The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-26 00:00:00

MUSIC.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Last evening Meyerbeer's Le Prop/tile was given
fee the first time this season with all that manic splendour
and general completeness ',Lich so honourably characterise
the representations of spectacular opera at Mr. Citys'a theatre.
All the old glories of the coronation scene, the skating
scene, ten, with the surpassing triumphs of the band and
chorus, were renewed, while Signor Tamberllle, Madame
NantierDidih (for whom an apology was made without
any apparent reason), Signor Tegliafico, and M. Zelger re-
appeared respectively as John of Leyden, Fides, ()berthed,
and Zaccaria, with undiminished excellence and effect.
Mdlle. Dottini, who played, for the first time, we believe,
the somewhat ungrateful part of Bertha, acquitted herself
creditably ; and the subordinate characters were, as on pre.
' Mous occasions, well supported by Signori Lucchesi, Semi,
and lieri-Baraldi.
The house was very full.

DRURY-LANE.

The first of the performances for the benefit of
Mr. Lumley took place last night, and proved highly rim-
oceduL Every part of the theatre wee u full as possible,
and from the rates of edmission—gaima tickets for the pit
and balcony stalls, and other prices in proportion—the
hired* most have been a Ter, imbitantial one. Mr. Lamb*
well deserves the tribute of gratitude and respect now paid
to him by the mailed public. The period of twenty yea%
whoa the mama meet of Her Majesty's Theatre was
in his hands, will be memorable in the annals of the
Italian opera in England. During the greatest part of that
period he assembled on the boards of that theatre the most
splendid company in Europe. He was equally motive and
judicious in discovering and bringing forward the greatest
talent wherever it waa to be found; and certainly some of
the brightest stars who now shed their lustre over the
musical stage owe to him the foundation of their present
celebrity. The MOO that these great performers entertain
ol their obligations to him, and their feelings of gratitude for
his conduit during the period of their connexion with him,
have bean strikingly e►inced bythe graceful manner la which
they have now come forward to assist him. And their
having dose too in the way they have done is an emphatic
testimony to the excellence of his character.

Performances of this kind can scarcely be regarded as
proper subjects of criticism ; but were it otherwise that of
last night could meet with nothing but eulogy. The opera
wail La Trariate, • piece well chosen for the rwappear.
'nos of the charming Picoolomini, so greet • hematite
of the public. Tv. lady, DOW the Kuehn"
Gaetani„ has cone all the way from Florence
for the express and only purpose of joining
in this tribute to her old friend and manager, after which
she finally returns to the retirement from which she has,
for the moment and with so amiable • motive, emerged.
This was evidently le the minds of the audience who she
presented hermit Wars them ; for she was noshed with
what may well be called • storm of cheers and aeolarnatioae
such as we have rarely heard within the walls of a theatre.
Millie. Phoolomini—it is pleasant to call her so once mars—
h little changed, and by no means for the worse. She has
becoms stouter and rounder in figure, but it is
the embonpoint <dormant, which detracts nothing from
her beauty. Her face retains all it' brightness and
variety of expression, her movements all their grace, sod
her voice all its brillianzy : it seemed to us even to be im-
proved in strength and firmnees, without losing anything of
iti flexibility and sweetnesa. Her performance of the cha-
racter mint be fresh in the memory of our musical readers,
end certainly she never performed it better—never acted
with greater feeling, and sever sang more c.harmirigly than
she did List night. The applause she received was hammeat
and enthusiastic. The opera, moreover, has seldom been
more carefully pat upon the stage, or better performed as
• whole. Ginglini was magnificent, and Della Sadie.
by the exquisite beauty of his singing, and the intelligence
and feeling of his acting, gave an extraordinary interes►
and effect to the character of the elder Clermont.

At the sod of the opera, after the principal perfortnere
had made their usual appearance before the curtain, a call
was made for Mr. Lumley from all parts of the house. He
came forward, led oo by Signor Giuglini, and received the
warmest greeting that the audience could bestow.