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

THE OPERA SEASON,

The lessees of the two great Italian theatres have issued
the mud' prospectuses of their arrangements for the season
about to begin. We glean from them some particulars,
which may be acceptable to our musical readers.
The Royal Italian Opera, Covent-garden, will open on
Tuesday, the 29th of this 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 continental eel&
brity who have not yet appeared in England. Mdlle.
line Patti (says the prospectus) " will return with fresh
laurels gathered during the recess," at her native city of
Madrid, at Frankfort during the late congress of Gorman,
Princes, and at Paris, where she is now fulfilling her second
engagement at the Iteliens, In addition to the characters
she has already performed in London, she will appear as
Adina in the " Elisir d'Amore," Maria in " La Figlia del
Reggimento," Susanna in the " NOZZ3 di Figaro," and
Margaret 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 Valet).-
tine in the "Huguenots," making a most favourable jay
pression on the public. She will make her second dant;
(as it may be called) in the same character; and in tho
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 Meyerbeer. Mdlle•
Emilia Lagrua, another performer new to this country, but
who has gained the highest continental reputation, will also
appear early in the season, and will make her debut in Ohe
character of Norma. She will also appear in the parts of
Leonora in "La Favorite," Donna Anna in "Don Gi°'
venni," Leonora in Beethoven's " Fidelio," Desdemona i>3 ,
Rossini's " Otello," and the heroine of Verdi's latest opera
"La Forza del Destine.," which was originally composed
for her during her engagement at St. Petersburg. Sip°
Wachtel can scarcely be called a novelty, seeing that he 0,
peered a few times last season, but was unavoidably obligo
to return to Germany. He made, however, a very favour'
able impression, and.it seems that he has, since then, greatli
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 '46
find the names of Meddle. Marie Battu, Mdlle. Friee;"
Madame Didiee, Ronconi, Tamberlik, Faure, Grazianif
Naudin, and Mario. The company of this season will there'
fore ba of extraordinary strength. Costa—a host in ham,
self—continues in his post of musical director and conduct'
tor of the orchestra.
Her Majeaty's Theatre will open on Saturday, the 9th of
April. The strength of this house—in so far as can be seo'l
at present—will lie rather in those members of the conalanui
who are already known to us than in those who are 0
appear in England for the first time. We are' still to have
the (in many respects) unrivalled Teresa Titiens, togetl3et,.
with Mdlle. Trebelli, Mdlle. Volpini, Signor Giugli
Signor Bettini, M. Gassier, and Mr. Sentley. The prie
pal strangers are Mdlle. Liebhart and Mdle.
from the Royal Opera, Berlin ; Mdlle. Bettleheim from the
Imperial Opera, Vienna; Signor Benedetto Mazzet At:4
described as being of the principal theatres in Italy ; °P.
Signor Marcell° Junca, from the Royal Theatra, Turille
all said to be performers of talent and reputation. 13',
able and energetic Signor Arditi retains his place of dirt
for of the orchestra, which, through his exertions, has be eo
raised to a high degree of strength and excellence,
~„0
The following operas are to be preduced for the first tiv-,
in England : "La Forza del Destino," by Verdi; "Le I:)°,s,
Allegre di Winsor (The 'Merry Wives of Windsor), w.',l
Nicolai ; end " Tannhauser," by Richard Wagner. 10
announcing "La Forza del Destino," Mr. Maplesoi4
says that " the orchestral score, parts, and rig:;o
of representation were secured in 1863." But our readt'4
have seen that the production of this opera is also annouilf7;o
by Mr. Gye—a thing which, of course, he cannot do if "'of
rival is correct in his statement. " The Merry Wives,
Windsor," though it has never been performed in t'
country, has long been well known and popular in Gervato
It is to be brought out at Her Majesty's Theatre, j,
Titiens as Mrs. Ford, Giuglini as Fenton, Bentley as
Gassier as Page,' and Junca (one of the new cooler!' is
Falstaff. " Tannhuuser" enjoys unbounded popularity
Germany, though its merits form the subject of vte__,,,a
controversy. It is full time that the English public 1"ille
enabled to judge for themselves ; and whatever may be .fig
success of this opera Mr. Mapleson will deserve their that pa
for !winging it before them. " Robert le Diable" 0.100
revived in the course of the season, with Madlle. 10°
in the character of Alice ; the " Freischuta" will ale
produced with a Strong cast, and. Donizetti's '
Bolena" will be reproduced after an interval of 20 year` et
The ballet, which has always been a great feature eta
Majesty's Theatre, while comparative little account is °cora
of it at the rival house, will receive due attention. De/311,0
of both sexes, from the principal continental theatre!, ,pja
been engaged, and several new ballets are to be produce',
the course of the season.