The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-11 00:00:00

DRU.RY-LANE THEATRE.

Experiments have been before made at this theatre,
with come degree of success, to provide operas for the
million, but the dramas of suoh operas were English.
Last night the more extreme experiment was made by
giving a complete opera in Italian, with foreign singers,
with the one exception, that of Mr. Charles Braham,
who is, however, by education, style, and utterance,
completely Italian.
The opera chosen for opening the season was Verdi's
"Il Trovatore," supported by new candidates for Lon-
don fame. Mr. C. Braham, it will be recollected, was
the first to introduce the part of Maurice to an English
public, and for which be has many requisites. His
voice is delioate, and his style and execution good, the
only drawback being uncertainty of tone. He sang the
music last night very well, but we must say we have
heard him on former occasions to greater advantage.
The new singers are Signor Badiali, Madame Salvini
Donatelli, and Madame de Bernardi. The first, in "Il
Conte de Luna," sang with fine dramatio effect.
He has a baritone of great compass and power. He
was much admired, and will undoubtedly become a
great favourite. Madame Donatelli is a well educated
and pleasing singer, and by her good taste and truthful
dramatic expression rendered the part of Leonora very
interestingly. Madame di Bernardi acted the part of
Azncena, the tragic gipsy mother, better than she sang
it. Though there was a simplicity, and absence of am-
bitious trickery even in her singing that lent a great
interest to her performance, she can hardly be said to
have a decided contralto, and her range is limited, but
her genuine feeling and good taste supplied sufficient
expression to render her scenes effective. The choruses
have been collected in a hurry, but with a little training
will become efficient. Signor Vianesi led a full orchestra
with considerable skill, and the instrumental was by no
means tue least effective portion of the performance.
A full house was very applausive, and if that were
any criterion the experiment would be triumphantly
successful.

The Queen and Prince Consort, with the Queen of
Portugal, the Prince of Hohenzollern, and Prince Leo•
pold of Hohenzollern, went, at ten o'clock yesterday
morning, to the Royal Academy, and were conducted
through the exhibition. After viewing the Academy,
the royal party inspected the National Gallery, and re-
turned to Buckingham Palace soon after 12 o'clock.
His Serene Highness the Prince of Hohenzollern,
father of the Queen of Portugal, accompanied by the
Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern, honoured the establish-
ment of Mr. Hancock, of Bruton-street, on Saturday,
with a visit,
The few dollars brought by the Mexican packet have
been sold at 600., which shows an advance of d. on
the quotation of the 23d ult. A part of this advance
had already been obtained at the end of the month.
THEATRE ROYAL, BIRMINGHAM.—Sir William and
Lady Bun concluded their engagement on Saturday
evening. They are succeeded by Mr. J. W, Anderson,
the tragedian, who made his first appearance yesterday
evening in the character of Hamlet.
NEW THEATRE. —Ta e erection of a new theatre is to
be immediately commenced on the site of the Pavilion
Theatre, Whitechapel, that was des'royud by fire about
two years ago. It will be of very large dimensions, and
presents several new and improved features in construc-
tion and arrangement, from the designs of the architect,
Mr. Arthur Taylor.
With regard to Exch_quer-bonds a correspondent re-
peats the suggestion that if the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer could give the power, where &Fired, to register
safel
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those on the berth loading for the Australian colonies
amount to 73.

i the
THE AUSTRIAN ARMY.—"N" redactions
army," says a letter from Vienna, "have been
or na r
principally in the artillery. But from the system of e
re,
•
serves which is now in force, these reductions are of 'no
importance. By this system, the army which is now
only 260,000 strong, can in the space of six weeks be
increased to 600,000 men. In Galicia f ,rtifications are
being erected, and the fo. tresses in Italy are being
treugthened. These works are being carried on actively,
and will soon be terminated,"