The Express.
London, England, 1862-06-16 00:00:00

HER IGtJESTYI3 THEATRE_

Robert to Diable (or Robert it Diavolo) was per-
formed at this theatre on Saturday, for the first time (we
believe) since 1848, the year of Jenny Lind's retirement
from the stage. In the part of Alice (really the
principal character) lfdlle. Iltiens is no unworthy
successor to Jenny Lind. In expiring the euthu-
dude fervour of the highmindad rear girl, espe-
cially in the more where Alice, embracing the
crucifix, seeks refuge from the terrors of Bertram and his
Wend crew, she was as happy as that renowned actress
herself, arid her vocal perforinsece was mops:able to that of
the greet Swede when at the height of her powers. Made-
moinelle uttiotta Maraud° had no opportunity of showing
her dnintatictident in the weak part of the Princess; but
she sang beautifully, and was much and deservedly
applauded. No actor whom we have ever seen ia the cha-
racter of Robert has been so soimeedid as Antral is per
meeting the proud and warlike Norman baron. His stal-
wart figure, noble head, and gallant bearing, unite to form
• striking picture, and its effect is heightened by energetic
action. His voice, of excellent quality, is deficient in
strength—a defect which diminishes the imperil= made
by his otherwise admirable staging. Vialetti was a
good representative of Bertram, singing with power,
and "playing the devil" capitelly. His only fault
was that of many actors in the Tart of
Ingo—making occrosally his fieod.like character too
apparent through the polished exterior of a noble gentle-
man. The chorus and the instrumental orhertra (the
being this season of the highest arellence) did
justice to Meyerbeer's superb music; and, as a spectacle,
this opera (of which spectacle is so essential an element)
never probably was "mounted more splendidly. The
opening erne, on the seashore of Sicily, with the groups
of knights torearig, with their squires and afro-
diets, was a beautiful achievement of pictorial art;
and the some in the cloisters of the raised
r.lerch, with the ghastly orgies of the sans who revisit for
a tame the glimpses of the moon, was a strange and
preesive eight, exhibiting baseborn and ingsaious
we-
trireme. In repeating this opera sere curtailment should
be ettemptel. Several heavy errs might easily, we
think, be shortened, sad the Iseerth of the performance thr
brought rata reared& es peen.

THE HANDEL FESTIVAL.
The awangemeote for the festival are now com-
plete. The engagements have been made with the satire
Land and chorus ; and the committee of the Sowed Harmonic
Society--erose experience in large meetings of this cha.
tractor is well-known-state, that on no former coessioo
has soalarge or so talented an assembler of smarms and
profaner been gathered together. The inetruneetalists
eempeine four busier stringed instrument performers, of
whor co less than one hundred sad thirty-eight are violon-
cellos-and double bores. Considerably over one lurked
wind. instrumeota are employed, and this, with the great
organ d Mews. Ger and Drier, which is now receiving
largwatiditions, will produce an instrumental combination
withect precedent. The chocea will bring up the aggregate
nwther of performers to about four thousand ; and as the
ceareeitions of Handel will sow be beard for the first time
on .saything approaching this scale in a completed and
properly prepared acoustical erattected roofed orchestra,
the -effects must be far beyond what has ever Wore been
resew&
The provincial chorea will arriria London oti the after-
mean of Friday, the 20th loaf, and • great choral rehearsal
will be held n Eaeter-hall the same evening. large, how-
cw, as the graithall is, it is doubtful if it will, with the
aid of the platform and parries, held the large force of
• awns singers who will then be brought together. The
peat full rehearsal will tar place at the Crystal Pekoe on
the following day. It will begin at Wain o'clock, sad is
Ampected to last awe boar, r the most important pieces in
the programme (lithe three days, both for principal singers
se well as full orchestra, will be gene through. After the
ereenal, a dispny of the greet fountains will be given.
The price of rehearesl tickets is seven shallop and sixpenc
Ag purchased on or before Thursday next, after that dal
half-a-guinea will be clamed. Al all the guinea rata
an the door of the Palace are epee on the rehearsal day
Co the holders of dhow tickets, mach unusual advantages
are offered that there is certain to be a very large attend-
ance at the reheard, pertieuhurly r on this day the season
ticket holden at the Crystal Palace have also the right of
ritzy. It has been advertised that the rehearsal tickets, se
esell as the Eve shilling admission tickets for each day of the
'festival, are on sole at many of Mews. W. H. Smith and
.ion's and Mr. Collins' bookralle at the various railway
rations, a facility which doubtless many visitors to the nte-
ropolis will peek by during the next week. Special
Az air will also he can for the rehearsal day from many
.places, particularly ea the Brighton and South Corr lines.
The great roof over the orchestra is now complete in its
elewratioes. Its insp.:air span must be seen to be fully ap-
preciated. It is a eight to itself, r its aspect is no lees
agreeable to the eye than its acoustical properties will be
satisfactory to the ear. The most gratifying marks of appro.
hation on ice construction have withiu the last week been
conveyed to the chairman of the Crystal Palace Company.
One of the eminent contractors of the International kaki-
described it as one of the moat ingenious piers
of carpentry ever constructed. Mr. Costa, who has
spent much time in carefully noting its acoustical
properties, writes that he is "delighted with the effect
produced by the organ, as well as by a single instrument
played in the orchestra." Also, "Much as I had antici-
pated from the roof, it has far exered my most sanguine
expectations. The least sound is not only audible, but
travels everywhere; and the effect that the immense
se:sheers will produce at the coming festival must really
be wotelerf aL "

ffbe success which has attended the erection of this great
roof has enabled the ditecton to offer a very much larger
number of redly good stall• to the public than at any fanner
festival. It is now clearly ascertained that the best places
forlieariog the music at this festival will be those at some
distaacs from the orchestra. The plena of the galleries,
which have just been issued, afford moat eligible writhes,
So much is this regarded as the true state of the cam, that
sue -et these galleries has bees reserved for the press, a
more than usually large number of continental and provin-
cial .rmsorters beaus expected to be present.
Preparatious for the royal and distinguished visitors ex-
peoteast the festival have began by the erection of a large
royal boa in the centre of the gallery ; two small boxes on
either side of the orchestra hare also been prepared with
the same object.
The official book of words will be issued on Friday morn-
ing next.; it will be of considerable bulk, and in addition
to the wends of the oratorios sad the selection, will cop-
ilots the wiles of all the performers, and police iostruc-
tec.,dompeeting entrances.
On the rehearsal day the performance will commence
at eleven .(cllok; on each day of the festival, et ono
tielesk. '

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

A DMIIIAL/N. Juice 14.—Arrournazins.--Captain
fi. °ober% C.E.. to the Dauntless, nine Captain Wllleoz,
C. 8., tenoned.
Lieutomat .C.l, Williamson, to the Dauntless, for the
Coast Gard. _ _

Enginenr W. Lawman, to the Rapid.
First-Clam Assistant Engineer J. Patterson. to the Rayed.
Second-Class Aasistant Engioesers G. O'Brian, to the
; R. Dobsoa, W tho Euralyiss.
Masters W. C. Pyper. additional to the Ajax. for the
Coast Guard; S. J. W. Moriarty, additional to the
Revenge.
Assistant Masters J. M. Lloyd, to the Galatea ; J. D. D.
Barnes, G. C. Hanuilond, mid G. S. Ralph, to the Royal
Adelaide ; E. W. G. Hdliard, to the Formidable.
Naval Cadets F. E. &moles, R. W. French, J. K. M.
Witham, W. M. West, 0. C. T. Mandan, C. Still, G. S.
H. Jackson, and N. C. F. Uniast.s nominated to cadetships.

TRE METROPOLITAN RIP= CORSET AT WORM-
WOOD SCRUM—This coated was resumed on Saturday.
The first match was for a Kerr rifle. value 71. 75.. 5 shots,
at 300 yards, open to all owners. There were 60 anima.,
and the prise was won by W. Browse (Ist &star), with 16
points. The second was for • Whitworth or Hoary Ms,
value 251, 5 shots, et 500 yard Hill Ord Faft!_), Endga
Padwick (7th Sussex). gad tuaut Marriage (West Mid-
dlesex) tied with 14 paint. 'ash; is ahootiag WI Hill woo,
and Pad wick took a woad prim of 51. Amospg the other
monist' a Turner rills, vane IA es., and a Leedom Armoury
rifle forsecoad, woo by Seegeaat Millard, al CMS& George's,
and T. B. Wells, of the West Middlesex. In a mutest for
• sweepstake, for which there were 60 softies, there were
two prim& two-thirds and one-third ; Int Salford (31st
Leicester), and megad Radcliffe (South Middlesex). A
silver top, value la, open to all masers. 6 shots. at 600
yards ; Swegrent Kemp (3rd Manchester), sad Ads (Victo-
ries) tied with 14, and Kemp woe the tie. Another riffs
was also won by Sergeant Kemp, who mad, mine extraor-
dinary shooting. An extra prim for voluntssft cagy, brigs
• sweepsmkes, two-thirds for bet sad eginghird tee mooed,
wm woe by Sergeant Chisbolase. of the lab Iftiggsy, after a
tie with Lieutenant Martinet% This ceadmiled the seertiag,
the anaragemeate lap which Ware kW, Wig aAggy.