The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-16 00:00:00

PAMPHLETS.

Such is Life. S. Eyre—l'iilles, Historical and Portico!.
Lungtnans—The Financial Statement, 15:57. J. Ridgway.

THE PUBLIC•OFFICES DESIGNS.

ME following noblemen and gentlemen have been
selected to act as judges upon the des;gns for public
offices now being exhibited in Westminster-ball:—
The Duke of Buccleuch, as a member of the
House of Peers.

Mr. Stirling, of Keir, as a membn of the House
of Commons.

Viscount Eversley, late the Speaker.
Earl Stanhope, president of the Society of Anti-
quaries of London.

Mr. David Roberts, member of the Royal Aca(lemy.
Mr. Burn, member of the Institute of British
Architects.

Mr. Brunel, member of the Institute of Civil
Engineers.

AMONGST the passengers in the Fulton from NOW
York, was the prisoner Carpentier, the princip
defendant in the prosecution for extensive frauds on
the Northern Railroad of France.

MAY 16, 1857.

htsir.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

ONE of the greatest of living singers is Alboni. She
possesses the most luscious quality of voice with
which any artiste has ever been gifted, and super-
added to this most sympathising timbre is an execution
almost unparalleled for its refinement, delicacy, and
finish. Amateurs will never fcrget ber first, appear-
ance in England in 1847, as Arsace, in Rossini's
Semiramide. She came without a single preliminary
notice, and scarcely had half a dozen bars of her
part been heard, when the whole house broke forth
into an overwhelming exclamation of delight. She
sustained her fame in subsequent delineations. Her
Malcolm in La Donna del Layo, her Orsini in
Lucrezia Borgia, her Peppo in La Gazza Ladra, her
Cherubino in the Nozze di Figaro, were all signal
triumphs. Rossini—her own master—for Alboni was a
pupil of the great composer—and Donizetti and
Meyerbeer, were all alike to Alboni. For her did
Meyerbeer write the especial cavatina in the page's
part in the Huguenots. Enboldened with her success,
the contralto, desiring to be the prima donna assoluta,
resolved to become a soprano. That which would have
been death to any ordinary singer in the attempt to force
the voice beyond or below the natural compass was
in her hands only another opportunity to signalise
herself. She added the first prima donna parts to
her existing contralto repertGire' and the result was
not only increivied fortune but additional fame. To
attain this end Alboni assuredly in some instances
has sacrificed the scores of the composers, for in
concerted pieces she quietly resigns the work to her
colleagues, concentrating her strength and reserving
her powers for the airs and for the duos. Of the
justice and wisdom of this policy there may be enter-
tained a doubt; but then Alboni has contrived by its
adoption to preserve her incomparable organ. Who
can so completely command the sympathies of her
auditories as she can ? And this is effected by voice
and style only. No wonder the welcome to her last Tues-
day night was so hearty. It was a night for truly artistic
enjoyment, and whether she revelled in the " Una
voce poco fa," or in the variations of Rode, the
enthusiasm of the connoisseurs was unbounded. The
cast was not what it ought to have been. Why place
a German tenor, with a German voice and a German
method, as Count Almaviva I Herr Reichardt is an
excellent artist in his own peculiar Teutonic way;
but the sweet Tuscan is from him but a husky
splutter. A Belgian basso did duty for the Basolio,
who has one of the finest arias ever written ! and a
very heavy tragedian was thrust into Bartolo, which
Lablache has rendered so famous. Where is Signor
Rossi, who, if he has not much vocal force, is still a
good Italian buffo ? Where is Signor Corsi, the
baritone ? Belletti's fun is not infectious as the
barber; but then he sings so admirably, that his
frigid acting can be passed over. A new ballet,
Acalista, of which report speaks highly, is brought
out to night. Perea Nena and Mlle. Rolla are the
p i icipal dancers.
The programme for the week is good. On Monday
is Mrs. Anderson's annual morning concert, when
Alboni, Giuglini, and Belletti, will sing.
On Tuesday the Figlia will be given, on Thursday the
Traviatu, and on Saturday the Trovatore, with
Allioui cud Giuglini.

MAY
I
ONE of the
possesses
which any
added tot].
almost uni
finish. Ar
mice in E
Sem ira mit
notice, and
part been
into an ovc
sustained I
Malcolm 1
Lacrez ia 1
Cherubino
triumphs.
pupil of
Meyerbeer
Meyerbeer
part in the
the contra
resolved to
been death
the voice
in her han
herself. S
her existin
not only in
attain this
has sacriti
concerted
colleagues,
her powers
justice and
tained a dc
adoption tc
can so con
auditories
and style or
day night Iv
enjoyment,
voce poco
enthusiasm
east was re
a German
method, a
excellent
but the s
splutter.
who has C
very heave
Lablache
Rossi, wire,
good Itali
baritone ?
barber; bt
frigid actir
Acalista,
out to nigl
i rcipal d
'The pro,
is Mrs. A.
Piccolomir
On Tuestla
Trariata,
Alboui and
VF,TiM'S
Thursday
Signor On
we have th
for we we
hand then
one of or
formance
versions o.
Rosin are
ache for
first night
Was then
mesmerisr
will enligl
rious point
Mlle. V
day as An
Tlr
THE issue
served ses
the nortl
announczt
for each p
doubtless
on Monda,