligent and efficient , ancl contributed their share to the general good result . The mise en scene was gay and appropriate .

PERFORMANCE OF "GIDEON" AT ST . JAMES'S HALL . The sacred lyrical oratorio , " Gideon , " which was composed expressly for the Glasgow Musical Festival of last year , by Bro . C . E . Horsley , G . Organist , was performed , for the first fcime ' in Loudon , at St . James ' s Hall , on AVednesdav , the 12 th inst ., and met with decided success , being effectively " rendered . The conductor was Mr . Alfred Mellonwho is universallacknowledged to be

, now y one of the most competent wielders of the baton of the day . The vocalists were Miss Stabbaeb , Madame Laura Baxter , Miss Fosbroke , Mr . Sims Reeves , Mr . Suehet Champion , Mr . C . Henry , and Mr . AVeiss . It is impossible , with any degree of justice , upon a single hearing , to determine the merits of such a work , but our opinion of the Oratorio is decidedl y favourable , and we believe , as the public are familiarised with the musicifc will become popular

, . Several ofthe songs are highly effective , and many of the choruses massive ancl grand , and in one or two of the latter , especially , the instrumental accompaniment is particularly happy . The AA ' ar March , with which Part Three opens , is very vigorous and stirring , and was received with much applause . Of the solos , one or two allotted to Mr . Sims Reeves are very beautiful , and were sung with that fire and pathos for which our great tenor stands unrivalled the last solo

. In , particularly the final prayer of Gideon , Mr . Reeves was very fiue , and the war-cry , " The sword of the Lord and of Gideon , " rang out with such thrilling clearness , as to produce a most enthusiastic effect upon the audience . Mr . Sims Eeeves declined all encores . Miss Stabbach , who undertook the soprano music , sang extremely well , ancl was encored in a very beautiful air , "Thou givesfc thy beloved sleep . " Madame Laura Baxter also obli

was ged to repeat , " 0 Israel , dear Israel 1 " —an admirably-written contralto song , which was sung hy that lady with thegreatest feeling and effect . There is nothing particularly striking in the bass solos ; the principal of them , however , was sung by Mr . AVeiss with his usual skill , and the remainder by Mr . C . Henry , who possesses a voice of unusual melody and depth . An unaccompanied quartett was nicely sung by Mesdames Fosbroke , Baxter and

, Messrs . Henry Champion ( the latter gentleman's voice is a baritone of agreeable quality ) , ancl was well received . In the Third Part occurs a part song for male voices , which is very tastefully written , ancl was so well sung as to create quite a sensation . A call was here ummimoasl y raised for Bro . Horsley , who came forward and bowed ; and at the end of the performance , after this gentleman had again appeared and bowed , Mr . Mellon was called for , and was accordingl y led on by Bro . Horsley , who warmly shook hands with him on the platform . Bro . Horsley has evidently studied deeply in the school of Mendelssohn , and that with good ¦ effect .

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION , EEGENT-STREET . The new management of this institution , which is now under the direction of Mr . Phemi , have recently made numerous additions to the entertainments which are calculated to revive the interest and patronage which it formerl y enjoyed . Among the novelties which have been introduced are a series of paintings on the panels in the galleriesrepresenting the various climates and productionsand

, , geological strata from the North Pole to the Equator . The musical and other entertainments include lectures on Faraday's " Discovery in Electricity ; " Auckland ' s vocal and instrumental lecture ; Le Petit Musicien , a boy of eleven years of age , who is a surprising performer on the flute , whom it is to be hoped will not be overworked while young . There is also L'Orient , an illustrated series of dissolving viewsrepresenting a journey to the Eastwhich would

, , be improved by the introductory remarks being shortened , and the views explained as they appear ; as at present , though accompanied by some interesting music , it is difficult for the spectator to discover in what part of the world he . is supposed to be . On Monday an exhibition ofthe works of living artists attached to the institution was opened to the public . It contains about 250 pictures ; and

Public Amusements.

though boasting of nothing thafc can be placed above a very moderate level in the scale of art ( if we except one very fine picture by Desanges , " The Excommunication of Robert and Bertha , King and Queen of France" ) , will still be viewed with interest as exhibiting the earlier traces of many a youthful pencil which some day hence perhaps may rise to eminence . There are many , however , which give promise of future excellenceincluding "AnAwkward Position"bJAVBottomley the

, . , y .. ; " A iews on the Sussex and Kentish Coasts , " by AV . H . AVillianison ; " The Quiet Lane , " by W . H . A ernon ; the coast scene " Near Torbay , " by E . H . Nibbs ; the " Collier Brig in a Calm on the River Thames , " by AV . C . Knell ; the " Scene on the River Derwent , Derbyshire , " by B . A . Shipman ; and the little poetical landscape , entitled " Evening , " by A . Melville . Mr . Hermann shines conspicuously in his view " On the Scheldt . " ivhich is painted with great

truth ancl vigour . Mr . G . E . Tuson's " Promenade at the Gardens of the Royal Botanical Society" is constructed in the manner of the works ivhich have been made popular by the genius of Frith , bufc without the constructive power , reminding one only of those views of Cremorne which may be seen at the corner of some of our attractive thoroughfares . For this production Mr . Tuson modestly asks 350 guineas . We should like to know what Mr . Simpson paid for the views to which we have alluded .

There are some clever studies of "Dead Game" by Newcomen , and a capital handfull of "Plums" by T . Whittle . Scattered through the gallery there are some good examples of sculpture , amongst which the first in interest and in excellence is the " Praying Girl , " by M'Dowell , which can never be seen without a sense of deep admiration—so sweetly earnest is the expression of the head and features , so tenderly graceful ancl delicate the modelling of the whole form . Noble's "Purity" is also there , very chaste aud

pleasing in composition , but somewhat too petite in feature . Moore ' s group , " Cupid Disarmed , " must always leave an agreeable impression of his taste ancl skill . The " Morning Star" and " Melton ' s Genius" by Bailey add to the interest of this part of the exhibition . The general arrangement of the galleay appears to be excellent , and would be more so if Mr . Tuson ' s ambitious picture were not so prominent . That Mr . Tuson does possess talent is shown by a smaller picture , " The Sailor Boy , " who is evidently offering up a prayer on being saved from shipwreck hy his dog .

CRYSTAL PALACE . —BLONDIN . The interest attached to the daring feats of Blondin has suffered no diminution during the past week . On Saturday last , iu addition to his other performances , he carried his youthful daughter , Adele Blondin , across the rope in a wheelbarrow . The perfect composure with which the child distributed bouquets of flowers on each side to the immense audience assembled below was truly surprising . In deference to the desire of the Secretary of Stateexpressed in

, a communication to the directors of the Crystal Palace , no further performance of a similar character will be given . On Tuesday Blondin ' s ascent was made over the new rope , upwards of two thousand feet in length , crossing the terrace above the fountains . The latter being played during the time , the effect was very striking and pleasing . Some difficulty was experienced by Blondin on Tuesday , through the rope stretching , ancl making difficult to descend to mount Thurs

the curve at each end or . On - day , however , an additional , ' mast was erected to support the centre of the rope , and as the two days' strain had taken the stretch out of it , the difficulty was removed .

Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

A report appears in the Gazette Musicale thafc the Directors of the Great Exhibition for 1862 intend to offer commissions to MM . Rossini , Meyerbeer , Auber , and to some English writer not named , to represent Music by new compositions fitted for the ceremonies . Prof . Moscheles is in London for a short visit ; and has consented to play his Concerto in G minor afc the next Philharmonic Concert ou Monday next .

Italian journals speak highly of a Madame Beringeri , pupil of Signor Alary and M . Duprez , who has been singing at Milan in " II Pirato , " with as much " warmth as perfect taste . " The opera company for the season at Naples , headed by Madame Borghi-Mamo , is made up with Signori Stecchi-Botardi , Debass ' mi , and Laterza . One of those gatherings of societies of part-singers , which , happily for music ancl manners in France are becommiiig frequent , —was held afc Metz , on the 2 nd and 3 rd of this month . Two of the fourteen societies that combined and competed for prizes