The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-29 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

On Saturday night last this Temple of the Muses was
a scene of unusual excitement and gaiety, mired by the
little enchantress Marietta, Piccolomini's highly-finished
and exquisite performance, of Norma in Donizetti's fa-
vourite opera, "Don Pas quale." Those habitztEs of the
opera and lovers of music who were fortunate enough to
enjoy the Piccolomini's admirable interpretation of Via-
, letta i a " La Traviata," and who were sensibly affected
by her sorrows, were equally enchanted on Saturday
night with the extreme versatility of her talent in the
gay, pert, buoyant, young hypocrite, which she acted to
perfection. We, who to a certain extent are rather
blasé, from our operatic experience of thirty years, must
candidly acknowledge we were thoroughly amused, nay
even delighted, not only with the piquant protago-
nists Piccolomini, but with the extraordinary effect she
produced upon her enraptured audience. Some ladies
near 11R, who seemed as if they came from the country,
smiled, others tittered, and others laughed, but at last the
irresistible comicality of some of her scenes with Belletti
as Malatesta, and Rossi as Don Pasquale, was so
great that they were obliged to throw off all restraint,
and they indulged to their heart's content in fits of
laughter the most enthusiastic and genuine. To de-
pict the various phases of this admirable performance
would occupy too much space in our journal. Suffice
it to say, that the two principal scenes, the one be-
tween her and Malatesta, where they are concocting
the plot against the amorous old dandy Dan Pasquale,
and the scene between her and the Dan, where, he hav-
ing signed the mock marriage contract, she immediately
throws off the mask, and from being the most lamb-
like of the gentle sex, she becomes the tyrannic terma-
gant, were given with all that genuine vie covtica
which would have done honour to the most mature
actress on the English boards. Her singing also was
remarkable for good taste, judgment, and careful study,
and her exertions were crowned with complete success
by calls before the curtain after each act, and cells
and recalls after the opera, besides a shower of
bouquets. Calzolari was a worthy representative
of the lover Ernesto, and sung most sweetly, as he al-
ways does. The serenade was, of course, encored, as it
always is, and always will be ; and the duettini " Tor-
nami a der the m'ami," with Piccolomini, was a gem of
the first water. When we say that Belletti was the Mala-
testa of the evening, our musical readers will be confident
that nothing could be more effective than the well-known
reading of this ungrateful role. We now end our pleas-
ing task in recording the triumphant success of Signor
Rossi, as the amorous old bean Don Pasquale, whose
performance gave universal satisfaction. We have much
pleasure in adding our meed of praise to his highly
comic interpretation of this role, and further add, that
he not only acted and sung the part in a highly-finished
manner, but that his byplay was judicious, his make-up
in good taste, and his appearance altogether just What
it ought to be. We congratulate the spirited lessee on
the number of talented artistes he has introduced this
season. to his subscribers and the habitues of the opera,
who already are favourites of the public. The charming
Rosati displays all the wonders of the dance nightly in
" Tha Corsaire," one of the most splendid ballets ever
produced.

MADEMOISELLE JOHANNA WAGNER'S benefit took
place last night, when we were happy to perceive the
house was crowded in every part. The moment the fair
boneficiaire made her appearance she was greeted with
r genuine burst of applause, which mast have been very
gratifying to her. All through the opera she seemed to
exert herself, so as not to leave anything to be desired
by her numerous patrons—singing and acting with an
abandon truly artistic, and at the fall of the curtain she
was called, and recalled, four times by the unanimous
voice of the house, when she was so overwhelmed with
garlands, crowns, and bouquets, that one might have
thought all the bouqueteries' shops in Covent•garden
market were deprived of their floral treasures. The
first time she was called before the curtain she grace-
fully and gallantly led on Madlle. Jenny Baur, who was
on this occasion as successful as on the first night of the
performance of Tancredi. The orchestra, under the able
direction of Signor Bonetti in the opera, and Mons.
Nadaud in the ballet, was admirable.