The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-31 00:00:00

TIOYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—Covent Garden.
—Season 1854.—The Directors Beg leave most respectfully
to inform tha Nobility, GmirY. Subscribers, and the Public, that the
season will commence on SATURD Y, April Ist, 1814, being a
Subscription night, in lieu of Tuesday, March 28.
The Directors have the honour to ,resent the Prospectus of the
Eighth Season of the Royal Italian Opera., and trust it will be consi-
dered by their Subscribers to he an evigertee of their continued efforts
to carry out the original design of this great Lyrical Estaolishment.
The prospects of the forthcoming' Seastoo are of unusual interost,
and the Directors feel assured that 'he Subscribers and the Public
will share with themselves the feelings of gratification at the arrange-
meats which they hove succeeded in ;making. it will be seen that
that great artiste, Madame Viardot, after an absence of three years,
will return once mom to shed Lustre on the representations of the
Theatre. Madernol •elle Sophie Cruvel i..whose eminent talents are
already so highly esteemed in this country, will appear for the first
time at the Royal Italian Opera. signor Lablache will also, for the
first time, lend his powerful aid in supporting the efforts of the
Directors, and will enable them to produce many of the most popular
works with a most attractive c_ste of characters. In addition, Made-
moiselle Moral, a young Artiste of .great promise, who has already
Made very successful debuts both at Stint Petersburg and Vienna,
will appear for the first time in Engian 1 ; also Signor Susini, for
the first time at the Royal Ita ian Opera.
Madlle. Bodo, who, during the pint winter has acquired fresh
I anrels in the French capital continues her engagement. Those un-
rivalled Artistes, Signor Mario, -ignor Ronconi, and Signor Tam-
berliir, together with Signiori Tagliatico, Polonini, Luchesi. Stigelii,
&c., who have so long assisted to maintain the reputation of Covent
Garden, have been re-engaged, while the Directors still have the
advantage of the invaluable services of Signor Costa.
The above assemblage of the most eminent Artistes in Europe
will render the Caste of Characters in the Operas Le foliage di Figaro,
Don Giovanni, I Puritani, Fidtlio, Ii Matrimonio Segreto, quite un-
preced nted.
The forthcoming season, however, brings with it one subject of re-
gret, viz., the retirement from the lyric stage of a lady who for many
years has been one of its brightest ornaments.
Towards the end of July Madame Giulia Grls: will matte her last
appearance before an Eng:!ish audience.
It has probably never before fallen to the lot of any candidate for
public favour to sustain, far 21 successive seasons, the highest and
most ardour characters of the Lyric Drama, and most certainly never
with such unanimous commendations as have been unceasingly be-
stowed on Madame Grist.
The Dir ctors are convinced that not only will the Aubscribers of
the Royal Italian Opera, as well as the musical. amateurs of the me-
tropolis, participate in heir se.niraents on thus occa,lon ; bat they
feel sure that. the • retirement cf Madame Grist will cause one general
feeling of deevregret in the minds of all those who take any interest
inlhe musical 'affairs of this country.
It is the wish of Madame Grist, during this her la t engagement, to
repeat those impersonations in which it has be n hergond fortnee to
obtain her greatest successes, and it will accordingly be the care of
the directors to contribute every poss b. e eclat t • the,.e performances,
relying with the greatest confidence that the subscribers, the patrons
of the opera, and the public, will on these occasions still extend to
their long-favoured Artiste e cheering 'influence ot their countenance
and support.
Italian Opera now comprises FORTY-
The Reperto;re of the Royal
TWO OPERAS, the whole tieing complete with Costumes, Scenery,

-id Decorations.
During the Season, of the follow:ng Operas, Three will positively be
pro,,uced

LA VEsLALE•• •••......... ......... . Sponttni.
(As lately performed at the Aeail.rnie Royale, at Paris), the principal
pact bv Alartemoiselle 60 Pau', CI-HIVED
LE DOMINO ,0.11 ,„ . Auber.
DON .... Don zetti.
MATILDA DI sIIABRAN ......., Ros- ni.
DON re.Q(.7.ALE Do..izettl.
The Engagements for the present Se son are :

SOFIt
'Madame G eI,I,
(Being most positively her last Engag•ernent in England.)
Madame V[A.R•JOT,
(Fler First Appearance these Three Years.)
M.demoiselle MARAt.