The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-24 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

The annual concert of Mr. Benedict was given yesterday, at
the Royal Italian Opera, which was filled to overflowing.
Not a seat was to be had in any part of the house. The di-
mensions of Mr. Benedict's programme are always of the
longest—his artistes always of the best. The fact of the con-
cert taking place at the Royal Italian Opera intimates that
the singers belonging to the establishment were there. Even
Grisi and Mario, who are commonly absent on these occasions,
afforded their services, and added no little to the prestige of
the undertaking. Besides the Italians, several of the best
concert-room artistes were engaged. Among them Madame
Clara Novello, Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Dolby, Miss Arabella
Goddard, Herr Halle, Mr. Lindsay Sloper, M. Vivier, Herr
Ernst, and Signor Bazzini. With such an immense body of
talent as the above, the attraction could scarcely be less than
what it was. The programme was of a miscellaneous charac-
ter ; an agreeable miscellany, in short, of operatic popularities
—of such things as the public have often heard before, but
which they do not object to hear again.and again. There
were several encores bestowed on Mdlle. Bosio, Madame
Viardot, Mario, and Miss Pyne, whose efforts excited the
audience into a pitch of enthusiasm not often witnessed at
a fashionable morning concert, where the visitors are prin-
cipally ladies, influenced by the politest reserve. According
to the annual rule of Mr. Benedict, he introduced, in the
course of the morning, a brief act of his own composition,
selected from the Minnesinger, the Brides of Venice, &c.,
including, also, a charming concertino for the pianoforte,
which was played to perfection by Miss Arabella Goddard.
The third part of the programme was devoted to Rossini's
Stabat Mater, which was given solely by Mr. Gye's artistes,
Grisi being of course . the principal female vocalist. Mr.
Benedict conducted the concert, long as it was, throughout.
He played, with Mr. Lindsay Sloper and Herr Halls, in
Bache's triple concerto, and experienced a warm personal
oration. •

Mr. Gye has announced another concert, of the same in-
teresting and inviting class, to take place next Friday week,
at which all the members of the Royal Italian Opera company
will again appear.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent honoured the
concert with her presence. Her Royal Highness ocupied the
Queen's box, and was attended by Lady Anna Maria Dawson,
Lady Fanny Howard, Lady Suffield, and Sir George and Lady
Couper. Among the fashionable company attending the
concert were—Madame Van de Weyer, the Duchess of Suther-
land, the Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh, the Marchioness
of Hastings, Lady Bertha Hastings, Lady Edith Clifton, the
Marchioness Dowager of Conyngham, the Countess of Shaftes-
bury, and Viscountess Palmerston, Countess Howe, and Lady
Adelaide Curzon and Lady Georgina Lygon, Lady Isabella
Stewart, Lady Louisa Cotes, Lord and Lady Ove'stone and
the Hon. Miss Lloyd, Vice-Chancellor and Lady Page Wood,
Vice-Chancellor Kindersley, Lady Mary Sauriu, Sir William
and Lady Herries, Colonel the Hon. A. Liddell, Mrs. Bates,
Mrs. Pugh and the Misses Pugh, Mr. Packe, M.P., and Mrs.
Packe Reading, ,tc.