The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-10 00:00:00

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His Itval Highness Prince Alfred nrri7ed in
London from L',:iiub-argh last ni.;;ht, in ceder to be present
at the christening of his royal nephewsto-day.
The Marquis and Mr:rellioncss of Salisbury r ntsr.
tamed a select circle at dinner last evening, at their resi-
dence in Arlington-street, Piccadilly.

, -
The Marquis emel Alurcitione.is Cho:mwleielity will
arrive at their residence, on Carlton-house-terrace, to-day,
from Chohnondelcy Castle, Cheshire, for the season.
The Count von Furstensteir, Chamberhtin to the
Crown Princess of Prussia, and Baron Itiatzdora Wiesen-
burg have arrived at Maurigy'ri Hotel from Berlin.
The injury sustained by Lord Pro by was not co
serious as has been stated. The' arm was not fnctured,
though much injured, but his lordship hopes to be ably to
attend at the christening; of the infant prince this day.
The. Right Hoc. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P.,
and Lady Emily Peel had A select party to dinner yester-
day evening at their mansion in Weitehill-gazdens.

THE OPERA SEASON,

The lessees or the two great Italian theatres have issued
the usual prospectuses of their arrangements for the season
about to begin. We glean from them seine particulars,
which may be acceptable to our musical readers.

The Royal Italian Opera, Covent-garden, will open cn
Tuesday, the 29th of Ibis month. The subscription will
consist of 40 nights, and the performances will be four

times a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays.

The company will. include all the favourite performers of
last season, together with several others of continent al cele-
brity who have not yet appeared h England. Mdlle.
ling Patti (says tho prospectus) " will return with fresh
laurels gathered during the recess,"
.at her native c:ty of
Madrid, fit Frankfort during the late congress of German
Princes, and at Paris, where she is now fulfilling her second
engagement at the It(Wens, In addition to the clnr:tcterd
she has already performed in London, she will appear es
'Adina in the ".Elisir d'Amore," Maria in " La Figlia del
Re,ggimento," Susanna in the " Nozn di Figaro," and
Ma k garet in Gounod's " Faust." Another young singer,
Mdlle. Pauline Lucca, will also appear early in the
season. At the end of last season this lady appeared for a
few nights, when she performed the character of Valen-
tina in the "Huguenots," making a most • favourable im-
pression on the public. She will make her second debit
(as it may be called) in the same character; and in the
course of the season will perform the .parts of Margaret in
"Faust," Cherubino in the " Nozze di Figaro," Mrs. Ford
in Nicolai's opera "The Merry Wives of Windsor," and
Catarina in the "Etoile du Nord" of M.-eye:beet. Mdlle.
Emilia Lagrua, another performer new to this country, bat
who has gained the highest continental reputation, will also
appear early in the season, and will make her debut in the
character of Norma. She will also appear in the parts of
Leonora in "La Favorite,' Donna Anna in "Don Gio-
vanni," Leonora in Beethoven's " Fidelio," DeAtsmona in
Rossini's " Otello," and the heroine of Verdi's late,A opera
"La Forzs del Dastino," which was originally composed
for her during her engagement at St. petcniburg. Signor
Wachtel can scarcely be called a novelty, seeing that he ap-
peared a few times last season, but was unavaidably obliged
to return to Germany. He made, however, a very favour-
able impression, and it seems that he has, Since thou, greatly
risen in power and reputation. Several other new performers
are announced, who are as yet known to us only by name,
and whom it is therefore unnecessary to enumerate, Among
the performers who were members of last year's company we
fiad the names of Idaddle. Mario Bann, Mdllo. Fricci,
Madame Didi6e, E,oncoloi, Taraberliln Faure, Graziani,
Naudin, and ,11Iario. The company of thin season will there-
fore be of extraordinary strength. Cesta—a, host .in him-
self—continues in his post of musical director and conduc-
tor of the archcstra.

Her Mejeaty's Theatre will open on Saturday, the 9th of
April. The strength of this house—in so far as can be seen.
at present—will lie rather in those members of the company
who are already known to us than in those who are to
appear in England for the first-time. W'3 are still to have
the (in many respects) unrivalled Teresa Titiens, together
with. Mdlle. Volpfai, Signor Giuglini, t
Signer Bettini, M. Gassier, and Mr. Smiley. The princi-
pal strangers are Mdlle. Liebhart and Md:le. Wippern,
from the Royal Opera, Berlin; Mdlle. Bettleheim from the
Imperial Opera, Vienna; Signor Benedetto Mazzetti,
described as being of the principal theitres in Italy ; and_
Signor Mareello dunce, from the Royal Theatre, Turin ;
all said to be performers of talent and reputation. The
able and mantic Signor Arditi retains his place of direc-
tor of the orchestra, which, through his exertions, has been
raised to a high degree of strength end excellence.
The following operas are to be produced fur the first time
in England : " I,a Forza del Destine," by Verdi ; " Le Spose
Allegro di Winsor (The Merry Wives of Windsor), by
Nicolai; and " Tannhausex," by Richard Wagner. In
announcing "La FOrn del Destine," Mr. Mapleson
says that "the oichestral score, parts, and right
of representation were secured in 1863." But our readers
have seen that the production of this opera is also ata,ouncel
by Mr, Gye—a thing which, of course, hs cannot do if his
rival is correct in his statement. " This nerly Wives of
Windsor," though it has never been performed in this •
country, has long been well known and I.:yr:ler in Germany.
It is to be brought ouz, at Her Majesty's Theatre' wits
Titiens as Mrs. Ford., Giuglini as Fenton, Santley asFord,
Gassier as Page, and Junca (one cf the new corners) a$
Falstaff. " Tannlit.user" enjoys unbonirded popularity
Germany, though its merits form the subject of violent
controversy. It is full time that the English public were •
enabled to judge for themselves ; and whatevt...• may be the
success of this opera Mr. Mapiecion will deserve their thanks
for bringing it before them. "Robert le Diable" will be
revivediu the course of the serizen, with 3i,;(3:1e, Wippera
in the character of Alice; the " Freischnix" also be
produced with a strerg cast, and Denizetti's " Anna •
Bolena" will be reproduced alter an interval of 20 years.
The ballet, which has always been a great feature at lief
;Majesty 8 Theatre, while comparative little account is made
of it at the rival house, will receive duo attention. Dancers
of both sexes, from the principal continental tLett'lree, have
been engaged, and several new ballett3are to be I:rot:a:teed la
the course of the season.