The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-19 00:00:00

HER MAJ ESTI 'S THEATRE.
The performaace of " Norms." in which Mdlle.
Bole Cravelli, Lablache, and Oardoni appeared for the tint
time this season, drew a crowded audience on Saturday
sight. Mdlle. Cruvelli has unquestionably made grea
pprosines last season. She bar all along shown great
rig.aitte genius and great vocal powers; hut even her most
brilliant displsys were attended with inequalities which
betroyed eredeeest and immaturity. Her Kerma of Last
seams, though strikins, • ss oue of her mist defective per-
formances. She seemed mita:iota that OW had to contend with
the unapproachable greatness of Oriel in this character ;
and, striving in vain to tech Oriers quiet and simple
grandeur, her efforts ',reduced exaggeration and violence.
Along with greater ciperienee, this young actress seems
sow to have acquired more self reliance. She does not
labour, u the did, to make telling parity; end her increased $
simplicity and repose bare rendered her meting more
natural, powerful, and affecting. The quality of her voice, re
too, is improved by further cultivation, and her singing
has gained atalitionel refinement and artistic daish.
The hue invocation, " Cuts Diva," was a strain of K.
liquid melody not to be turme.,ed ; and the beautiful $
dying scene, in which the victim es the betrayer
whose fete she shares, was malice itself. Is short, if Cru-
is nut alf risi, yt twe know of no one now es *Maw im
who, is this most arduoss part, goatee so non tho Owe= -
of Tragic Song. Ilk
The illustrioas Lablache seems to have gaissei health and
strength by his long and quirt sojourn in his toffee Naples.
Hie voice bounties: richer sod grander than ever, and be is
never was more successiul m blending the lofty severity of to
' the Druid priest with the lead
ofAlaing' of the luau.e
interes Ciudad ire
gave to the imparters' part rms all ha of se
which it is capable, and sing beautifully. The piece, is
its ensemble, was carefully and splendidly performed, and ji"k:
received with the warmest applause.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
nu production of " 1 Martini" has been twice 10~1
matpoised, on account uf the indisposition of Signor Tam- O.
betlik, or rather (it is said) inconsequence of smile alters-
Cone which the Lord Chausberlain has required to be
made in the libretto. It now stands announced fur to- g
1111017011/.
On Saturday night " La Sonnambula " was performed,
and a new tenor, Signor tlalvani, made his debut in the W. !
character of Elristo. He is a respectable performer of the V
second rank, but by no means qualified to stand in the ttt.
first. He is not prepossessing in appearance, being short se
and thickset. witi a somewhat heavy countenance—not at Se
all the beau ideal of a y.mtliful lover. Ills voice is not 10
naturally of a tine quality, but it has been well cultivated, t•
and he sings like a good artist. His reception amounted ;4'
to a stares deal's( ; and he will likely be a useful member 34
of the company. et.
There is not upon tho stage a more charming Ansina N,,
than Madame Castslian. The music is entirely suited to tt-:
her purepesible voice ; and it is impossible for any one to ;,`•
paint more to the life the sweetness, innocence, simplicity, 35
and strong feeling of this must interesting of humble tr
heroines. She was most warmly applauded front the be-
ginning to the end of the performance; and her brilliant 1
and beautiful execution of tlie finale, " Ah, non plunge," Et•
i you received with acclamations from all parts of the theatre. r,

A whimsical effect is ptodi:ed by the conflicting claims 16
of the two houses to the po.oes.ion of 'Mademoi-elle Joh.nna
Wagner ; the fa, primes donna ("rho is derciibed as a second SO
Jenny Lind) haying, it appears, entered into engagements I:
with both. For a good mail days past the newspapers di,
have exhibited the two advertisemenlg standing side by et,
side, each averting an delusive right to Iddlle. Wagner, ne
and each announcing her immediate appearance. The el
chances seem to be, therefore, that her tome will figure in 11,
our "Law lteport," in connexion with an application for .1
an injunction, or something of that sort, before she comes
before the critical tribunals of taste.

Mademoiselle Johanna Wagner, accompanied by
her father, her friend Dr. Burlier, of Vienna, Mr. Lumley gt,
(of her Majest)'s Thtatn;), Mr. Mitchell, and the Count to
and Counter Rossi (Madame Sontag) left Hamburg by r
opera train on Saturday morning en routs for London.

- - - - - - I
A SUGGESTION TO THE RIFLE CLUBS. so
et.

TO THI IDITOIt or Tar DAILT NEWT.
SlL—The rifle corps formed throughout the
country will, I presume, continue their existence as club%
despite the frown of government. The members may
practise sharpshooting without governmental sanction ; end 101
acting upon their own promptings as to the advisability of
making themselves competent to do something if called set
upon in a hurry, they doubtless will do so.
On all hands it is admitted that uniformity of bare is de- NI
sirable in the pieces used by the different clubs, that future
co-operation might be rendered practicable. Now, if go. eel
eminsmit will set even recommend a wen for
241118 inns meant **dabs seems' swab • it 111
theesidvesl Keay pumas (tired of waiting) are per.
chairing ridge of very different sorts end vises, and great s
confusion is likely to result. If deputies from all the clubs I,
were to meet together, say in London, for deliberation on
the subject, and if their recommendation of a piece were *
se be universally received, business firms would be found
to keep in store the ammunition required, and all liability
would be obviated of our ever being non-plused by a went
of the right sized ball. A piece of some certain calibre }
might be made standard without a government decree.
This subject requires speedy attention, as many who can
purchase only one rifle, and have been long welting for the g 9
ordnance piece, are toeing lv.th time and patience. The I°
mornings are getting light enough for the early practice fi
which business men have heen anticipating, and h'm which
they are debarred by a very cogent muien—the want of • N
rids.
Tour aid in giving publicity to this suggestion would
oblige A MEMBER OF A RIFLE CLUB. II
Susses, April 1, 1852.