The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-07 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Flotow'e Martha was performed on Saturday
evening for the debut of Adelina Patti in the character of
the heroine. The other parte were sustained as formerly :
Didire being Nancy ; Lionel, Mario ; Plunket, Graziaai ;
andasglialloo, Sir Tristan. This opera shows the importance
of a good subject ; for it has acquired a degree of popu-
larity exceeding that of many pieces which have ten times
its musical merit. Its plot, founded on that of a French
ballet, is so clear and simple, and so happy a mixture of
the comic and the romantic, that it never fails to interest as
well as to amuse the audience.

Jidda Patti did not succeed so well se some of her precur-
sors in giving an idea of highborn court beauty, proud,
haughty, and languid, who, weary of the heartless mono-
tony of fashionable life, indulges in the freak of going in the
guise of a servant girl to enjoy the humours of a Richmond
fair. But once there in her village attire, and playing the
part she has assumed, the was charming, and the sudden
fascination of lier rustic lover seemed the most witural
thing in the world. She had little to sing that was of
much value, but that little she sang delightfully. The little
air, " Qui sole vergio roes" (the old Irish melody,
"The Last Ruse of Summer") of itself worth more than all
the music in the opera, was warbled with such exquisite
simplicity and feeling, that it was encored with the most
vehement applause. Mario's Lionel is a most pleasing per.
formance. The ardour of his passion is beautifully ex-
pressed, and the young farmer's native grace, piercing
through his homely exterior, is painted with the delicacy
peculiar to this most accomplished actor. He seemed
scarcely in such good voice as usual, and we have heard him
sang the passionate air, "M' appmi tutt' senor" (the
beet thing in his part) with greater effect. Madame
Millie as Nancy, and Graziani as Plunket,
sustained their parts admirably ; and the famous spinning-
wheel quartet, Flotow's cAef clavore in concerted writing,
was encored with the customary amount of laughter and
applause. We must not peas over Taglialloo's clever par.
sonation of Sir Tristan, the foolish courtier, which greatly
increased the liveliness of the piece.

DRAMA.

LYCEUM.

A new farcical extravaganza, The Colleen Batcn
Settled at Late, was produced on Saturday at the Lyceum,
and received with roars of laughter. With the exception of
two stupendously fine cockney gentlemen io livery, all the
&Gnaw pe.vonat are old friends of the audience ; for
the Lord Dundieary (Mr. Merles Selby) who appears among
them cannot be regarded as • stranger, so much does be re-
semble his admired descendant, the present lord. Nis.
wardress Orogen, née Eily O'Connor, in her handsome
London drawing-room, is a charming Irish counterpart of the
English Bong& Diamond. Miles nos Coppalsen (Mr. Weston),
with his keg of poteen, drops in to see bier, and rehearses his
famous" header " with some quite novel effects. Father Tom
and Shelah join the party ; the punch is brewed ; and Miles
and Eily (Miss Lydia Thompson) dance as Irish jig in a style
that provokes • rapturous encore. Finally the curtain falls
on a touching tableau, with Lord Dundresry in the centre,
sneering and blaming his long lost child, Eily.