The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-07 00:00:00

laeltiahments, but they are txceedingly pure, and bespeak the
eonsuatm:.ty artist,
It remains fur us now to speak of the most re-
markable occurrence of. the evening; the dmaut, in
this country, of Signora Alboni, in the character of Asace.
This lady hum brought with her a high continental reputa-
tion ; and such accounts were given of the sensation she has
predated in Italy and Germany, that we apprehended that,
m often happ, ns, the highly-raised expectations founded on
them might he disappointed. But the very roverae has been
the case • Signora Alboni transcended tray c spectac ion, and
surprised the audience as much as if they hat never heard of
her. She it very young—not more than four and twenty,
we understand. Her male and eastern attire in some ma-
sure conceals d her form ; but she app ars to be of the
middle stature, and rather stout. Her featur.s en not
seem remarkable; but they are comely, pleating, and ani-
mated. There was much ease and grace in Ler manner of
presenting herself and ackhowledging the warm greeting she
received ; she hod not uttered half-a-dozeu phraell of recita-
tive when her position was eve:male fixed ; and her first sir,
se Ab, quel giorwo," threw the audience into transport. of
enthusiasm—transports that went on reca-,..rt to tny last
scene of the opera. We obeerved, tie the way, that .ho did
Rot construe applause, however loud and vehement, into an
encore, till the wish was expressed in a manner that could
not be ntistaken ; and it thus happened that she did not re-
peat tho above sir, evidently to the surprise of um audienee.
We heartily wish our reformers would follow this example
instead of making a point of repeating everything that is
moderately applauded. Signora Albert's lake reaches the
lowest paint of the contralto scale: but it extend. also into
the region of the soprano ; while its tone is so even and its
gratatioas so continuous, throughout its whole rarge, that
it i. impossible to say which portion of it is of the fioyst
quality. Her very deepest notes, while their volume sec ma
to fix the house, ma perfectly poie and mellow ; while her
upper ones have the lightness and flexibility of a svrano
sfivato. Teis rare and precious organ has rectivyd the
higoest cultivation ; and the resources of art are superadded
to energy, intelligence, and feeling, an exquisite perception
of the beautiful—those gifts of nature, in short, which con-
a'atute genius. Her style and execution are iu the hi.hest
Irgree refined and fineshttl. She sometimes, sad always
with propriety, intreduetd a brilliant roulade; but
her erube:lishments in et neral are of the most simple and
delicate kind—an appogiatura full of mcvning, a Rote
accented or dwelt upon, or a plarme elegan ly r ,ended by an
additional note or two. Her singing of the little cantina,
tt In si barbers a:inure," was an exemplification of all
these various kinds of beauty, and its effyyt an the audience
seemed electrical. The famous duet, " (Borne d'orror edi
°entente " (though is itself utterly at variance with drama-
tic km pMpl, as sung be Grisi and her. was absolutely en.
chantiag. In one word, Signora Alboni is atr mum.
The part of the high priest Ui-at was performed by Sig.
Tagrafice, a sit ger of merit ; and Sig. Las is did jug-
Rea to eke unimportant part of ldreno. The curtain
fell amid prolonged sippLiu,e, and Grisi, Alboni, and Tam-
b•, cfni, came forward to make their acknowledgments to the
audience. After the opera' "God save the Queen " was
Fun° by the whole vocal strength of the establishment.
Grid stag the solo verses, and time choral responses were
magnificent. We must not omit to say, that the choruses
of the c perm were sung with admirable pea ciaion, power, and
elfeet.

If the friends of this new effort had any fears of last night's
sue s., it was of failure in the department of the ballet.
here it has sometimes been known that the management
latoured under such very considerable difficulties that it was
at Imo time a qucstion whether say bullet at all
should ha produced. Regrading the mattcr es one
of diffaulty, we may. heartily eon aratula.e tie
management upon leaving triumphantly succeeded.
The opponents of the house will sneer, but the
public will, sooaer or later, put in their verdict that a re.
marls: ly pretty ballet li.as been produced, cur/ported by at
least a promising premier darracurr. The title of the enter-
tainment is "L Odalisque." It is in two tableaus, and p.
story is not unworthy the author of " Lalla Roukh." We
arc indebted to the programme for the fallowing account
of it:—

C 0.,, the favourite slave of Prime" .11:4;1, sod Queen of bin
Seraglio, to of an capricrous a dispoeition, that sot i.nl, are the ie.
mauls of the ae.glio oblige to humour her wltlrins and fancies, but
Ito powerful master himself succumb, to her traunie.:l and totatite
rule. reocitioted by the groom of the faeourite, he it powerless to
miet their influence. Thin nhe knows, and accordingly indulges
in the most extrarerant sotioca in • moment of caprire etre
pretends to be eit:ne-te t by the vapour of hie il•re/achoms.
niece the bitthiv•prlond pipe, and doles it to rime..
At so daring oit infrlngeniint of the rules of etiquette, Mirkin eon no
longer re run from displaying Lit ree,ntrnen' ; thin, however. smite*
only her laughter he orders I-er from his presence—the refine. to
obey ; the midst of the altercation, Bobo, tho governor of the
Herm, anactizeos the art ival of cargo of Mimic sloven, :int" the
Prince. to punish the capricious and rebellious beauty. pretend, to he
delighted at the Down, and repairs to the
naroar to make choice
of A new mel more docile sit -et...cm to bi favour. His reeo-
laden, however, ban no effect upon Cora ; she known hit weak-
liest,. and pre; area to deteet lilt end. Caleb, the pirate, pr. nents
four of Lis loveliest ,laves; the Primer, enchanted with their
beauty. In et a lon %loch to prefer, when suddenly a
fifth, light as a sylph, dart. manna the re.ais to di -ate
the palm, arid then as suddenly disappear+. to tam tasty
bare her fasitinatlng done. Ill!td the mind of .Virkin, that he
bre •me. indifferent to eutht ease. But the (centres of the
enibinting stranger were veiled, and double,. sbe most La
oveli gracekl. thfri, rather ill-natured:r, insinuates
if rho hid her bide, it could only be Item" se it Wall Cl.
worth yoking at. Mirkin appear; convinced, ands about to corn.
-'nte the purch.....e of the four Waves, when the stranger again
the Prince apart, connetti.lily her rod, and the
peer., mle. •Islunent and do light TIMOREISCI. his favourite, who
PrMer
spite
or free 3111! pl.tal, Of kis heart. lie prone,
her ;orlon. CUM. ki celelmition of the 67.vevenio eurelumes"i'bee'
four satires of (Web, and restores than to liberty.
Ibis halt, t is admirably put urn vie tinge—its scenery
excellent—i-s eoltumes perfect—and the corps de ballet by
no means to be ilespiced. M milk. Fleury, who fills the prin-
cipal character, in n slight, graceful figure, with a pretty and
somewhat arch expression of face. nir dancing has no to:-
tore calculated in thee: days to excite surprise, but it is
equal, elegant, and always in good keeping. She appears to
be very young, and in some of her best points seems scarcely
to know her strength, which will no doubt be developed
by time and better acquaintance with her audience.
Upon the whole the ballet was an excellent e Aielusion to
ore of those occasions which the denizens of London will
long dwell upon with pleasurable recollection, and which
the annals of tl.e stage will commemmorate as= important
epoch in its history.