The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-16 00:00:00

z/7--
4 :-.11111111111:--
't-rirn'‘,--"111 31.
re• 1)4/4
N • 1
n e-c.... 81
- • - -A- -
•yir st-.)
Jo • 4.4 at. At 4
,771*
\ .
lir() ir
t. •

[PRICE SD.

R MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
The season commenced here last evening, and com-
menced as every season has commenced since Mr.
Lumley has had the management, Lot with an inferior
opera and inferior performers, and an inferior ballet, but
with performances of a character so superior, sustained
by artistes of such unapproachable excellence, that they
cannot be surpassed. The new prima donna, Mdlle. Alboni,
whose fame and standing as an artiste has been estab-
lished in England by two seasons of uninterrupted tri-
umphs—and who, during the las twinter, actually resus-
citated the Italian opera iu Paris, which, until her ap-
pearance there some two or three months since, was
bankrupt in every sense of the word, but which she by
her almost unaided efforts raised from its low estate, and
restored to its pristine prosperity—made her debut
at her Majesty's Theatre last evening, in the
character of Angelina, in Rossini's opera La
Cenerentola, the character in which, in Paris
and in London, she has achieved the most marvellous
success. On her first appearance she was greeted with
the most enthusiastic plaudits ; the audience hailed her
at once as the prima donna, and welcomed her with de-
light to her new home. Her opening aria, " Una volts,"
was deliciously given, the rich contralto tones of
her magnificent voice being heard to perfection. The duet
with Gardoni (who appeared as Don Ramiro) " Ua soave
non se che," was given with the most exquisite expression
and the most perfect intonation. Her manner of rendering
the opening verse of this duet excited her audience to a high
pitch of enthusiasm; the verse was loudly redemanded,
and was repeated with the same beautiful expression as
before. From this point her progress was a succession
of brilliant triumphs. The finale to the first set,
" Sprezzo quoi don," exhibited the great compass
of her voice to perfection. She is as great as a
soprano singer as she is as a contralto, and
marvellous to say (and in this she possesses a great ad-
vantage over all her predecessors), the whole range of
the voice is equally complete, there is no break, neither
is there a single weak or incomplete note in either the
upper or lower register. This perfection of voice was
peculiarly perceptible last evening in her manner of
rendering the finale to the first act. The remarkable
points in the second act were the Nacque all alien°, that
exquisite morceau which precedes the finale of the
opera, and which was rendered by Mademoiselle
Albon with a brilliancy that was perfectly dazzling,
exciting the most rapturous applause, and the finale itself,
the world-famous " Non piu mesta." We have seen
every artiste who has appeared in the character of the
Cenerentola since the days of Sontag, and we have
certainly never seen or heard any who can approach
Mdlle. Alboni. " Non piu mesta" is her greatest
triumph, whether we regard the sparkling
brilliancy of her fiorilure, or the marvellous
ease and grace of her execution, of the wonderful com-
pass,: or the perfection of intonation, or the exquisite
sweetness of her voice, or the utter absence of all appear-
ance of effort. Never was she in better voice than last
night—never did she achieve a greater triumph. The
" Non piu mesta " was, of course, encored, and at the
conclusion she was again called fbr. Her success was
one of the most brilliant and complete that has
ever been achieved. Gardoni was in admir-
able voice, and sung and acted the part of
Don Ramiro very effectively. Belletti was admirable as
Dandini, and F. Lablache acted Don Magnifico in
a manner worthy of his name and lineage. The duet
"Un Segretto," was given with true comic gusto. The
choruses were admirably rendered; and the band, under
the able direction of Balfe (who was warmly welcomed
on his appearance in the orchestra), is more complete
than it has yet been. The deficiency in the
stringed instruments has been remedied, the number of
violinists having been greatly increased. The improve-
ment which has taken place in consequence was ren-
dered strikingly manifest in the beautiful sextette in the
second act, which was rendered with a gracefulness, a dis-
crimination, and a judgment that lett nothing to be de-
sired. All the delicate lights and shades were perfectly
developed. The National Anthem was sung at the
conclusion of the opera, Alboni and Gardoni taking the
solo part 3. The ballet of the Diable a Quatre followed
with Carlotta Grisi as the heroine. She was supporied
by Caroline Rosati and Marie Taglioni. They were
all welcomed with the greatest enthusiasm, and the ballet
was rapturously applauded throughout—indeed, a ballet
so supported could not be otherwise than most successful.
The house was crowded in every part.
Their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary Prince and
Princess of Parma honoured the performance at her
Majesty's Theatre yesterday evening with their pre-
sence. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager's box was oc-
cupied by the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde,
the Lady Emily de Burgh, the Earl of Shelburne, and
Mr. Greville. There were also present—His Grace the
Duke of Wellington, the Duko and Duchess of Mon-
trose, his Excellency the Russian Minister, the Baroness
Brunnow, and Mademoiselle Olga de Lechner, his Ex-
cellency the Austrian Minister and the Countess of Col-
loredo, his Excellency the Swedish Minister and the Ba-
roness Rehausen, his Excellency the Hanoverian Minister,
the Marquis and Marchioness of Downshire, the Mar-
chioness of Douglas, the Earl of Lonsdale, the Earl
Granville, the Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementine
Villiers, the Earl and Countess of Malmesbury, the Earl
of Falmouth, the Countess of Harrington and Lady Jane
Stanhope, the Earl of Munster, Earl Compton, Count de
Bache, Lady Barrett Lennard, Prince Maghani, Vis-
count Clifden, Viscount Cantilupe, Viscount Anson, M.
C. de Koudriaffsky, Lady Charles Somerset, Lord Adol-
phus Fitzclarence, R.N., Lord Sandys, Lord William
Lennox, Lady Duff Gordon, Lady Macdonald, Miss
Macdonald, Lord Suffield, Lady Augusta Wentworth,
Lady Eddisbury and the Hon. Misses Stanley, the
Hon. F. Byng, Sir Ralph Howard, M.P., and Lady
Howard, Lady Blake. Major-General Sir Alexander
Woodford, Lady Atkinson, Major-General the Hon. H.
Cavendish, &c.

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
The Royal Italian Opera opened last evening, with
Auber's chef-d'crouvre Masaniello, which we believe has
never in this country, been produced in its complete state
until last evening. It is just twenty-one years since La
Muette de Portici was produced at the Academie Royale
du Musique in Paris. It at once attained an immense
popularity there, and secured for its com-
poser, Auber, an immortality, and under the
name of Masaniello became throughout the conti-
nent the most popular of operas. It is also of historical
interest. It was during the performance of this opera
at Brussels that the audience rushed from the theatre,
erected barricades, and expelled the Dutch, and to the
enthusiasm which it excited in Warsaw is the night
attack on the Belvidere and the expulsion of Constan-
tine to be attributed. Strange to say, the English publics
had never until last evening an opportunity of seeing
this opera in its entirety, and all lovers of music are
under great obligations to the management of the Royal
Italian Opera for the great pains they have taken to
present us with a complete version of Auber's chef
d'auvre. We were present at the original production of
this opera in Paris, when Adolphe Nourrit was the
Masaniello, which character was last night sustained
by Mario; Madame Cinti Damoreau the Elvira (last
night it was Madame Dorus Gras); and Mademoiselle
Noblet was the Fenella, a part admirably sustained last
evening by Mademoiselle Pauline Leroux; and we have
no hesitation in saying that it was represented
last evening at the Royal Italian Opera in
a manner in every respect superior to the
manner in which it was originally represented in
Paris. The Masaniello of Mario is a fine, spirited,
manly performance. When he enters in the second act
ho looks the very beau ideal of a Neapolitan fisherman,
and sings the far-famed barcarole with immense spirit
This scene is admirably represented. The chorus not
only sung, but acted throughout with true Italian energy
—witness the market chorus ; and as a specimen of the
most magnificent choral vocalization that ever was
heard, we will mention the concluding chorus of the third
act. Madame Dorus Gras sung the music of Elvira
with great taste; her al ia d'intrata was exquisitely given.
2,lassol was the Pietro, and his fine bass voice told with
great effect in the duet "Sara it morrir," with Mario.
His solo in the fifth act was a great triumph. We
have never before heard this celebrated air so spiritedly
given. The acting of Mario in this scene was very fine,
as indeed it was throughout the opera, whether as the
joyous fisherman, the impassioned avenger of his sister's
wrongs, the king
or the dying poisoned, patriot, whose last momentstare.
lamenting his former ,happy obscurity,
tortured by madness, be was equally great. The di:
tissements were excellently given by Mesdemoiselles Alexandre.
Wuthier and Louise Taglioni, and by M.
feintouise
The 7'arantalla by M. Alexandra, andT
Taglioni was most gracefully
givedirected the orchestra
was excellent, to say that Costa
as
rendered in a manner
is to say that theoperaheAlnaidisilee.enL
was loudly applauded
effort can approach it. u
The scenery was exceedingly
when he took his seat.
house was crowded to excess, and the
s i tno Her
were Majesty's
also present,o waa oc-
cupied that approached as nearly
. otsowtaperfection as any human
s
beautiful. The b
evening by Lady and Miss Peel said Lady
cupied last
Bardinge.
Excellency the Peruvian Ambassador, the Duke of
Devonshire,
• the Duke of Brunswick, the Marquis of
wasAmenotnbgustihasetivci..
Abercorn, the Marquis Douro, the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Ailesbury, the Count de Salis, the
Count de Flahault, the Earl of Ellesmere, the
Earl of Bradford, and the Ladies Bridgman,
the Earl of Belfast, the Earl of Cardigan, the
Earl of Bessborougb, the Earl and Countess of Essex
and Miss Johnstone, the Earl of Granville, the Earl and
Countess of Wilton, Viscount and Viscountess Newry,
Viscount Exmouth, Viscdunt Clifden, Viscount Sidney,
Viscount Ebrington, Lord Templotown, Lord Grosvenor,
Lord Mandeville, Lord Granville, Lord Henry Lennox,
Lord G. Manners, Lord Charles Wellesley, Lord
George Somerset, Lord Ward, Lord Brooke, Honour-
able Mr. Jocelyn, Honourable Colonel Cholmanaeley,
Hon. J. Fortescue, Hon. Col. and Miss Fitzgibbon, lion.
F. Leveson, Sir John and the Misses Burgoyne, Lady
Webster and party, Lady Quintin, Sir Francis and Lady
Lawley, Lady Brougham, Lady Dufferin, Lady Leeson,
Sir Henry Webb, Sir W. de Bathe, Sir James Flower,
Sir William and Lady Molesworth, Sir John and Lady
Campbell, Sir George Armitage, Sir William Abdy, Sir
F. Booth, Mrs. Mountjoy Martyn, Miss Burdett Coutts,
Colonel and Mrs. Malcolm, Bon. Stuart Wortley, Baron
Nicolay, Miss Maynard, Mr. Baring Wall, W. M. Bar-
ing, Major and Mrs, Gage, Captain Cleveland, Captain
Cuddy, Colonel Blane, Captain Hood, Colonel Challoner
Mrs. S. Standish, Captain Brownrigg, Mr.'.l. L. Clayton,
Beaumont and
Miss Mitchell and party, Mrs. Barber p ,
M.I &c.
Miss Beaumont, Mr. N. Scott, Mr. •

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had 8
general meeting yesterday at their office in Whitehall.
place.
Mr. Willson, the jockey who was injured in the
steeple-chase last week, is fast recovering from the con.
sequences of the accident.