The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-26 00:00:00

ITALIAN OPERA.

Her Majesty's Theatre opened for the season on Saturt.laY
night, with Bellini's Somnatnbula, in which Madame Persia:li
made her first appearance as Amine. The house has been re.
painted and otherwise beautified, and, filled as it was on this
occasion, with as large an auditory as could be conveniently
accommodated within its walls, made a most brilliant appear-
ance. If we may judge from this auspicious commencement
the season promises to be a favourable one The opera itself
must always be attractive, from its very beautiful music, and
that music throughout was as correctly and finely pei formed
as we ever recollect to have heard it; but there was also an
additional attraction in the appearance for the first time this
country of a lady whose abilities and attainments we thovght
sufficient to enable her to make a successful debut in such a
part as Amina. That she did make a successful debut we
are willing to admit, and that she will become a very cen,
siderable favourite in this country we will venture to antici-
pate ; but still she is not the sort of person to create a decided
sensation in the musical world. Her reception was anything
but enthusiastic, and the tranquil attention she received
throughout the opera was rather that elicited by a person in
whom the audience could find nothing diseleasing, than that
of a triumphant debutante who was winning all hearts and
carrying all before her. The figure of Madame Persiani is
petite, and her face possessing no striking peculiarities ; her
acting, though not distinguished by deep pathos or
lively emotion, was throughout graceful and appro-
priate. Her voice is a soprano, of a beautiful qua-
lity of tone, but by no means powerful. It is how-
ever capable of great expression, and to make up for its
deficiency in volume, singularly articulate and distinct.
Although in every piece in which she sung her part was exe-
cuted in a way that left but little opportunity for remark fur
the critic, unless very prone indeed to exercise an unkindly
feeling, the audience admired in silence, or nearly se; till the
well known air preceding the finale, which Madame Persiani
gave in a most original style of execution, and vith an effect
that drew down the most enthusiastic plaudits, and an
unanimous call for its repetition. It was repeated, and
again called for, and on each occasion greeted with, if
possible, increased enthusiasm. The audience seemed to
be completely entrapped; they had not expected such a
chef d'ceuvre, and were literally conquered by a coup
de main. Of the brilliancy and 'facility of execution on the
upper notes of the voitx, and the extreme neatness and finish
with which passages of extreme difficulty were executed, it is
impossible to convey an idea. There were also in this Opera
several other novelties intrcduced to .he public, but none of
them particularly out of the common Signora Smo-
lenski, in Lisa, had so little to de, that eve had no opportu-
nity of forming an opinion as to her trierii,e. Signor Teti
seems to be an acquisition. His style is good, and his voice
well toned and expressive; but he is rather too ccrpulent to
enact the lover or the gentleman. Signor Borran2. as the
bills call him, is said to be the son of an English pb)-sician
of Cheltenham, and has already been before the pub-
lic, although not under exactly the same name. fijs
voice is a barritone, of a very good quality ; and hie
style that of a well practised musician, who combines judg-
ment with skill. The orchestra we observed has been
strengthened, as well as the chorus, with an evident improve-
ment in effect, of both departments. The performance of the
overture of " William Tell," between the acts, w,:s superb,
and obtained an unanimous encore. " God save the Queen,"
was also sung between the acts. The Italians seem to take a
delight in murdering this fine anthem, for we never heard it
much worse sung. The ballet was Nlrssaniello, in which the
dancing was exquisite, and the chorusses, unlike those in the
opera, sung in a most villanous, slovenly manner. Coulon,
Mabille, and Venafra, old favorites of the public, appeared in
the ballet, and were greeted with cordial marks of recognitions
by the audience. A Miss Forster appeared in the part of Fe-
nella, for the first time, of whom we can only say, although
we have seen the part better, we have more often seen it worse
flayed.