The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-24 00:00:00

FRENCH THEATRES AND MUSIC.

ITALIANS.--The novelty of the week has been Verdi's
" Trovatore," with nearly a new cast for Paris. Mme. de
la Grange and Mme. Lablache in Leonora and Azucena ;
Fraschini as Maurice; and Di Luna by a new candidate
for Parisian favour, M. Sterbini. The house was crowded
and the applause more than usually abundant, though the
execution of the opera was certainly not superior if equal
to many representations of it we have witnessed here, mine.
de la Grange sang as she always does like an accomplished
artiste, but the character does not bring her talents out pro-
minently, like the Uds of the same comuoser in parts of
which she is incomparably fine. M. Fraschini was greatly
.pplauded in Manrico, but it cannot be classed as one
of his bust parts, and he was decidedly inferior to
Tamberlik. M. Sterbini, who made his debut this
evening, was so overpowered by nervousness that ho was
evidently unable to do justice to his capabilities; we there-
fore reserve our opinions upon him until a more favourable
occasion. The redeeming point of the soiree was the Azu-
cena of Mme. Lablache, who gave the poor gipsy-mother
with an animation and effect that made the character stand
out very conspicuously, and, in the great scene in which
she describes the fate of her mother, displayed power and
pathos of the highest order. Our old friend the immortal
" Barbiere di Seviglia" brings up the rear, and sooth to
say we have seldom or never seen the mercurial Tosnor so
ill-provided for in Paris. Mme. Borghi-Mamo, the present
Rosins, has been playing tricks, we fear, with her beau-
tiful contralto voice, until it has become a complete nonde-
script. This was her first appearance after a protracted ab-
sence ; it is, therefore possible that she may be suffering
under the temporary effects of cold or fatigue. lire hope
this is so, for we should indeed be sorry to witness the
sacrifice of another fine organ to the insane passion among
singers to change their voices, and to become what nature
never intended them for. Mme. Borghi-Mamo was ap-
plauded, but without enthusiasm. M. Baraglia was the
Almaviva ; his voice is thin and meagre, but he sings with
taste, and does not want execution ; discipline may school
him into something artistic and worthy the Italian Opera
in Parts au reste, he was also awfully afraid of his new
public, so he may improve much by increased confidence.
M. Revere was the Bartholo, and Di. Bauch() the Basilie;
both appear well accustomed to the stage, which is the only
commendation in our power to bestow, M. Delle Sedie
was the Figaro, and though neither a Tamburini nor a
Ronconi, played and sang so well as to carry off the honours
of the night.

PALAIS ROYAL —A vaudeville, entitledss inuste
s, Unr
here,
Tenor pour
pa
Tout Faire," has been permitted to but is
scarcely worth this brief note of its existence.
GERMAN THEATRE.—This little salle (Beethoven),
ed itseunder
the direction of Madame Bruning, has recommenperformances, with a much more complete company than
that of last year. The unquestionable talent of Madame
Bruning and her daughter, Madame Wohlbruck, we have
often had occasion to notice, and we will therefore confine
our remarks to the new members of the company, begin-
ning with Madame Armand, who shines particularly
in the part of a rustic girl who has become a baroness,
and will not give up her country habits ; but
hhe is 6in ungeschlipner Daimant, a rough dia-
mond speaking the Viennese dialect charmingly.
Madame Haase, in another piece, delights the audience
with the purest Berliner and excellent acting. Mesdames
Herzog and Weber perform their less conspicuous parts
very credibly. The comic actors, MM. Fleischer, Bussack,
Werner,Weigelt,andHubner would not disgrace any charge.
Such of our readers who have lived in Germany or know
the language, or else have a taste for German singing, are
strongly recommended to visit this theatre, which will
afford them unqualified amusement.

It is rumoured that a comedy, which has been some
time in rehearsal at the Theatre Frangais, "La Maison
de Penarvan," will be first represented before the Emperor
and his visitors at the Chateau to Compiegne. The author
is said to be M. Jules Sandeau, who will be one of the
guests on the occasion.
The " Moise" of Rossini is to be revived immediately
at the Grand Opera, but the reason of its being brought
forward is not very apparent. It is to be. supported by
Mlle. Marie Battu, MM. Obin, Villaret, and Faure, all
respectable vocalists doubtless, but scarcely able to give
popularity to an opera in which we have heard Rubini,
Lablache, and Mlle. Persiani.
The concession of the privilege for a new theatre,
L'Opera Populaire, to be erected in the neighbourhood of
the Rue Cadet, has been granted to M. Roger, the tenor,
formerly of the Grand Opera.
M. Roger-Sevy, whose taste and talent in the execution
of vocal melodies have justly obtained for him a reputation
in musical circles, contemplates a journey to Italy, touching
at Turin, Rome, Naples, &c. He announces a morning
concert for the 2d December, at the Cercle Soaietes-
Savantes, No. 3, Quai Malaquais.
The Italian journals speak in the warmest terms of a
young debutante, Mlle. Gonetti, who is now performing at
Ancona with remarkable success in Donizetti's " Polinto."
She is nightly encored in the grand air of Pauline, and is
hailed quite as a rising star in the musical horizon. Mile.
Gonetti is a French lady, and studied in Paris under M.
Panofka, to whose able tuition she is indebted for a most
admirable method and brilliant execution ; Nature (these
papers add), having bestowed the rest in a lovely mezzo-
soprano voice, and features of extreme beauty.
NEW ITALIAN THEA.TRE.—A correspondent writes
" The opening of the theatre at Fiesole took place on the
20th Oct. An English gentleman, Mr. Spence, long a re-
sident in Florence, and now the possessor of the noble
Villa Mozzi, on the slope of the Apennines, has made a
princely present to the commune of Fiesole in building this
pretty little theatre on the piazza, opposite to the grim old
cathedral, whose belfry is visible for miles around. Every
one knows Fiesole, the mother of Florence perched on the
lofty hill, three miles off. Once a great Etruscan city,
Fiesole is little more than a village now, and it is hard
to understand whence the pit and boxes of the new
Teatro Spence will receive their plenishing of spectators,
especially in boisterous winter nights. Nevertheless
they were crowded on the opening night with Floren-
tine visitors as well as the indigenous beauty and fashion.
The orchestra of the Pergola and several public performers
of repute executed a variety of pieces, vocal and instru-
mental, in excellent style. Madame Grisi, the owner of
the grand Old Villa Salviati close at hand, though she has
left the stage as a profession, sang an air from the " Puri-
tani," and another from the " Trovatore," with wonderful
voice and spirit. The applause was overwhelming ; and
the generous builder of the theatre was enthusiastically
called for, and received with well- merited honours. All
the performers gave their assistance gratis—and the pro-
ceeds of the fete were distributed among the poor of
Fiesole. After the concert, a splendid supper was laid for
some 40 or 50 guests, in the great hall of the Mozzi
and Mr. Spence and others of his friends enlivened the re-
past, after true old Tuscan fashion, with rhymed were
' improvised on the names of those whose h.ealtAsadwaeme
drunk, tha naaster of the house himself welcom
Grisi in a gracefully turned Italian sonnet,
oflhich lan-
guage he is a perfect master. —Galignans.