The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-04 00:00:00

HI.R dAJESTY'N THEATRE.

This magnificent theatre opened last evening with
Doniz?tti's new three-act opera of Torquato Tasso.
The music is quite as characterless as that of the gene-
rality of Donizetti's serious operas. There were cer-
tain buffo parts in which we could recognise the com-
poser of the Elisis d'Antore, but the music of the more
impassioned parts was almost devoid of feeling, and the
opera is wholly indebted to the genius of the corps
dramaligue for its success. The libretto is good and
the plot is well and artistically developed. It is, in fact,
a dramatic version of the well-known story of the love
of Tasso for Eleonora, the sister of the Duke of Ferrara,
and of the tragical consequences of that love to the un-
happy poet, who is confined by order of the Duke as
a madman, remains incarcerated for seventeen years, and
is released at the end of that period by an enthusiastic
people, who conduct him to Rome to crown him
with laurel in the Capitol. But all these honours
come tno late—Eleonora is dead—and even the laurel
is then valueless in the eyes of Tasso. The opera was
produced principally for the purpose of introducing
Signor Coletti, from the Opera at Lisbon, to the Bri-
tish public, arid since the debut of Tamburini, we have
witnessed none at this theatre so decidedly successful
as that of Signor Coletti. In person he is above the
middle-size, well-formed, and possesses a most expressive
countenance. His voice is a baritone of great power
and richness, and capable of every variety of expres-
sion. It is completely under command, and, as Signor
Coletti is evidently a first-rate musician, he makes the
most of the advantages with which nature has endowed
him. He is also possessed of dramatic powers of no
mean order, and in the last act—the scene of which is
laid in the dungeon in which Torquato has lingered ou
his seventeen years of confinement—Signor Colet

exhibited powers of acting worthy of being ranked with
the most successful histrionic efforts of the present day.
Indeed the last act,both as regarded singing and acting,
was, as far as Signor Coletti was concerned, a perfect
triumph of art. In the air Perche dell sure in sen,"
which is almost the only piece of genuine melody in the
opera, and which has a beautiful flute accompaniment,
he was deservedly rewarded with a rapturous Cc
Cure'.

The applause was on this occasion much
under and more general than is usual at this aristo-
cratical and well-bred theatre. The opera was
completely successlul, and this success is undoubtedly
owing in a great measure to the talents and exertions of
Signor Coletti. He was called for at the fall of the
curtain, and greeted with frequent bursts of applause.
Having secured the services of Coletti, we do not ima-
gine Laporte will have much cause to regret the absence
of Tamburini, for whom Coletti is a most efficient substi-

tute, and whose popularity be will, we imagine ere long
rival. Mdlle. de Varney was the Eieonora. This lady, we
presume is intended to be the sPconda donna of the season.
Her voice is melodious, but scarcely of sufficient
power for such a large theatre. Signor L. Ricciardi
also made his first appearance before a British audi-

ence, in the character of Geraldini, the Duke's Secre-
tary. His voice is a tenor, of very considerable
compass ; he is quite competent to fill the primo tenore
parts in the absence of Rubini and Mario ;

he is certainly infinitely superior to Tati, whose place we
imagine it is intended he should supply. Signor F.

Lablache, as Gherardo, one of the courtiers, exhibited
powers as a buffo, for the possession of which we had

not previously given him credit. The scenery was su-
perb, and everything was done for the opera that could
be done by a liberal and efficient management. The
Ballet of Les Pages du Duc de Vendome concluded
the evening's amusement. B,Aween the opera and the

ballet the National Anthem was sung by the whole

corps dramatique—tho solo parts being executed by
Mademoiselles De Varney and E. Grisi, and by

Signora Ricciardi, Coletti, and F. LabLiebe. The

house was more crowded than we ever remember to

have seen it at the commencement of a season.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

Her Majesty, Prince Albert, Prince Ernest, and
suite, honoured this theatre last night with their pre-
sence. Her Majesty was ineog , behind the curtains ;
but Prince Albert and Prince Ernest appeared in full
view. A portion of the audience recognised Prince
Albert towards the conclusion of the play, and
cheered him, but he modestly withdrew, and the
good sense of the public saw at once that it
was very indecorous to intrude on the privacy
which the Royal party wished to maintain. After the
Legend of Florence, with which her Majesty appeared,
from the sympathy of Prince Albert, to be much de-

lighted, the farce of He Would be an Actor followed,
to the great amusement of the audience, both
Royal and public. In tact, so much was the
fun enjoyed behind the scenes that the Royal curtains
betrayed that Queens have hearts for merriment as well
as other people. Mr. Charles Mathews ought to be
indicted for personifying false characters before her Ma-
jesty. So completely did he deceive the lookers on, that
at one time he was actually mistaken for his own wife !
The Royal curtains shook in ecstacy at the mistake, and
universal laughter convulsed the theatre.