The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-04 00:00:00

T'l 1 s u N,

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
CO Ve;si G )E
ThnizAti's opera, Karin di R )11,1a, WAS last night
produce.l for the second time at tnis theatre. Madame
Ronconi again appeared as the unfortunate heroine :
we confess that we were most agreeably surprised by
the performance of this lady ; it was, indeed, a great
improvement on her first appearance, whatever might
have been the cause on that occasion, whether pro-
ceeding from nervousness or indisposition, she did
not exhibit the powers or qu ilifications of which last
night she proved herself to be possessed. She sung
with great sweetness and expression, and repeatedly
received the strongest testimonies of the unqualified
approbation of the audience. The scene with Chalais
in the second act, when imploring him to fly from
impending ruin, and not to keep his appointment
with Gondi, and that with Chevreuse at the conclu-
sion, when he has discovered the love of Chalais,
whose escape he has assisted in, for his wife, were
most effectively rendered. This lady will prove a
much greater acquisition to the establishment than
we at first could have supposed. M idemoiselle
lAlboni as the court gallant, Armando di Gondi, as in
every part in which she has appeared, was admirable
indeed. The " Per non istare" was magnificently
given, and most rapturously encored, indeed the
audience seemed well inciined to obtain its repetition
a second time. A similar compliment was also paid
to her " Son leggero noll Aurore," which was
listened to with breathless attention and elicited
thunders of applause from every part of the
house. She completely identified herself with
the character, and by her acting and singing
elevated it to an importance far beyond that it was
intended to possess. Signor Bettini made his second
appearance in this country, in the part of Chalais,
which had been formerly filled by Salvi. Signor
Bettini possesses all the essential qualifications of a
great artist, and we have no doubt that he will attain
a very high rank in his profession. His voice is a
rich tenor, of great power and sweetness. His first
aria, " Quando it Cor," was given with great effect,
and also the " Alma Soave e care," and he ably
seconded Madame Ronconi in the duet at the close of
the second act. Ronconi as Chevreuse, the injured
husband, was in every respect superb, his acting and
.singing were of the highest class, and repeatedly oh-
tamed the well-merited tribute of applause. He has
male the character completely his own, and we do not
know of any who could approach him in its concep-
tion and execution. It must be seen to be appreci-
ated, and would alone be sufficient to render popular
a work of less merit. The chief performers were
called before the curtain at the conclusion of the
opera, and Signor Ronconi, was most enthusiastically
cheered on his second appearance, by himself. The
entertainments concluded with the ballet of La Peri
in which Mademoiselle Plunkett was loudly applauded.
The house was very well filled—inde, d, surprisingly
so, considering the advanced period of the season, and
the exciteme.nt of the general election. The orchestra
was most effective.

HANOVER-SQUARE ROOMS.
On M,eplay even n r Mr. Gerhard Taylor gave his
second " Grand It• cital" on the hsrp, at the Ilimover-
squiare Rooms. Mr. Taylor is said to he the firSt harpist
in F.nr.pe. rin,l the suce• ss which atterd. d his first per
.ermarc,• fully wa-rant • him in v-nturing upon a second
recital. Under ttie fingers of Mr Taylor the hirp be-
comes Trite a new instrument. He not only " diseourses
most elivient musk." but xh hits .a power, and display..
a range and capability wt ich the barn has hitherto never
he "t d emeil able to eff ct. He plays from tl-e original
'48114 ,rte copies, and performs selections from the
wo,ks ..f the great masters —Be-ainven, Weber, Mey-
erbe. r, and Mendelssohn, with a finish and delicacy
of the most sitrprisin; chat act. r. When you hear the
performance of Mr. Taylor )ou are no longer inclined
to doubt the romantic tales which are yet preserved
of the wonders effectedtby the ancient bards, when the
harp was an instrument. especially in the sister king
dom, universally eultivated and admired. Now-a-days
it is et-maid...red as being fitted for little else than a mere
taccampaniment, and the more surprising, therefore, is it
that the difficulties which are obviously in the way with
an instrument like the harp, should be, as they are in
the present instance, so wonderfully -overcome. The
selections were principally from the composers whose
names we,have m ntioned. One of _the most interesting
performances was a quartette in the second part, by
Gerhard Taylor, Miss C. Taylor, and Mr. J. Taylor, on
,hreo grand gothic harps and violin, introducing sirs
from DonizAti's Lucia di Lammermoor. The perfora,
mace was loudly applauded, and warmly encored. Mr.
H. S. Mar played a fantasia on the pianoforte, in-ro•
diming airs from favourite Italian operas. and a sonata
(3eethoven). which concluded the second part. Miss
Townsend and Miss Taylor sang two or three songs
and a duet. The concert was exceedingly well attended.