The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-30 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

We are rejoiced to find that one, at least, of our
patent theatres is to be rescued for a time from
foreign domination, and to be devoted to English per-
formances, supported by English artistes, and pro-
duced by an Fnglish management. Mr. Bunn has
taken Covent-garden for the winter season for the
production of English opera, and when we recollect
the vast resources of that theatre, and the energy, the
enterprise, and the tact cf Mr. Bunn, we cannot for
a moment doubt but that English opera will be pro-
duced this season at Covent-garden in a style of more
finished excellence than it has ever yet been presented
to the British public. His operatic company is im-
mensely strong. Of known dramatic artistes, Mr Bunn
has secured the services of Miss Romer, Miss Bassano,
Miss Messent ; of Messrs. Borrani, Whitworth, Bur-
dini, H. Corsi, S. Jones, and H. Phillips as basses
and baritones ; and as tenors, of Mr. W. Harrison,
Mr. Barker, and, last and greatest of all, of Mr. Sims
Reeves. Among the debutantes are Miss Wallace
(the sister of the composer, who made a most successful
debdt at Exeter-hall last season, and whose appear-
ance at various concerts subsequently has always been
hailed with enthusiasm), Miss Nelson (of whom report
speaks very highly, and being possessed of a charming
voice, which has been excellently cultivated), Madile.
Nissen (who was a fellow pupil with Jenny Lind in
Paris under Garcia, whose success in Italy
was so brilliant as to secure her an engage-
ment us prima donna at St. Petersburgh,
where her triumph was complete, and her fame was
stamped by the fiat of Meyerbeer), Madame Stoltz,
the late prima donna assoluta of the grand opera of
Paris, whose fame as one of the first (if not the very
first) of contraltro singers is world-wide ; and Mr.
ilerberte, a new tenor. The theatre opens o❑ the 7th
of October, with Wallace's opera of ellaritana, in
which Miss Wallace will make her debiit. We are
glad to find that Mr. Wallace is engaged in com-
posing a new grand opera, in three acts, expressly for
this theatre, and that Balfe is likewise engaged in the
composition of a semi-seria opera, which will
be produced during the course of the season.
But Mr. Bunn does not confine himself to
the English school of music alone, the master-
pieces of the French and German schools
will be presented in a perfect manner to the judgment
of an English audience, and Auber's last opera of
Haydee, adapted to the English stage by Mr. Lavenu,
and Mendelssohn's "First Walpurgis Night" will be
given, supported by all the immense resources of the
theatre. Signor Schira resumes the office of musical
director, which alone is a sufficient guarantee that
every lyrical drama produced will be put upon the
stage in the most perfect manner possible. Schira's
now grand opera of Kenilworth, on which, we believe,
he has been for some time engaged, is also to be pro-
duced, as is a new musical work, dramatised
for the first time by J. K. Planch6.
The ballet department is unprecedently strong, in-
cluding as it does the names of ➢iademoiselle Plun-
kett, of Sophie Fuoco, of Celeste Stephan, and of
Miss Maywood (the daughter of Maywood, the great
Sir Pertinax), a young lady whose grace and elegance
has turned the heads of half the cavaliers of Italy,
and whose late engagement as principal danseuse at
the San Carlo at Naples was one uninterrupted
series of triumphs. Barrez and Al arzillier are to be
the ballet masters, and Petepa and Durand are
among the male engagements. The new ballet of
the Amazons, which in spite of revolutions and out-
breaks, has been attracting all Paris, will be produced
almost immedidiately. M. Barrez is engaged in the
composition of a ballet for the debut of Mademoiselle
Plunkett, and a new ballet will also be produced for
the Milt of Miss Maywood. Messrs. Grieve and
Telbin are the principal scene painters, and Mr. Land
is the chorus master. Numerous treaties with other
artistes are pending. The engagement of Herr
Pischek is more than probable, and an engagement,
we understand, is all but completed with Meyerbeer
for the performance of the Camp of Silesia.
With such, a company as this, backed
up by the great tact and experience
of Mr. Bunn, as a manager, there can be no doubt
of the success of this spirited attempt to secure one
of our national theatres at least for English per-
formances—an attempt, the making of which, reflects
the highest credit on Mr. Bunn.