THE MUSICIAN ABOUT TOWN 133 



the fatal issue of his opera than in a want of judgment in accepting 

 such a piece as a vehicle for his music, which, if not of so popular a 

 class as that in the " Amelie," contained nevertheless several move- 

 ments distinguished by elegance and professor-like counterpoint. 

 His melodies are uniformly graceful, and instrumented with the 

 most accurate judgment of their distinctive characters. His accom- 

 paniments are never encumbered ; and as he rarely employs the full 

 orchestra but upon important occasions, the effect, by contrast, is 

 considerably heightened, while the senses are agreeably relieved 

 from that jaded feeling too often the result of sitting through a ma- 

 jority of the modern operas, wherein the whole band are kept upon 

 active duty, as if the score were both written and played by con- 

 tract — the largest supply of material for the least remuneration. 

 The fate of Mr. Rooke's opera is sincerely to be regretted, both on 

 his own account (for we believe the copyright remains unsold) and 

 on that of the musical public ; who, with even a commonplace inci- 

 dent and rational dialogue, would have carried the piece through 

 triumphantly to the end of the season. As it was, the effect was 

 almost as wearying (and this is saying much) as a stale jest-book. 

 With the new opera, the public were introduced to a new tenor, 

 Mr. Harrison, a pupil of the Royal Academy, and latterly, as we 

 have heard, of Mr. Rooke. The quality of Mr. Harrison's tone is 

 of the average character, with perhaps more than the average 

 power ; but we cannot compliment either the singer or his tutors 

 upon any accession being made in his person to the English vocal 

 school. He is deficient in elevation of style, and, we should say, 

 generally in intelligence of the art ; in other words, he is common- 

 place and mechanical. The singer who pleased us most upon this 

 occasion was Mr. Manvers. Appointed to an inferior station in the 

 opera^ he nevertheless had the good sense to study his music with 

 additional care; and the consequence was, that no song received 

 greater applause than one of a martial character allotted to him, 

 and which he delivered with an energy and effect that none of his 

 previous attempts had at all demonstrated, or led his hearers to 

 anticipate. 



Mr. Macready is said to have lost £600. by the failure of " Hen- 

 rique ;" and the truth of the report is probable, since it was pro- 

 duced at great cost of theatrical property, with expensive engage- 

 ments. The wonder is, that with his experience in dramatic writ- 

 ing, he should have accepted such a piece ; but if, as we have also 

 'heard, that he had advanced money to the composer before he had 

 seen what he was to receive, he has paid the forfeit of his generous 



