The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-17 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,

MADLLE. CARLOTTA PATTI.
Last evening might be called in a more general
sense than usual, "a grand sensation night" at this
favourite establishment. A sister of Madlle.
Patti was announced to appear in a concert, to
whom rumour had lately assigned even higher vocal
gifts and culture than distinguish our young idol.
At the same time our sympathies were awakened,
whilst our expectations were defined, by the
news that she was labouring under a
physical impediment which would prevent
her appearing on the stage, and so contesting the
dramatic triumphs of her remarkable pre-
cursor. Rumour usually exaggerates, being
mostly so much sound that is emitted by ex-
cited crowds, and which spreads, therefore, upon
principles that are more atmospheric than critical.
In this case, however, it has mingled no little truth
with vehemence, and we the more readily confess
the merit, seeing it comes to us from a quarter so un-
expected as America.
Though Mdlle. Carlotte Patti laboured under the
disadvantage of not appearing until half-past 11
o'clock, when the audience were wearied if not ex-
hausted by the performance of a serious opera—in
reversal of the prior and judicious arrangement, by
which she would have commenced the evening—her
first aria was quite sufficient to attest her extraor-
dinary powers—the " 0 Ince di quest' anima," made
so popular by Persiani—in which her vocalisation
proved to be as finished as that of her brilliant pre-
decessor, whilst her voice itself had qualities of a
far more unusual character. The latter fact, how-
ever, was more clearly attested in her succeeding
air from the" Zeuberflote," the " Gli anqui d'inferno
in which she reached the famous F in alt, the
highest.note,tho.t has yet been yeritten—and delivered
all the staccato pas ages with an ease, a force, a
brightness, and a perfect truth of tune, that affirmed
all that had been uttered. of her wonderful range and
pliancy. The duet " Quanto Amore which she
shared with Signor Ronconi, scarcely presentee
similar tests—but in the echo song by Eckert—
which her sister always selects for the singing
lesson in the Barbiere, She reached the
most exciting point of her trial by challeng-
ing a direct comparison with the great
favouite of the day—a venture which, it wil. suf
flee to say, whilst producing a strong impression,
did not tend to shake the verdict that had already
been pronounced. In cnclusion, we have only to say
that she has a very extensive and pliant voice, com-
bined with a remarkable amount of culture ; but it
is a question yet to be solved whether her power is
equal to her range, or she possesses the still higher
merit of awaking sympathy as well as wonder.
The opera that preceded her exertions was that of
" Norma," in which Madlle. Fricci made her first
appearance for the season, and also in its heroine; and,
thanks to her fresh and melodious voice, produced a
favourable impression. It is right to acknowledge
that her vocalisation has greatly improved since she
was last heard, which is an additional explanation
of the success that she achieved, but it is equally
right to remark that she has by no means yet
attained to the possession of that art and passion
that would qualify her to do justice to such a cha-
racter as the Druid Priestess.

WEDDINGPRESENTS TO TELE PRINCE AND PRINCESS
OF WALES.—Yesterday the numbers visiting the
South Kensington Museum to inspect the wedding pre-
sents were 5,930, and, it being a students' day, the re-
ceipts from sixpenny fees amounted to £145 13a. About
700 persons per hour inspected the presents, while the
process of reaching them occupied at least an hour and
a half, It is expected that the exhibition will continue
open for some weeks.

MM. Persigny and Billault have been examined
by the commission sent from London in the affair of the I
Morning Chronicle. They positively deny all complicity
or engagement with that paper.
The Emperor Napoleon, attended by Lieutenant
Duperre, of his Staff, drove on Monday in a plain carriage
to the Western Railway, in the Rue St. Lazare, and there
paid for two tickets like any other traveller, and took his
seat in the carriage appropriated to smokers. He passed
unnoticed through the crowd and left the train at Ruell,
where he visited the tomb of Queen Hortense, in the church
of that village. He returned to Paris in the same simple
way.
of the receipt of:a telegram from Porstraouth, Port Admiral
E
PLYMOUTH, Thursdayvening.—ln consequence
Sir Houston Stewart has despatched the paddlewheel steam
vessel Prospero to assist:the Australian mail ship, which is
off Start Foint with her propeller broken. The Prospero
measures 214 tons, and has engines of 144-horse power.
CONSECRATIoN OF A NEW ROMAN CATHOLIC
eIIURCH.—The Roman Catholic Church recentl)
erected in Hatton •wall, dedicated to St. Peter, was yesterday
morning opened and consecrated by Cardinal Wiseman
Pontifical high mass was celebrated by Dr. Morris,
"Bishop of Troy," the sermon being preached by Dr.
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ftohremEedaswteirthn
full orchestral accompaniments. After the service a collec-
tion was made in aid of the funds to, carrying out the,
church's work in the district. In the -evenin there were
vespers and benediction, with a sermon by the Rev. Canon
Oakley, M,A,