The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-24 00:00:00

fittiou.

11.01'.11. ITALI 1N OPERA.

V erdi.a /kilo in Nos hems last night brought
forward )Mlle. Nan. who made her &tit appearasoe in
Engt,nd as the page (sear—Mdlle. Fried re-appearing for
the first time this Beason as Amelia, and Signor Grazinni
1111 Lena to. Halle. Nan, a daughter, we believe. of a
singer of the same none who obtained isonsidevahle ce-
lebrity in th,s country some year', since. as youthful, bat a
plc'. nis presence, awl a light and h.•:. sale soprano voice
of French quality, with vocalisation of the same school.
she gave her principal airs with omits vivacity and
esOmees. especially that in the find iet, Volta la
tern..." and the invitation to the bail, "Di she
fulgor." in the last act. Of the -tal capabilities
of this lady, however, we shall be butter entitled to.
julge after the nervousness inevitable on a first appear
anon has subsisted. Hdl►e. Fricci, who was cordially wed•
coined on ber entry, gave the music of Amelia wit► the
sane warmth and pension thatirende,ml it or e of her most
effe,tive parts last season. Her great ec, U-s, at the begin.
sing of the third act—the recitative. •• limo rorrido," and
t►e air. " Ma doll' arid° "—was a display of dramatic
vocalisation of a high order. Signor Mario's performance
so the Duke is toe well known to need fresh eulogy. His
air in the second set, " Di' tu se feilide," was gives, in
his fisherman's disguise, with that mm tore of nonchalance
and refinement which none but such Re artist can so hap-
pily combine. The well-known moverneet E scherzo ud
d follia," and the following concerted music closing
the second :Kt, produced, as usual, one of the greatest
al Pea+, in the opera. Signor Gra. lane. beautiful voice
and pure Italian style wen• heard to great advantage in
music which generally lies so well for him, especially in
the air " E eel tu," the latter portion of which was
encored. Df llle. Morensi, with her handsome presence
and itnpiessive gestures, was effective as Ulric* the
Sol cereu ; and the parts of the coospirntors, Armando
and Angri, were most efficiently filled by Signori Tsgliatico
sad Caponi. The ball-room scene of the last act was Tore-
muted with the splendour of costume and grouping which
is special to this house ; and which, with the brightness of
the incidental dance music, throws a relief on the close of
an opera which is otherwise somewhat ten:shadowed by
gloom.

11Kbal anti Military.

PORTSMOUTH, Amt. 23.

The Minotaur, iron screw frigate, Captain
James G. Goodenough, commissioned fru service as the
flaa-ship of the Channel squadron, and undoubtedly the
most imposing vessel in the Britie:i navy, steamed out of
Barbour yesterday for the contractors' trial of her
machinery. This morning she got under weigh from Spit-
bead, to make an official trial of her speed at the measured
mile in Stoke'. Bay, under the superintendence of the
officers of the steam reserve at this port. She lind, however.
made only three rune over the me4.4ored course, when a
mishap occurred to one of her condensers, and she was
un►ble to continue the trial. The result of the trial, as
far as it went, bowed a mean speed of I.oletlinoni, nearly
a knot lees than was obtained at a previous trial made
before her guns and other heavy weights were on board.
The force of wind was 6. The Minotaur will have to
re-
turn to harbour for the defeats is her machinery to be
aside good.