The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-24 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

emneersregeemptieorcwartnthhaedanest later in the season than usual, but welcome
soon or late, comes the programme 'of her Majesty's
Theatre for the ensuing year. The summer which is
before us hardly presents the same inducements to ma-
nagerial ardour as those held out in the Great Exhibi-
tion par. We can anticipate no swarms of foreigners
crowding across the Channel, nor, still more profitable,
legions of provincials flocking up to the metropolis from
every nook and corner of England, Ireland, and Scot-
land. Electioneering tronbles, moreover, threaten to
some extent to mar the season, and to break up the gay
period when the West- end is crowded, and all the sights
and all the sounds of London are in full swing; but we
are glad to perceive that Mr. Lumley dismayed by none
of these portents, and after all they may turn out to be
thatt
eson'f
s yiushionergaeasp;
campaign,
mehs
appears
asi I he
tgieonn
b. has ahps:eorfirfeelcd collectedv igo
allr o uh
si
s and
old
troupe around him, with considerableand important ad-
ditions:Theatre is the old and chosen
llof the association great
thh artistic
aed
afterl
oryi ef in preparedaotal i reminiscence.
I n2l is ne
r fP 1 iae
ronal I:._
jeea Bg ye r,
5f o
Itsvve ecnocuepitlieteitiswitfhulal
It has seen the early eareer and
wheeaer y triumphs of
; whileeerehenologe
those notabilities of Italian song
to be destined to awaken its echoes
recollec-
tions of the ballets which it has given to th
the queens of the dance who have sometimes rwerne-cl-9
individual majesty—sometimes concluded a oetigegrreess-alolafl
terpsichorean sovereignty upon its board -
fraught with pleasurable sensations, which we may be
excused if we are glad to look forward to again. bud
Her Majesty's Theatre has a powerful rival to contend
with, is, perhaps, as well for both establishments as for
the public. Either management is kept on the qui vice.
An active and enterprising competition is necessitated.
The old beaten ways are felt to be no longer sufficient
to fill either house. Novelty in matter and manner is
imperatively called for. Artists of continental reputa-
tion are rigorously demanded, and the result is that the
public and the art of dramatic music are equally bone-
fitted by competition and comparison.
The season of 1852 will, it 13 announced, commence on
Tuesday evening, the 30th of March. The repertoire for

tho seism wlifini
operas, to one and
will be able to do f
Don Giovanni
Nozze di Figaro
II Matrimonio Se-f
greto
Lucia di Lammer-
Puritani
L'Elisir d'Amora
Don Pasquale
Cenerentola
Ernaoi
I Due Foscari

'elude the foilowi
all of which the reb
full justice:—
Norma
La Sonnambula
i La Favorita
I Il Barbiere
Semiramide
La Gazza Ladra
Lucrezia Borgia
Linda di Chamonni
()tell()
La Figlia del Reg-
gimento

iog brilliant list of
sources of the house

Roberto Devereux
Il Giuramento
Guglielmo Tell
Torquato Tauo
Tancredi
Roberto it Dia-

volo
Pietro l'Eramita
L% Temper a
Florinda, and
Il Prodigo

Of novelties we have two classes—those positively
announced, and those conditionally promised. The first
category does not comprise more than two works, but
they wilt be found to captain the elements of great ar-
tistic interest, united in one case with those intrinsic
considerations which, although unconnected with pure
art, can hardly tail to excite a lively and natural degree
of anticipation. ‘Ve refer to the production of a new
grand opera, Casilda, the composition of his Royal
Highness the Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, and the
brother of Prince Albert. This work, after having been
originally produced, as we believe, on the small but com-
plete stage of the Coburg Theatre, was transferred to
the more important boards of Vienna and Berlin, and
there enjoyed a success quite unconnected with the pe-
culiar circumstances of its origin. The reigning Duke
of Saxe Coburg and Gotha is by no means a tyro in
dramatic lyric compesition. More than one of his
operas are well known upon the German stage, and we
are glad to have an opportunity of judging for ourselves
a work which, whatever may be its artistic merits, and
we are assured on good authority that they are high, pos.
sesses other and peculiar claims to our notice. The an-
nouncement of the work will no doubt excite a consider-
..

able degree of curiosity and interest. We have seen
scattered notices of the opera in various continental mu-
sical papers, but without reprodaoing their judgments
shall wait for the opportunity of fairly deciding for our-
selves. For the excellence of the ordinary troupe, the
chorus, and the orchestra of the Ducal Theatre in the

little sovereignty of Saxe-Coburg, we can personally
vouch, having had opportunities of seeing both opera
and German tragedy performed on the boards of Coburg
and Gotha.

The second novelty positively promised is an opera,
not actually new, but new to this country, by Flotow,
entitled Martha, and in which it is truly stated that
"Madame Sontag has obtained an additional triumph
to her many brilliant successes." Fiotow is known in
this country, if we mistake not, only by one opera—his
Ante en Peine which was inefficiently performed some
seasons ago at the Princess's Theatre, but which, in-
adequate as the representation was, made a very con-
sidersole impression. Flotow's characteristics are a
deep and feeling vein of melody, full of tenderness and
passion, and marked by piquancy and originality of
treatment, while his orchestral scoring is the work of a
consummate musician bringing a strong individuality of
taste to bear upon a thorough command of the resources
which he possesses. The opera of Martha has, doubt-
less, been written so as to develop the peculiar vocal
talents of its heroine—Madame Sontag—and eke such
may be anticipated as a rich and stirling treat.
Among the conditional announcement is one that " an
opera by the great maestro, Meyerbeer, will be, most
probably, produced during the season, written expressly
for Madame Sontag." Of Meyerbeer's operas we can
never he said to be certain until the curtain actually rises
upon them. The "great;maestro" is a very fastidious
personage, and, as he does not write for considerations
of personal advantage, he can always afford to keep back
his productions as long as he pleases, and that is some-
times a tolerably considerable time. However, we shall
be delighted in the present instance to hope for the best;
and whether the hinted work be a re-touched version of
the long promised Camp of Silesia or a perfectly new
opera, the world will be equally delighted to hail it.
Don Giovanni is promised, with a cast which will in.
elude Madame Sontag, Madame Cruvelli, and the new
corner, of whom so much has been said and so much is to
be expected, Mademoiselle Wagner, from Vienna and
Berlin. Madame Sontag will, of course, be the Z-rlina,
and Mademoiselle Wagner (as we conjecture) the Donna
Anna. With any distribution, however, including the
three names, the cast will be singularly strong.
ohret
rasnetl
fshe additions.
iseTe ever
hest,adat n
ae t Stio;vtearg :ee col have
pOpera.
Besides the actual works which we have mentioned all
to ho produced for the first time, we are promised, in
general terms, " many novelties." The Saxe Cobonrg
opera and Flotow's work are only particularized as to
mwe.inFniorentini, an
be amongst the earltes".
The company includes all the principal names of last
as bringing back the purest and most brilliant style of
fear
mentioned.with
i important
113
the purest and most brilliant days of the Italian
Next to S mtag we find the name of M
old favourite, who has been latcly
opinioes in It,ly, and who will be cordially inning golden
back. Aiello. Ids Bertrand will be, asbefore, welcomed
trait.), and Mlle. Sofia Cruvelli, flushed
the con-
trait),
triuisphs, m ry be expected‘'
to ed with her Pa-
degree of enthusiasm than that .er3ite a still h4her
called up around her by her which she last seam i
inter-
pretations of Fidelio, Nor strongly dramatic
ma, and Lucrezia Borgia.
Amongst the ladies Aldile. Wagner is the new comer.
We have not heard her, but la
to England, and we believe her fame has preceded t her
.
that we are to antieipwaitehrna
the New German artist
commanding amount of dramatic
duaegniticent sop
ran'
talent, force, and
energy. The deb rwill "Testi--anticipated,
u be very anxiously
and will excite universal interest.
To the list
ofgentinterest.
several additions have beta
gentlemen . ,
made. Gard mat ding all the omi-
nous reports b
a out his state
of health. With him we
find again Signor Pardini, Signor Mercuriali, and Signor
CalaJlari—all old and well-known friends. The two
Lablaches conclude the list of the male company, not
including the new comers, of whom there are not less
than three—Signor Ferlotti, whohaas,
season hsonelfaetwil been
st,favourite during
whom the
lwaset oknpower nothing—and Signor
Signor Susini, of u barytone from Italy. Signor
BAsini, a well-known his American tour. The above
Eelletti re• appears a theerhe
d comment. The known names
list calls for no lengt
•For the strangers we must wait until
are well known •
they come
, Among the conditional engagements is tt at
of Signor Negn
.ui, the tenor, the conclusion of which
d to be daily expected.
is stated
The ballet was somewhat neglected last season,. but
the arrangements for the present year ere promising and
brilliant, and include, not only several of the old favour-
iteg a,S executants, but several novelties for them to dance
ices
Wile. Cerito has been engaged, and will appear,we
presume, early in the season; and Mdlle. Guy Stephan,
as we take it, will open the campaign in a new Spanish
divertissement, entitled El Duende, which will be per-
formed on the opening evening. Another welcome ballet
engagement is that of Mdlle. Caroline Rosati. Among
the choregraphic Dii tninores we find the names of
Mdlles. Rosa, Mathilde, Lamoureux, Emilie, and Pap.
cales. It seems yet uncertain whether Carlotta Grist
will return, but her admirers will be pleased to learn
that " a proposal for en engagement of two months" has
also beau forwarded to the lady in question, who is now
at St. Petersburgh, to commence at the termination of
her present engagement at the Magian capital. A new
Italian ballet, composed expressly for the theatre, is an.
flounced for immediately after Easter. The composition
will, we presume, introduce Mdlle. Cerito.
Tho opening opera will be Maria de Rohan, intro-
ducing Signor Ferlotti. Mr. Balfe bus, we believe, re-
turned from Paris, where ho went after the produotie n
of his opera at Drury-lane, and the
preliminary reheat;
sale are actually in course of Progreso.
Thus then commences the season of 1852, giving pro"
wise of divers events of interest, and of an active and
busy year. The competition between the houses will no
doubt be steady and severe, and we can only express a
hope that managerial tact and executive skill will be
properly appreciated, and fully rewarded, at whithetst
ev d"
establishment th ere I d
, • ,q) five .
,e 1 —.............._
Died - F • -

ieo, on . ridtty, Ahreb 19 at Govern Vale House,
,
Brecknockshire, after a lerg illness, John Gwynne, Esq.,
aged 72, deputy-lieutenant for Brecknockshire, also justice
of the peace for the counties of 11ionmouth and Brecon. He
served throughout the Peninsular war as lieutenant in the
14th Light Dragoons, being twice severely wounded, and
was present in the three several engagements—namet Sit,
lamanca, Fuentes d'Onor, and Talavera—for which II rill
ceived a three-bar medal from big Graelonslll4lol7.