The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-08 00:00:00

FAREWELL APPEARANCE OF MADAME

GRISI.

Last night Grisi took her final leave of the English
stage, an event which will long be memorable in the
annals of music in this country. Considering the great
interest it had excited, an enormous crowd was antici-
pated, and this expectation induced the management to
raise the prices of admission to such a height as greatly
to diminish the influx of visitors. The theatre was full,
though not overflowing, as it would have been had the
usual rates been adhered to. This however, did by no
means lessen the enthusiasm of the audience, whose
feelings were expressed in a manner worthy of the
occasion.

The performances consisted of the first act of Norma,
and of The Huguenots, omitting the last act. These pi,2ces
were acted and sung in the usual manner ; Grisi being
supported by Tamberlik in the first, and Mario in the
second. The performance of Norma suffered a good
deal from the absence of Lablache, who, we understand,
has left England ; but it mattered comparatively little,
the attention of the audience being engrossed by the
great object of the evening. The sight of Grisi, when
she came forward in Norma, was the signal for a burst
of feeling from every part of the house. She evidently
was deeply moved, but soon recovered herself. In the
beautiful "Casty Diva" she sang with a richness, purity,
and flexibility of voice which sho could scarcely have
surpassed in the days of her youthful prime, and her
personation of the character never was grander or more
impassioned. Equally splendid was her performance in
the Huguenots. She never clothed the character of
Valentina with a more intense interest. Happily Mario
was in full possession of his vocal powers, and strained
every nerve to do justice to his part ; the wonderful
scene, which forms so pathetic and terrible a conclusion
to the third act, was acted and sung- with surpassing
power and beauty. It was listened to in breathless
silence, which was not broken till the curtain fell.
Then a storm of acclamations burst forth, calling the
name of Grisi. On her presenting herself, supported
by Mario, the whole audience started up and remained
standing, while the house rang with shouts, hats
and handkerchiefs waved on every side, and bouquets
literally flew in showers from every circle of the boxes.
She seemed overcome with emotion, and shed tears.
Thrice she retired, and thrice was called back, when the
same scene of enthusiasm was repeated. It was not till
she had disappeared for the last time, and the sounds
had died away, that the audience began slowly to die-
perse. _

- Thus has terminated, in so far at least as England is
concerned, the bright career of Giulietta Grisi—a career,
in various respects, unparalleled in the annals of music
in this country. Other stars of the Opera stage—the
Catalanis, Pastas, Malibrans, Liads—may have shone
for brief periods with equal brilliancy ; but Grisi, since
she first rose above our horizon one and twenty years
ago, has never, for a single season, disappeared from It.
During all this length of time, England, more than any
other country, has been her home, and in England her
greatest triumphs have been achieved. She will leave
behind her great sorrow for her loss, and the sincere
wishes of thousands, whom she has delighted so many
years, for her welfare and happiness.