The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-10 00:00:00

Tl IP: SUN,

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

On Saturday night Roberto it Diavolo was repeated ;
fin I Jenny Lind added another triumph to tho,e
;;(.,r singer and ft ;.", i

u!r,a,ly acurk,ved in this country. A turti:er htuti•lug
gives these further results as regards her musical power:
her capacity to execute volant passages surpasses that of
any known vocalist, each note being accurately and sepa-
rately articulated with the nicety and finish of an in
strument ; but her merits do not stop there, for these
mechanical arts are entirely subordinate to the poetical
expression, and the hearer is not so much surprised as
intensely gratified by her execution. That she is an
.

excellent Musician there ate proofs in her taste, her
modes of phrasing, her exquisite sostenuto, and her rare
judiciousness. A safer singer it is impossible to con-
ceive ; or one who risks less, or rather who hns more
thoroughly blotted out the word " chance" from her
artistic vocabulary. Another pleasing feature in her
execution is the mode of emission of sound—it wells out

like a full spring, clear and free, without effort and
without straining. In no respect is there the slightest
grounds for impeaching her title of the " Queen of Song."
She has the genius and the science of Malibran, with
more than Malibran's execution—if that were possible ;
and she has unquestionably a far superior organ to that
gifted and extraordinary singer. Her voice is a pure
soprano, rich, full, and mellifluous—clear, distinct, and
bell-like, with a wondrous evenness of texture through-
out. It extends to Din alt, a point she rea2hes without
loss of pow.-- or tone, and fully realises the beautiful
description of the poet (Shelley, " Prometheus Un-
bound") :
" Clear, silver, icy, keen, awakening tones
Which pierce the sense, and live within the soul ;
As the sharp stars pierce winter's chrystal air,
And gaze upon themselves within the sea."
Her execution is, perhaps, the most extraordinary
thing ever known in music. She not only enunciates
every note with the distinctness and precision of a piano-
forte, but she enriches the cantabile as well as the ean-
tilena of her song with the most beautiful embellish-
ments. Not only is she enabled by the force and
flexibility of her organ to exhibit the swell or nzessa di
voce, which singers of the highest pretension pride them-
selves upon possessing, but she has also the power of
expressing the opposite attribute—a power singularly
rare in vocal mechanism, namely, that of attenuating a
❑ote so delicately as to give the sound all the effect
of extreme distance. Here is also the full fa-
culty termed tempo rubato—that is to say, the faculty
of retarding or accelerating the " measure " at
will. Add to this, that her shake is open and
perfect—that desideratum in vocal execution ; that her
cadenze are appropriate and masterly ; that the purity
and rapidity of her chromatic passages are beyond de-
scription; that her velocity is only equalled by her neat-
ness of execution in those parts that need it ; that her
voice has that rare combination of qualities in a singer,
mellowness, distinctness, and sweetness ; and that her
intonation is so perfect that it would almost appear im-
possible for her to sing out of tune, and the reader will
have a faint idea of the gifts of this extraordinary artiste
as a vocalist. As an actress she is no less excellent ; and
the impression she made in that capacity was no less
profound than that which she produced as a singer.
There is no conventionality about her, no seizing the
strong points of a character and letting all the rest drop.
She acts her part thoroughly; and whether she is singing
or is confined to mere by-play, her histrionic exertions
are of the same nature—excellent. Hence a perfect na-

tural expression, and an infinite variety of ges'tuie.
All
seems dictated by the moment, and yet all is graceful.
There is no stereotyped form fur love, anger, or passion;
each action has the impress of immediate inspiration.
tier whole performance was a conception of the first
order adequately expressed ; a histrionic study of which
each feature is equally good.
Apropos of feature, the reader will doubtless desire to
learn something about the personal appearance of this
gifted lady ; and albeit unused to the descriptive in mat-
ters pertaining to the fair sex, the writer will endeavour
to gratify him. Among the "thousand and one" por-
traits of her, that published by Mr. Mitchell, of Bond.
street, gives ,the character of the countenance most
satisfactorily, though in some resp,:ets it differs from the
original. She is not plain ; and she is not handsome.
She is not plain, because the deep-seated eye and the
broad and lofty brow redeem the other features of the
face from such an imputation; and she is not handsome,
because there is no beauty without regularity of feature.
This is premised of her face in a state of repose. But
she is more than beautiful when her soul lights up her
countenance—when she warms to her part in the mimic
scene, and embraces it with all the intensity of an artist;
and though the features may not be regular, ntr the
traits of her countenance of that classical character
which men in all ages have agreed to exalt and elevate
as the standard of perfection, she possesses that which
is more precious than mere physical perfection—the
vivida vis anirni of the poet, and the spectator beholds,
with astonishment and delight,
"The mind, the music, breathing from her face."
"Remarkably modest and prepossessing in looks, with
goodness and amiability written upon every feature,"
observes an able contemporary, " there is a charm encir-
cline her to which few could be indifferent. Her fair
hair, her blue eyes, and her slight figure, are facts
to be jotted down; but the intelligence and child-
like good nature which overrule every thing else,
are less tangible, and it would be hard to de-
fine:the sensibility, the benevolence, and the innumerable
little graces reflective of femine worth and guilelessness
which play over her visage, producing an effect ineffably
special, amiable and engaging." The same intelligent
critic adds, with equal appropriateness and apparent
truth—" When Miss Bremer, in the novel which first
made Jenny Lind's name known to the English public,
described
nub;
lelandenendsdh
theahreerf asfaithful
tpthi
um:
ruceala-t captivating,'
iavferanAttedi
Andersen,
piousr't
friend'—the
eten
.st
yha r
nenc ldppe stakrtnhi
isnishedhse—pwoaapeattns:onnbhcoleoei
justify it, though no one can tell wherefore."

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Denizetti's opera of Maria di Rohan was produced at
this theatre on Saturday night for the first time in this
country. The plot is taken from Un Duel sous Richelieu,
a vaudeville, which had a considerable run at Paris some
years ago. The scene is laid in Paris during the reign of
Louis XIII. The Count de Chalais (Signor Salvi).
the favourite of the king, is deeply attached to Maria,
Countess di Rohan (Signora Ronconi), who, however,
is secretly married to the Due de Chevreuse
(Signor Ronconi). Maria sends a billet to
Chalais, requesting an interview, she wishes to
engage his interest on behalf of her husband, who
has killed the nephew of the Cardinal in a duel, for
which his life is forfeited. Chalais, however, obtains for
him the royal pardon. Gondi (Madlle. Alboni), a
Court gallant, impeaches the character of Maria, and is
at once contradicted in the strongest terms by Chalais.
The result is an appointment for a duel on the following
day. Chevreuse volunteers to become an additional
second, two on each side being e.istomary in deadly
quarrels. The intelligence is then r i% ed that Richelieu
is deposed, on which Chevreuse announces his marriage,
which he had been obliged to keep secret, as the Cardinal
had designed Maria to be the wife of his nephew, who
had fallen by the hands of Chevreuse. Chalais, who is
in despair at the prostration of his hopes of obtaining
Maria, is appointed Prime Minister, and receives the
congratulations of the assembled courtiers on his as-
sumption of office. This . terminates the first act.
the second act opens in the palace of Chalais ; he is
writing a farewell letter to Maria, to be delivered, in the
event of his death in the coming duel. He sings an
aria, "Alma soave e cara," in which he was encored.
Gondi enters and demands a delay of an hour, which
his opponent concedes. An exceedingly effective aria,
by Alboni, "Son leggero nell' Amore," again com-
manded an encore. Maria now enters in dis-
guise. She has learned from the Queen that Riche-
lieu had been reinstated in favour, and that
Chalais, his rival, will in the morning be condemned to
chains and death, and she hastens to save the life of the
man who had preserved her husband. The voice of
Chevreuse is heard approaching, to summon Chalais to
the field. Maria is hastily concealed from his presence,
and on his departure again implores the Count to fly the
fate that awaits him. He however hesitates, urging that
the contest is necessary for the vindication of his honour,
and is decided by the call of his other second, De Suze,
who announces that the hour is passed, and that
Chevreuse has proposed to fight in his place. He rushes
wildly to the field, followed by the wretched Maria. The
third act passes at the mansion of Chevreuse. He has been
wounded by Gondi in the duel. He joins Maria in ha-
ploring Chalets to fly, but the latter, who fears he will
thereby lose both his love and honour, hesitates. He,
however, is informed by his secretary that his papers, in-
cluding the letter to Maria, have been seized, and that
a body of archers are on their way to seize him. He is
hurried off by Chevreuse to a secret passage which leads
to the outside of the city walls. The letter which he
had written to Maria, in anticipation of the duel, is
placed in the hands of Chevreuse after his escape.
Chevreuse is indignant at discovering that he had been
assisting his wife's lover, and, as he conceives, to his
own dishonour. Two solos were admirably given by
Ronconi in this scene, each of which were loudly
applauded and encored. " Bella edi sol vestita," and
" Ogni mio bone in to sperai." He overwhelms the
hapless Maria with reproaches, and infers from her
consternation and fear that Chalais intends to re-

--
turn. At this moment the- secret door flies
open and Chalais reappears, and is received by
Chevreuse with a fierce joy, who challenges
him to mortal combat. The knocks of the Royal Guard
are heard at the door, but Chevreuse seizing one pistol
and handing another to 'his opponent, rushes out
at a side door, Maria falls senseless, the door is
beaten down, the archers appear, at this moment
the report of pistols are heard, and Chevreuse
entering announces the death of Chalais, and
that lite with shame and infamy is to be the lot of
Maria. She sinks to the earth, while Chevreuse is
arrested by the Archer guards, and the curtain falls.
We cannot say much for this opera. It is by no means
a favourable specimen of Donizetti's style. It is altogether
a weak and incoherent composition. The overture was
noisy, and gave no clue to the succeeding music. The
gem of the opera is decidedly the Romanza for the
contralto, " Per non istare all' ezio," which was exqui-
sitely rendered by Alboni, and its repetition unanimously
called for. Madame Ronconi is by no means likely to
prove an acquisition. Her style is uncultivated,
and her voice by no means a powerful one. While
Signora Grisi and Persiani are on the strength
of the establishment, it is indeed surprising that a
part of such importance should have been entrusted to
her. Ronconi was very efficient, more particularly in
the latter scenes, which gave scope for much powerful
emotion. Salvi gave portions of his part with much
taste and feeling, while Alboni was in every respect ad-
mirable. The house was very well filled.

THE APPROACHING ELECTION--Alderman John-
son intimated on Saturday at Guildhall his determination to
stand for the city of London at the next general election,
upon the Tory interest,

COURT CIRCULAR.

-
The Queen and Prince accompanied by the
Princ,3 of ;Vales, ani the Princess lloyal, and the
I •:' • 1-..•1H •, , T. ~e
;at 12 a If-p•st one o'eloe; on Friday aft,rno,,/,
The Suite consisted of the Countess of Desart,
Hon. Miss Dawson, Major-General Bowles, Lieut.-
Colonel the Hor. C. B. Phipps, Captain the Hon. A.
H. Gordon, and Dr. Meyer.
On Saturday her Majesty and her Royal Consort,
and his Serene Highness the Prince of Leiningen,
walked in the pleasure grounds of Osborne, and the
Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal took their ac-
accustomed airings.
Yesterday morning the Prince of Wales and the
P,iacess Royal took walking and riding exercise on the
sea beech.:
Her Majesty and Princa Albert, and the ladies and
gentlemen of the Court, attended Divine service in
Whippingham church yesterday.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited
Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, and the Princess
Helena at Buckingham Palace yesterday.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred and the Prin-
cese Alice took an airing, accompanied by the Dowager
Lady Lytteltoo, on Saturday.
Her Majesty the . Quee tr Dowager and her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended Divine service
yesterday in the Chapel Royal, St. James's. The
prayers were read by the Rev. T. Helmore and the
,p,rweahereedwibtyhalthshealßl eavy. Txthre.
iainnt;iveemtt
lessons by the Rev. J. V. Povab. The sermon was
oung man."
preached
Was
pre-
sided at the organ.

The Queen Dowager was attended by the Viscountess
Barrington and Earl Howe. The Duchess of Kent was
attended by Lady Augusta Bruce. The Dean of Here-
ford was the Deputy-Clerk of the Closet in Waiting.
Among the Nobility present were the Duchess of Beau-
fort, the Marquises of Anglesey, Northampton, and
Worcester, Ladies Wilton, St. Germans, and Palmerston;
Lords Fortescue, Spencer, Devon, St. Germans, Cawdor,
Talbot, Palmerston, Castlereagh, and Ebrington.
The Duke of Wellington attended the early service
yesterday, in the Chapel Royal, St. Jame*. The Rev.
Dr. Wesley officiated, and the Rev. T. Mills preached
the sermon.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her
Majesty the Queen Dowager on Saturday, at Marlbo-
rough House.

The Duke of Cambridge attended Divine service yes •
terday morning, in the Chapel of the Female Orphan
Asylum. Major Stephens was in waiting on his Royal
Highness.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, attended
by Lady Augusta Bruce, Baroness de Speth, and Sir
George Couper, honoured her Majesty's Theatre with
her presence on Saturday evening.
A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday afternoon at
the Foreign-office. It was attended by Lord John Rus
sell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
the Earl of Minto, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmer-
ston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Earl of Auckland, Sir John Hobhouse, Lord Campbell,
Viscount Morpeth, the Earl of Clarendon, the Marquis
of Clanricarde, the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay, and the
Right Hon. H. Labouchere.
The Council sat an hour and a half. _

A deputation from the Council of the National Insti-
tute of Medicine, Surgery, and Midwifery, consisting of
Mr. Pennington (president), Mr. Thomas Martin, of
Reigate and Mr. Clifton (vice-presidents), Mr. Fuller,
Mr. Bird, Mr. Ancell, Mr. Webster, and Mr. Burnett
(members of the council), and Mr. Ross (secretary), had
an interview with Sir George Grey, at the Home-office,
on Saturday, on the subject of medical reform.
A deputation from Whitechapel, consisting of Sir W.
Clay, M.P., Mr. Plunipton (churchwarden), Messrs. Hen-
derson and Liddle, and Mr. Smith, (vestry clerk), had
a❑ interview with Viscourt Morpeth on Saturday, at
the office of her Majest3's Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, in WhitA:ill-place.
Dr. Paris, President of the Royal College of Physi-
cians, Dr. Burrows (Senior Censor). Dr. Budd (Censor),
Dr. Francis Hawkins (Registrar of the College), and Dr.
Nairre, had an interview with Sir George Grey on
Saturday.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had a
committee meeting on Saturday.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. Lawrence, President
of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and
Messrs. Travers and Stanlays, Vice President of the
College, had an interview on Saturday with Sir George
Grey.
The Archbishop of Canterbury h:d an interview with
Lord John Russell on Saturday, at his official residence
in Downing-street.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. Ridout, Master of the
Society of Apothecaries ; Messrs. Bean and Callender,
Wardens of the Society ; Mr. Bacot, Deputy-Master of
the ,‘..3ociety ; and Mr. Upton, the Clerk to the Society,
had an interview with Sir George Grey, on Saturday, at
the Home-office.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE
LATEST BETTING AT THE WEST-END.
DERBY.
7 to 4 agst John Day's lot
13 to 2 agst Kent's lot
14 to 1 agst Forth's lot
5 to I agst Mr. Pedley's The Cossack—taken
11 to 2 agst Sir R. Pigot's Conyngham—taken
8 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Van Tromp—taken freely
13 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Mr. Mat tin
16 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Planet—taken
20 to 1 agst Lord Caledon's Wanota
25 to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's Glentilt—no takers
28 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Mathematician
33 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Red Hart
. 40 to 1 agst Lord E. Russell's Nottingham—taken
40 to 1 agst Sir R. Bulksley's Montpensier—taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. Fuller's Oxonian—taken
40 to 1 agst Mr. A. Johnstone's Ulysses
50 to 1 agst Mr. Bowes's Epirote—taken
1000 to 15 .agst Mr. Worley's Old Port
80 to 1 agst Lord Strathmore's Signet
1000 to 10 agst Mr. Greville's Mirmillo—taken
OAKS.
4 to 1 agst Mr. Payne's Clementina
5 to 1 agst Mr. J. Day's Farmer's Daughter
12 to 1 agst Mr. Mosty's f out of Quilt Arnold's dam
15 to 1 agst Mr. Quartermain's Lady Lift
We are authorised to state, that a paragraph in a Sunday
paper to the effect that, Mr. Whalley has sold Burgundy
to Mr. Moore for 1000 guineas is wholly without foundation,
in fact, he is still the property of Mr. W halley.
SHREWSBURY RACES—FRIDAY (CONCLUDED).
The Watford Manor Stakes of 5 sovs. each, and 20 added.
Heats.Abeut 2 miles and a quarter. (6 Subs.)
Mr. Raworth's Idolater, b yrs (Bradley) 2 1 1
Sir C. 11. Cockerell's Carissima, 5 yrs
Mr. Davenport's 'Lela, 6 yrs
Mr. W. Scott nd Pinkinkindness, 4 yrs
Mr. Barton's Reliance, 5 yrs 0 0 dr
The Severn Stakes of 5 sovs. each, 2 ft, with 20 added_
Heats. One mile. (9 Subs.)
Mr. Price's Gaffer Green, aged, Bst I llb (Arthur) 3 1 1
Mr. Skerratt's Urania, 4 yrs, 7st 111 b
Mr. Copeland's Cheapside, 3 yrs, fist 71b 2 2 dr