The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-28 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
COVENT GARDEN.
Mr. GYE has the honour to announce to the Nobility,
Gentry, Subscribers, and the Public, that the Opera Season
of 1864 will commence on
TUESDAY NEXT, MARCH 29TH.
The forthcoming Season will be the Eighteenth of The
Royal Italian Opera, seventeen years having
since its original establishment. now elapsed
It cannot but be a source of pride and gratification to the
Director to reflect that he is aeain enabled to place before
his Subscribers some account of the arrangements which
he has made for theit entertainment, well calculated to
sustain the pre-eminent position held by the Royal Italian
Opera among the greatest Lyrical Establishments of
Europe.
It will be seen by the following slight outline that the
company of Artistes is of unprecedented strength. Ic in•
eludes, each in their particular emplot, the three greatest
Prima Donne, the four most renowned Tenors, and the
three most celebrated Bar tones in Europe; while the
Basses have been reinforced by the two most esteemed
Artistes in Italy and Germany.
Mademoiselle ADELINA PATTI.
Madlle. ADELINA PATTI will return with fresh laurels
gathered during the recess. This young Artiste has,
during the past winter, visited her native city of Madrid, in
which capital she was born on Marsh 19th, 1843, and where,
as it well be imagined, the display of her wonderful talents
Was received with the most unbounded enthusiasm by her
eonzpateiotes.
Manila. PATTI was honoured by several personal inter-
views with her Majesty the Queen of Spain, she received
many distinguished marks of favour from the Nobility and
Gentry,while the Public, notwithstanding that the prices of
admission to the Opera were raised beyond all former pre-
cedent in Madrid, filled the theatre to overflowing on every
night of representation.
On the 19th of August last, when the Congress of Ger-
man Potentates met in the City of Frankfort-on-the-
Maine, Madlle. Patti received the distinguished honour of
being specially summoned to.perform on the occasion of the
Grand Gala Fete given by the Authorities of that city to
the assembled Sovereigns. As expressed in the joutnals
of thee
ay, Madlle. Patti literally sang to a "Parterre de
Prince"
From Madrid Madlie. Patti proceeded to Paris, and is
there fulfilling her second engagement to the satisfaction
and delight of the abonnees of the Thatre Italien.
The Repertoire of Madlie. PATTI, of unusual extent for
50 young an Artiste, now includes the Operas of " La Son-
narribula," s' Luei di Lammermoor," La Traviata,"
"Martha," "Don Pasquale," " Dirorah," " II Barbiere,"
Don Giovanni," "La Gazza Ladra," &c. In addition to
these, Madlle. PATTI Rill appear in the characters of
Mina in "L'Eiisir d'Amore" and in that of Maria in "La
Figlia del Reggimento," which she performed, for the first
time, at the close of last season ; she will also appear, and
for the first time, in the part of Susannah in " Le Nozze di
Figaro," and in Margherita in Gounod's Opera of " Faust."
Mademoiselle PAULINE LUCCA.
It is indeed a rare event in the annals of the lyric stage
that two young Artistes of extraordinary and commanding
talents should appear for the first time almost simulta-
neously as candidates for public favour.
About the same period that Madlle. PATTI made her first
appearance at the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, the
!musical world of Germany was sounding the praises of a
young Artiste who just then had made her debut at the
Royal Opera at Berlin. This debutante was MdllA. PAU.-
I,INE Lucca—her youth, her beauty, and her wonderful
voice, soon placed her securely in public favour, and in a
Very short time the Prussian Government presented her
with an engagement for ten years. The Director of the
Royal Italian Opera was naturally anxious to afford an
opportunity to his subscribers to hear so interesting an
Artiste, and towards the end of last Season, was enabled
to procure (by special favour) of the Royal Hof-Theater-
Direction of Berlin, permission for Madlle. LUCCA to give
three representations in London. The success which at-
tended the young Artiste on the occasion of these three
performances will not easily be forgotten by these who
Witnessed them, Madlle LUCCA. returned to Berlin full
of honours and succeeded in obtaining, by Royal favour,
an annual conge of three months ; and it, is thus that Mr.
Gye has been able to secure her services for the greater
portion of his coming season.
Madlle. LuccA. will make her debut in Meyerbeer's
Opera "Lea Huguenots." She will then perform the cha-
racter of Margherita in Gounod's Opera of "Faust;" then
that of Cherubino in Mozart's Opera, " Le Nozze di
Pl4.aro • afterwards that of Mrs. Ford in Nicolay's Opera,
The Merry Wives of Windsor • and lastly the great
l'ae of Cat ins in Meyerbeer's Grand Historical Opera,ardu
'Eoile Nord."
Mademoiselle EMILIA. L A GRUA.
It has never been the habit of the Director of the Royal
Italian Opera to herald forth the praises of Artistes about
to make their first appearance at his Theatre, however great
their continental reputations may have been; and in the
re of the engagement of Mademoiselle Lagiva it is not
his intention vo depart from this custom any farther than
to express a ve y confident hope that this Artiste will sus-
t"). in London the reputation which she now enjoys
abroad, viz.—that of being, in the Opera Seria, by far the
greatest dramatic singer of the period.
Mademoiselle Lagrua wilt arrive early in the Season,
and, make her first appearance in the character of Norma.
he will also sustain the character of Leonora in "La
~'
a vor t a," Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni," Leonora in
Fidelio," Desdemona in " Otello," Leonora in " II Tro-
vatore," and the principal role in Verdi's new Opera " La
Forza del Destino," which was originally composed for
her during her engagement at the Imperial Theatre of St.
Petersburg.
Among those who, this Season, will solicit for the first
time the approbation of an English audience are--
Mademoiselle DESTINN
(From the Imperial Opera of Vienna)
Mademoiselle GIUSE PPINA TATI.
(From the Royal Opera at Lisbon)
Mademoiselle GARULLI
(From La Scala, at Milan)
Signor SCAL ESE
(From the Theatre Italien, at Paris)
Signor ATTRI
(From LaPergola, at Florence)
and
Herr SCHMID
(From the Imperial Opera, at Vienna).
The appearance of Signor WACHTEL may also be con-
sidered as a debut, unavoidable circumstances having ob-
liged him to return to Germany after having appeared but
three times at the Itc yal Italian Opera in the Season of
1862. Since that time Signor Wachtel has become at-
tached to the Imperial Opera, et Vienna, under an en•
gagement of six years duration, interrupted only by a shor
annual eonge.
Signor WACHTEL will make his debut in the character
of Manrico, in " Ii Trovatore ;" he will'„then:perform that
of Arnoldo in " Guglielmo Tell ;" and afterwards the role
of Jean de Leyden in Meyerbeer's Grand Opera, " La
Prophete."
Notwithstanding these new engagements, it will be ob-
served that the many favourite Artistes, whose talents have
so long supported the Royal Italian Opera, have been re-
tained, and that the Director is thereby enabled to re-cast
'many of the Opera's, and to impart to them an unprece-
dented strength and completeness.
Mademoiselle MARIE BATTU, now holding the high
position of chief Prima Donna at the Academie Imperiale
de Musique, in Paris, will perform for the first time, the
character of Contessa, in Mozart's Opera of "Le Nozze
di Figaro." Mademoiselle BATTU has kindly offered to
sing also the part of Adalgisa, in " Norma," on the occa-
sion of the debut of Mademoiselle LAGRUA..
Mademoiselle ANTONIETTA FRICCI will sing, for the
first time, the part of Bertha, in " Le Prophete," and that
of Donna Elvira, in " Don Giovanni."
Madame Thum will sing her original part of Pregiosilla
" La Forza del Destino."
Signor IloNcom will appear, for the first time, in the
character of Pasquale, and in that of Fra Melitone in " La
Forza del Destino."
Signor TAMBERLIK will appear, for the first time in
England, in his original part of Don Alvaro, in Verdi's
new Opera, " La Forza del Destino, and, for the first time
these six years, that of " Otello."
Monsieur FAURE will perform, for the first time, the
character of Nevers, in " Les Huguenots ; that of Figaro,
in " Le Nozze di Figaro ;" and also his great role of Peter
the Great, which he performed upwards of 100 nights in
Paris, in Meyerbeer's Opera, " L' Etoile du Nord."
Signor GRAZIANI will perform, for the first time, the
character of Guglielmo Tell ; that of " II Conte in "Le
Nozze di Figaro ;" and his original part in Verdi's new
Opera, " La Forza del Destino,"
Signor NAUDIN, who so firmly established himself in the
good opinion of the Subscribers last year. will, in addition
to his other parts, perform, for the first time, that of Elvino
in " La Sonnambuia," and that of Roberto in " Robert le
Diable."
Signor MARIO will perform, for the first time these
eight years, the part of Nemorino, in" L'Eiisir d' more ;"
also, for the first time these seven years, his celebrated
character of Fernando in " La Favorite ;" and, for the first
time, that of Faust,
Mr. GYE feels assured that the subscribers will be gra-
tified to know that he retains the invaluable assistance
of Mr. COSTA.

ENGAGEMENTS.
Mademoiselle ADELINA PATTI,
Madame DIDLEE,
Mademoiselle ANTONIETTA FRICCI,
Mademoiselle MARIE BATTIJ,
Madame RUDERSDORFF,
Mademoiselle ANESE,
Madame TAGLIAFICO, and
Mademoiselle PAULINE LUCCA.

Mademoiselle DESTINN,
Her P irst Appearance in England.
Madera iselle GIUSEPPI I TATI,
Her Fir t Appearance in England.
Mademoiselle GARULLI,
Her First Appearance in England, and
Mademoiselle EMILIA LAGRUA,

Her First Appearance in England.

Signor NiARIO,
Signor T AMBERLIK,
Signor N UDIN,
Sign. r LUCCHESI,
Signor ROSSI,
Signor NERI-BARA LDI, an I
Signor WACIITEL.

Signor RONCONT,
Signor GRAZ TANI,
Signor COLONESE,and

'Monsieur PA u

Signor ATTRI,
His First Appearance in England.
Signor SCALESE,
His First Appearance in England.
Signor TAGLIAFICO,
Signor PALLA.R,
Signor POLONT NI,
Signor CAPPONI,
Signor CIAIIPT, and
Herr SCHMID,
Ills First Appearance in England.

---
Director of the Music, Composer, and Conductor, Mr. COSTA.

PRINCIPAL DAINSEUSES.
Mademoise In sALVIONI,
Mademoiselle ZINA RICHARD,
Madfmoiselle RAFFAELLI,
Mademoiselle ASST NTA,
Nademoissege CARMINE.
Her Fiat Appearance in England,
&C.

Maestro al Piano..
Leader of the Military Baud 1
keuldstream)
Leader of the Ballet
Org nist
Chorus Master Mr. SMYTHSON.
Poet Signor MAGGIO N I.
Prompter
Matter de Ballet
Signor PaIONTERASI.
Machinists Mr. SLO3IAN.

The
unrivalled ---
Orchestra and chorus of the Loyal Italian

Opera.