John Weeks Moore

“ These are the beauties which have rendered "Masaniello" so generally attractive. Every auditor, learned or unlearned, is animated and delighted by the charming barcarolle, the market chorus, the chorus of fishermen, the beautiful finale to the third act, (in the original piece,) the bacchanalian song, and the air sung by Masaniello. Beauties of a similar kind, though in an inferior degree, are to be found in "Fra Diavolo." Among Auber's minor productions, a comic opera called "Le Philtre," written by Scribe, and brought out at the Academie Royale in 1831, is probably the most agreeable. ”

“ About the same time, M. Auber wrote a concerto for the violin, which was performed at the Conservatory of Music at Paris, by M. Mazas, and which was eminently successful. The desire of laboring for the theatre had already caused him to set again to music the old comic opera entitled "Julie," with an accompaniment for two violins, two altos, violoncello, and contrabasso. This work, which contained many charming pieces, was represented at a theatre of amateurs at Paris, and received much applause. ”

“ Auber was first brought into notice in 1823, by his opera "La Neige," which became very popular, not only in France, but in Germany, and is frequently performed in the principal German theatres. His "Fla Diavolo," and his most celebrated piece, "La Muette de Portici," (or Masan fells,) are well known all over Europe. In Auber's earlier works there is a palpable imitation of Rossini ”