The Press.
London, England, 1856-04-19 00:00:00

Vusit.

THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
ON the 21st of August, 1846, on the day after the
season bad ended at Her Majesty's Theatre, great
was the sensation created in the musical circles by
the publication in the Morning Chronicle of the

annexed
We are authorised to announce to our readers that the
capitalists who have resolved to form an Italian company
for Covent-garden Theatre, for the years 1847, 1848, and
1t49, have engaged Mr. Costa as musical director and
conductor of the orchestra for that period, and for three
years more, in all six years, at his own choice. Mr. Costa,
having received full powers to select the band and chorus,
has engaged every leading instrumentalist, native and
foreign, now in this country, the great majority having
transferred their services from the late orchestra of Her
Majesty's Theatre, as also the principal choraliats. The
Covent Garden band and chorus will be the largest ever
collected within the walls of any theatre in this country,
and the resident chorus singers are to be considerably re-
inforced by experienced continental artists. The house
is to be decorated and fitted up on a scale of unprece-
dented splendour, with every comfort and luxury. First-
rate artists have been secured for the embellishments.
The principal vocalists already engaged may be divided
into three classes, First : artists of European fame, now
in this country. Secondly: artists of European fame,
who have visited this country, but are no longer here.
Thirdly: artists of European fame, who have never
appeared in this country at all. The subordinate parts in
operas are to be tilled by thoroughly competent artists.
The wise en-scene will be carefully attended to in every de-
partment. Original operas, composed expressly for this
country, are to be produced. The standard repertoire will
be principally used for debuts, but many works of continental
popularity, never introduced here as yet, will be performed.
The main principle of this understanding is to elevate
lyrical art, and to place the Italian Opera on a basis 01
efficiency in every branch, never before attained, not only in
England, but in Europe.
The above prospectus just cited was thus carried
out:—On the Ist of December, 1846, Albano was
placed in possession of Covent garden Theatre, the
day after Jullien's Promenade Concerts had ceased ;
and after the whole of the audience part of the
interior had been reconstructed, on the 6th of April,
1847, the Royal Italian Opera was opened with
Rossini's Semiramide, on the very day announced by
the directors. From 1847 to 1855, for nine succes-
sive seasons, the Royal Italian Opera, entirely de
pendent on its own resources, fully realised every
pledge contained in the above programme. Not only
were the finest works of Rossini, Bellini, and Doni-
z,tti produced, besides those of Verdi, the composes
whose star is now in the ascendant, not only in Italy,
but also in France and Germany ; the masterpieces of
Mozart, Beethoven, and Cirnarosa were equally
given ; and in addition the productions of Weber,
Spohr, Auber, Halevy, and Meyerbeer were mounted
on the grandest scale. More than this, the claims
of musicians of the day were recognised, and
works by Gounod, Jullien, and Berlioz ware brought
out. The various managements since the formation
of the Royal Italian Opera may have made mistakes
—perhaps even more might have been effected than
the many glorious achievements now on record—but,
at all events, it must be admitted by every impartial
musical amt.teur that the announcement of August,
1846, has been most loyally carried out, even
at the large pecuniary sacrifices with which the
iorld is too well acquainted. Whatever may have
bv
een the difficulties and embarrassments behind the
curtain, it will be acknowledged that every direc-
tor, from the beginning to the end, of Covent-garden
Theatre, has felt it to be a point of honour to
adhere rigidly to the original intentions of the pro.
rooters, 'to place the Italian Opera basis of
on a .
efficiency in every branch, never before obtained, not
only ill England,
1856, but in Europe." The season of
w'th the advent of peace, promises to secure
for the present directors a prosperous return for
their zealous exertions in previous years; but on the
sth
of March, the act of some atrocious incendiary

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