The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-09 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Although, dramatically speaking, the weakest of
'Verdi's works, La Troeiaro is always attractive to a cer-
tain extent, owing to the vein of graceful and expressive
melody, which, in a great measure, compensates for
many short-comings in composition, and for the un-
healthy sentimentality of the subject. Its pro-
duction on Saturday introduced two new aspirants for pub-
lic favour ; the part of Violetta being sustained by Mdlle.
Orient and that of Alfredo by Signor Fancelli. The lady,
although evidently suffering extremely from nervowatese,
seated a fa-vow:ale impression from the fast, why► in-
messed with the progress of the opera. Her voice is a
pare, although somewhat light soprano, and her singing
decidedly artistic. She has also the power—unhapptly
a rare one in the present Italian school—of " holding on°
firmly to each note when produced, and is altogether free
from the distressing tremulousness now so prevalent. Her
Tendering of the pretty melody, " Ah, fns' e lni," and the
succeeding bravirm air " Secopre lrbr►," fully es-
tablished her claims as an accomplished singer, and
met with much applause. Mdlle. Origami is, moreover,
decidedly handsome, and scta gracefully and intelli-
gently. We are able also to speak in very favour-
able terms of the new tenor, Signor Fanelli,
whose excellent performance of the weak-minded lover
made us regret that a more grateful part had not been
amen for his glebe&

THE GO'

REFORM BILL.

Car or LONDON.—A requisition, numerously
and respectably signed, will be presented to the Lord
Mayes this day, to convene a meeting in support of the
govermuent Reform BilL
The Daily News this morning contains reports
of immorally attended meetings held at Tipton, Jarrow,
Rotherham, Llimelly, Wished', Frame, Holmfirth,
Tewkesbury, Bradford, Keighley,Bhoreham, Brighton,ko.,
at which petitions for the bill were unanimously adopted.
In the borough towns the local members attended and
supported the bill.
On Saturday afternoon an open-air meeting of
the working men was held at Liverpool, in aid of the go-
vernment Reform Bill. In spite of a cutting east wind,
there was a very numerous and quiet attendanoe. Mr.
Lawrence Heyworth being. in too delicate health to take
the chair Mr. J. R. &Remy presided, and delivered a
=address. Speeches were afterwards delivered by
men namati.Tmes, Hardy, Hinds, Planch, lima,
Shepherd, Bunny, and Atkinson. A resolution in favour of
the government Reform Bill and a petition to parliament
he its favour were unanimously agreed to, after which the
meeting was addressed by Mr. Robertson Gladstone and
Mr. Maurice WMissm. The tone of the working men's
speeches was moderate and respectful, though hints were
thrown out that a rejection of the Franchise Bill would
meat* great dissatisfaction and lead to sterner demands.
We learn from the Scotsman that the petition
from the city of Edinburgh in favour of the govern-
ment Reform Bill has already received a vary large
number of signatures. A reform meeting was held on
Friday night at Port-Glaniow. Mr. Bouverie, MX., had
been invited, but, owing it is presumed to the invitation
not having reached him, be did not appear, as expected,
nor was any reply received explanatory of his absence. The
meeting, lumens, as might be supposed, was nom the
less decided in its support of the Franchise Bill inhodneed
by the government as "an honest and progressive measure
of reform." Meetings have also been held at Haddington,
Montrose, Hamilton, and Cupar, at all of which resolutions
in favour of the bill were passed ; and at Aberdeen a peti-
tion in its f evour has already received a large number of
signatures.