The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-19 00:00:00

"LES HUGUENOTS."

A crowded house, from the front orchestra stalls
to the hindeimost seat of the amphitheatre, testified
on Saturday evening to the attractive bill of fare
put forth by Mr. Mapleson. This was what is called
a "special" performance of Meyerbeer's capo d'opera,
" Gli Ugonotti," in its Italian dress. Mdlle. Ilma
de Murska, who has already won " golden opinions,"
sang, for the first time, the florid music of Mar-
garita di Valois ; a new basso, Herr Rokitanski,
made his debut as Marcell° ; a new tenor,
M. Joulain, impersonated Raul di Nangis ;
and -4he Counts St. Bris and Nevers were
entrusted to Signor Foli (a first appear-
ance) and Mr. Santley. The heroine was once
more—and where is there such a Valentina ?
the gifted Tietjens; while the charming Trebelli,
almost the only Italian in this Gallo-Ebraic opera,
was once more the page Urban°. The performance
was in every respect a treat to the auditors. The
prominent novelty was Mdlle de Murska's Mar-
guerite de Valois, in which she not only delighted
the spectators by her beauty and grace, but enrap-
tured them by her charming vocalisation of the
florid music allotted to her in her one coquettish
scene with Raul.

M. Joulain sang his portion of the fine trio pre-
facing the interrupted duel with most pure and
dramatic effect. His great scene with Valentina
during the massacre, and his finale, were well and
carefully sung.

Herr Rokitanski has a fine bass voice and dra-
matic feeling. His denunciations and chaunts were
impressive, and the rough Huguenot soldier lost
nothing of power in his bands. The " piff-paff"
and duet with Tietjens told excellently, and were
applauded.

Astley's Theatre.

r►-----

On Saturday evening, Mr. Henry Manley, who,
it will be recollected, appeared with great success at
the Strand Theatre under the late Mr. Allcroft's
management, made his re-appearance at Astley's
Theatre, in the character of Tom Tug, in the ever-
pleasing little ballad opera of " The Waterman."
He sang the three celebrated songs, " Farewell, my
trim-built wherry," " The Bay of Biscay," and
" The jolly young waterman," with the greatest
taste, and secured for himself in each a rapturous
encore. We presume Mr. Manley's appearance on
Saturday is merely the prelude to his re-appearance
during the opera season at this house. His voice is
one of the greatest sweetness, and it is
,perfectly
under control, added to which he is a capital actor.
English opera, it is acknowledged on all hands, has
long wanted an infusion of " tenor blood " into it ;
it appears to us unaccountable that Mr. Manley has
remained in the provinces so long.

MR. BENEDICT'S CONCERT.—The great concert of
the season, which has now been given annually for
nine-and-twenty years by the accomplished maestro, Mr.
Benedict, is fixed for Wednesday next, at the St. James's
Hall, Piccadilly. The prograume is one of the most extra-
ordinary we ever recollect to have seen, as it embraces
none but the names of these artistes whose fame has been,
or is, the theme of the highest praise in musical circles.
The prima donna of both operas, Ilma de Murska, Tietjens,
Patti, Lucca, Trebelli, Parepa, Lancia, Gardoni, Sims Reeves,
Santley, Richardt, Pischek, Weiss, Arabella Goddard, &c.,
all appear, and Mr. Benedict himself will execute some of
his own pianoforte compositions that have tended to in-
crease that immense reputation he has achieved, both as a
conductor and composer. We invariably look forward to
Mr. Benedict's concert with the greatest interest, be-
cause it is one of the remarkable events of the musical
season. That the hall will be filled in every
part by a brilliant audience is certain, and those who aro
so fortunate as to become possessors of a ticket, which are
even now at a high premium, may well congratulate them-
selves in having the means at hand of " assisting" one of
the most extraordinary concerts ever given, not only in
London, but the world. _ - -

His Excellency the Austrian Ambassador and the
Countess Apponyi will give a grand dinner on Tuesday,
the 4th of next month, when his Royal Highness the Duke
of Cambridge will honour the Count and Countess, with
his company. The Countess Apponyi will have an assembly
after dinner to meet the royal duke:

The Countess of Derby will, in addition to her
assembly to-morrow night, have assemblies on Wednesday,
the 28th inst., and on Wednesday, the .sth of the ensuing
month.
It is said that General Count Flahault will be
made a Marshal, and that General •Fleury has a good
chance of being Minister of War.
A LITERARY WORK FROM ANOTHER BONAPARTE
is announced—being a collection of verses in praise of
Corsica, from the pen of the Princess Mario Bonaparte.
BARON FELIX BONNAIRE, the founder of the RevuF
des Deux Jfondes, is announced recently deceased.

LORD CLARENCE PAGET will preside at the anni-
versary dinner of the Royal Humane Society, fixed for
Wednesday next.

THE ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION will open to
the public in the evening, from half-past seven o'clock un-
til half-past ten o'clock, at the reduced price, on this even-
ing and afterwards.

LITERARY NIGHT BIRDS ! The recent success of
the Owl, says a weekly contemporary, has induced soma
gentlemen, members of one of the principal clubs in Pall-
mall, to start a humorous rival, under the title of the Bat.
Like its progenitor, it will give all sorts of private intelli-
gence from the most exclusive quarters, but at what periods,
or how, it will take its flight, has not yet been disclosed.
A GOOD. EXAMPLE.—The Duke of Wellington
has addressed the following letter to his tenantry at
Stratfieldsaye :—" Dear Sir,—.l think it right to explain
clearly to you my feeling regarding the exercise of your
vote. It is a trust imposed upon you for the advantage of
the country, and the responsibility for the proper exercise
of it rests on yourself alone. It is placed by the country
in your hands, not in mine, and I beg you distinctly to
understand that no one has any authority for stating that
I wish to bias you in favour of any candidate.—l am
yours, &c., WELLINGTON."