The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-24 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN °PEI:LA.—Covent Garden.
—Season 1854.—The Directors beg leave most respectfully
to inform the Nobility, Gentry, Subscribers, and the Public, that the
Season will commence on THURSD t.7tir, March 30th, 1854, being a
Subscription night, in lieu of Tuesday, March 58.
The Directors have the honour to p resent the Prospectus of the
Eighth Season of the Royal Italian Opera. and trust it w .1 be consi-
dered by their Subscribers to be an evis lessee of their cont ti ed efforts
to carry out the original design of this great Lyrical Establishment.
The prospects of the forthcoming Se aeon are of unusual interest,
and the Directors feel assured that thii 3 Subscribers and the Public
will share with themselves the feelings. of gratification at the arrange-
ments which they have succeeded in snaking. It will be seen that
that great artiste, Madame Viardot, sit ter an absence of three years,
will return once more to shed lustre on the representations of the
Theatre. 'Mademol•elle Sophie Cruv ietti, whose eminent talents are
already so highly esteemed in this ceuntry, will appear :or the first
time at the Royal Italian Opera. sii :nor Lablache will also, for the
first time, lend his powerful aid in inpporting the efforts of the
Directors, and will enable them to produce many of the most popular
works with amost attractive caste of characters. In addition, Made-
moiselle IMarai, a young ArtiAe of erea t promise, who has already
made very successful debuts both at Saint Petersburg and Vienna,
will appear for the first time in En;glaind ; also Signor Susini, for
the first time at the Royal Italian Opera.
Madlle. Rosio, who, during the past winter has acquired fresh
laurels in the Frenen capital, continues _her engagement. Those un-
rivalled Artistes, Signor Mario, signar Ronconl, and Signor Tam-
berlit, together with Signori Tagliaficio, Polonini, Luchesi. Stigelii,
gse., who have so long assisted to maiutasin the reputation of Covent
Garden, have been re-engaged, while the Directors still have the
advantage of the invaluable services of .Sign t tr Costa.
The above assemblage of the most eminent Artistes in Europe
will render the Caste of Characters in the Operas Le Nozze di Figaro,
Don Giovanni, I Puritani, Fidelio, II 3Latriabonio Segreto, quite un-
proud nted.

Tile forthcoming season, however, brines with it one subject of re-
gret, viz., the retirement from the lyric stnge of a lady who for many
years has been one of its brightest or narments.
Towards the end of July Madame Giuli a Grist will make her last
appearance before an English audiencse.
It Iwo probably never before fallen to the lot of any candidate for
public favour to sustain, Or 21 successive seasons, the highest and
most ardous characters of the Lyric Dram; t, and most certainly never
with such unanimous commendations as have been unceasingly be-
stowed on Madame Grist.

The Dir, ct,ors are convinced that not only will the subscribers of
the Royal Italian Opera, as well as the in uslcal amateurs of the me-
tropolis, participate in their sentiments on this occasion ; but they
feel sure that the retirement of Madame Grist will cause one general
feeling of deep regret in the minds of all tl lose who take any intertst
in the musical affairs of this country.

It is the wish of Madame Grisi, during this her last engagement,, to
repeat those impersonations in which it has be n her good fortui.e to
obtain her greatest successes, and it will accordingly be the care of
the directors to contribute every possible eclat t , these performances,
relying with the greatest confidence that the subscribers, the path Ins
of ill, opera, and the public, will on these occasions still extend to
their long-favoured Artiste the cheering influence of their countenat ]ce
and support.

The Repertoire of the Royal Italian Opera now comprises FORT 'V-
TWO OPERAS, the whole being complete with Costumes, Scene ry,
ant Decorations.

During the Season, of the following Operas, Three will positively be
produced:—

LA VESLALE ................ . • •. Sponttni.
(As lately performed at the Academie Royale, at Paris), the prinel pal
part by Mademoiselle SOPHIE CRUVELLI.
LE DOMINO NO!R . ................ - • Auber.
DON SE BA,TIA N• • • • .... • • .......... Domzettl.
MATILDA DI SHABRAN. .......... Rossini.
DON PASQUALE • • • • .. •• • • • Donizettl.
The Engagements for the present Se ison are :

SOPRANI.
Madame GRI4I,
(Being most positively her last Engagement in England.)
Madame YEAR i.,OT,
(Her First Appearance thews Three Years.)
Mademoiselle MARAI,

(From the Imperial Theatres of St. Petersburg and 'Vienna, her
First Appearance in England )
Mademoiselle A. 1.8 I N I.
Mademoiselle ANGELINA BOSIO,
and
Mademoiselle SOPHIE CRUVELLI,
(Her First appearance at the Royal Italian Opera.)
CONTRALTO.
Mademoiselle NINTIER DIDIER.
AECONDE DONE.
Mademoiselle COTTI,
and
Mademoiselle BELLINI.
T ENORI.
Signor MARIO.
Signor STIGELLI,
Signor SOLDI,
Signor LUG! MEI,
Signor LI7CHESI,
and
Signor TA SIBERLIR
BASSI BARII'ONI.
Signor RONCONI,
and
Signor FORTONI,
(His First Appearance at the Royal Italian Opera.)
BASSO PROFONDI.
Signor LABLACHE,
(Ills First Appearance at the Royal Italian Opera.)
Signor TAGLIAFICO,
Signor GREGORIO,
Signor POLON f NI.
Monsieur ZELGER,
and
Signor
(His First Appearance at the Royal Italian Opera.)

The Orchestra and Chorus will be on the same scale of efficiency
as heretofore.
DIRECTOR OF THE MUSIC, COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR,

Mr. COST it.
The Military Baud will be under the superintence of
Mr. GODFREY.

Maestro al Piano .. •• •• •• •......... Signor PANTZZI.
Chorus Master ........ Mr. SMI FILSON.
Prompter ......... ...... Signor %,lONTERAST.
Poet.... ..... ............... Signor MAGGIONI.
ENGAGEMENTS FOR THE BALLET.
Mademoiselle BATT A i•na,
Mademoiselle A STORI,
Mademoiselle ELIZ t NEHR,
(Their First Appearances In England,)
Idadrmoise le SANTI,
Mademoiselle ESPER,
and
Mademoiselle PLUNKETT.
Maitre de Ballet .............• .- Mona. Desplacea.
Leader of the Ballet Mr. Alfred Mellon.
Director of the Mise-en-Scene .... Mr. A. Harris.
Scenic Artist Mr. Wlllia n Beverley.
costurniere ....... Madame MarZIO.
Decorator ....... .............. ... Mr. Prescott.
Machinist . Mr. Allen.

The Box Office is open from 11 to 5 o'clock.
Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden,
March, 1854.