The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-20 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Last evening the Royal Italian Opera was the
scene of a manifestation of unusual, and, as far as
the present generation can judge, of unprecedented
enthusiasm and magnificence. It had been an-
nounced that the Queen had commanded the per-
formances, and that her Majesty would visit the
theatre in State, accompanied by the Emperor and
Empress of the French. On such an occasion, it
was to be expected that the very elite of London
society would be present, in order to add one more
to the many public greetings offered to our Imperial
guests.
The director of the Opera, Mr. Gye, had made
arrangements worthy the occasion. The salle,
always brilliant and magnificent, presented a novel
and still more gorgeous aspect. The whole of the
theatre has been re-decorated for the occasion ; the
solid spaces between the several tiers of boxes were
covered with white satin damask; and hung with
festoons of flowers. An effect of lightness and ele-
gaAce pervaded the whole area.
,Of late years,
the old. arrangements on the occasion of Royal
visits to the Opera had been changed. Formerly,
the Sate Box was at the side of the theatre, ad-
joining the proscenium ; but her Majesty has in-
troduced the Continental custom—that of placing
the royal visitors .in :the „,centre. of the .Loose,
facing the stage. The theatre was; is this re-
spect, arranged 'wit- night as on the occasion of the
royal visit in 1848. Four boxes, two on the grand
and two on the first tier, were thrown into one
grand state box, immediately over the central pit
entrance. Thus a space was left large enough to
accommodate the royal party and their respective
suites. The box was hung with a canopy of cherry-
coloured satin, embroidered with gold, and sur-
mounted with an imperial crown. In front were
four chairs of state.
As the Emperor and Empress had returned
somewhat late from the City, and as there was
afterwards a grand dinner at Buckingham Palace,
the royal party were not expected until towards
half-past nine o'clock. .The opening of the doors
and the commencement of the performances were
delayed, in order to afford the more time. Soon
after eight o'clock the theatre began to fill, and by
half-past it presented a scene of unsurpassed bril-
liancy. The stalls were a parterre of beauty and
gay colours ; and every box was crowded with oc-
cupants, formed of the choicest of London society.
Shortly after half-past nine, and after the
curtain had fallen on the first act of Fidelio, a
stir and a buzz of expectation announc.xl the arri-
val of the royal visitors. A moment after and Queen
Victoria was seen entering from the back of the
royal box, leading by the arm the Emperor Napo-
leon, whom she thus, as it were, conducted to the
front, and in a manner presented to the audience.
Prince Albert escorted the Empress Eugenie. The
reception was enthusiastic. The whole audience
rose, and the effect was magnificent. As cheer on
cheer greeted the imperial guests, they repeatedly
acknowledged these marks of honour. While they
were still standing, the orchestra performed the air
" Partant pour la Syrie," and then the national an-
them was sung, Mdlle. Bosio singing the principal
verses, supported by Formes, Gardoni, and the
other chief singers. At the close of the opera, a
similar scene of enthusiasm occurred. Then, "God
save the Queen " preceded the " Partant pour la
Syrie," with an additional, or rather a substituted
verse, expressly composed for the occasion. En-
thusiastic manifestations of loyalty to the Queen
and of welcome to the imperial visitors accompanied
this display.
Such an occasion does not afford much opportu-
nity for a critical notice of the performance.
Fidelio, the opera commanded by her Majesty, has
already been produced at the Royal Italian Opera
in a manner fully sustaining the high reputation of
this great lyrical establishment. The feature of
the evening's performance was the first appearance
of Aldlle. Jenny Ney as the heroine. This lady
comes to us with a high reputation gained in the
first lyrical theatres of Germany. Her performance
last night sustained it, whether she be regarded as
a singer or as an actress. The character, we need
scarcely say, taxes the highest powers of a lyrical
artiste. Mdlle. Ney is thoroughly German in her
style of singing and acting. She possesses consi-
derable histrionic power, and is an accomplished
vocalist. With a full soprano voice of great range,
power, richness, and volume, she is folly capable
of developing the deep passion with which the
music of the part of Leonora is charged. We shall
have other opportunities of critically noticing her
performance of this character. The scene of last
evening is rather to be regarded as a demonstration
—as one more phase of the ovation offered to the
Emperor and Empress of the French on the part
of the people of this country, and in this respect it
was fully equal to those other receptions in which
;he people at large have taken the principal part.

THE ILLUMINATIONS.
The visit of the Emperor of the French to this country
Last night elicited from the people of the metropolis a fur-

ther desire to do honour to the occasion by an illumina-
tion of their houses, and many of these displays were
conducted on a large scale. The following were amongst

,he most prominent

THE CLUB-HOUSES.
The Army and Navy, Pall-mall.--This builtling stood
_ _

out prominent in the brilliancy of its display and the
richness of its design. It consisted of a gas illumination
on a large scale, composed of the Imperial crown sur-
_

mounting a shield, on which was the sword and anchor
—the arms of the club. On either side of this was the
union jack and tri-colour blended together, and under-
neath, in large characters, were the words " Victoria—
Welcome—Napoleon."
The United Service, Pall•mall.—An imperial crown,
surmounting the initials N. E., with the Royal initials
V. R., three stars of Brunswick, with wreathe, true
lovers' knots., &c., all in brilliant gas jets. Large
flags floated from the front of the building.
The Athanmum, Pall-mall.—T.,vo large wreaths of
laurel encircling the imperial initials N. E. in brilliant
gas.

The Travellers', Pall-mall.7—This club had its usual br

liant display of gas, produced by triple circles of gas jets
attached to the tops of the ordinary lamp-post, extend-
ing the entire front of the building.
The Reform, Pall-mall,—A. display of a similar
description.

Oxford and Cambridge, Pall-mall.—Large imperial
crown, the initials N. E., and wreaths of laurel, in bril-
liant gas.
The Guards', Pall-mall.—A. crown, with a star, with
the motto of the club, " Tria Juncta in Uno," in bril-
liant gas.

The United University Club, Pall-mall East.—A large
star, with the union jack and tricolour prominently dis-
played.

The Union, Cockspur-street.—A large imperial crown,
the initials N. E., and star, in brilliant gas jets.
THE THEATRES, &C.
Theatre Royal Drury-lane.—The display at this thea-
tre was more than ordinarily brilliant, consisting of three
large Brunswick stars, and jets of gas also encircling the
statue of Shakspere. Floating jets were also placed
along the entire parapet of the building. This work
was executed by Mr. James Palmer, gas-fitter to the
theatre.
Adelphi, Strand.—A large imperial crown, wreaths of
laurel, and the word " Adelphi," in brilliant gas.
THE STRAND.

The Illustrated News OffiCe7-=-Tbe initials N. and E.
surmounted 1•37 a large eagle, in brilliant gas, and the
union jack a.ld tri-colour floating from the top of the
building.
Mr. Dent, watab and chronometer maker to her
Majesty.—A large star in gas.
Mr. Clark, lamp-manufacturer.—Large Brunswick
star, the imperial crown of England, and crown of
France, in coloured lamps.
REGENT-STREET.
Royal Gallery of Illustration.—Theoand Prince,
and England, with medallions of the Queen y
ed b emblema-
and the Emperor and Empress, "Prd° navy on the left,
tical figures of the English army
altie right; also a row
nion of France
and the French army and navy building, t
English, and Turkish nations.
silk-mercers.—The ini•
aof the French,
of flags, from the roof of the
Messrs. Lewis and Allenby,
tials of the Emperor and Empress, with stars, scrolls,
and wreaths, in gas.
R ckermann, print warehouse, &c.— A large
star ho ar.nd B.
Royal initials, in brilliant gas, with a mag.
with two
niflcent Royal standard floating from the top of the
building.
Farmer and Rogers (late Holmes), shawl manufactur-
ers to her Majesty, by appointment.--Laurel branches
imperial crown, with
extending the whole length of the fr.mtage,
large stars, and the imperial initials N. E., in.
gasaampbell, wine merchant.—An,i,
the
.i., characters,initialsi es s r
s.
H.
N.
displayed
JE . ,
av with
and
it
nt it
D.
colouredh the
Nicoll,word l 1
magnificent 'dmlllpeL'ehicann:e't'aiiloar large
qaargnde
makers.
—gAover the frontage. of their four houses,
pnaalteiotont:
of a large star, with transparent centre, consisting
un-
derneath, in large Roman' characters, the
l':'l'LY of gas illumi-
nation,come to thewords "'Wel-
Emperor "
, handsome scroll wor4 Rua oircu-