The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-17 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Mr. Mapleson's prospectus, which has just been
issued for the season of 1867, cannot but gratifyin
the extreme the subscribers and habitue's of the old
opera. Knowing as we do how faithful Mr.
Mapleson is to his promises, and his great energy
in sustaining the prestige of his theatre,' we con-
fidently predict the coming season to be one of
most brilliant on record. The lovers of good
music and the public generally owe the lessee of
Her Majesty's a debt of gratitude difficult to re-
pay, for the courage and enterprise, not unattended
with great risk, of reproducing within two
seasons " Fidelio," "Il Flauto Magico," " l)er
Freischutz," " Medea," " Iphigenia in Tauris,"
and "Il Seraglio." That they have been crowned
with a success as glorious as it was almost unex-
pected, is to be attributed to the fact that English
inclination to pure and beautiful music is becom-
ing (although with characteristic slowness) more
decided, and principally, we might say altogether, to
the grand personations and creations. of Mdlle.
Titiens, the greatest of all living sopranos. In
the list of operas this year there is one entirely
new to this country, and four revivals. The new
work, "La Forza del Destino," would have been
presented three years ago, but that no tenor could be
found capable of sustaining the principle character.
This year no such difficulty exists, and the opera
will be given with the " parts distributed accord-
ing to the choice of the composer," viz., Sign" 3
Mongini, Gassier, Bossi, Herr Rokitanski, Mr.
Santley ; and Madame Trebelli and Mdlle. Titiens.

The revivals are " Guillaume Tell," by Rossini ;
" La Donna del Lago," by the same composer; "La
Vestale," by Spontini; and "I Lombardi," by
Verdi. When Spontini's opera was first performed
in London, now about forty years ago, it was
received very coldly, chiefly owing to the very indif-
ferent singing and acting of a new prima donna,
Madame Biagioli. Spontini has the highest repu-
tation abroad as a musician ; and, as "La Vestale "
will include in the cast Mdlle. Titiens, Trebelli,
and Rokitanski, there is every reason for anticipat-
ing a great success. " I Lombardi" was first
brought out at ller Majesty's more than twenty
years ago, with Grisi, Corbari, and Mario. It
was revived at the old opera in 1848, with Castel-,
lan, Gardoni, and Colletti. "La Donna del
Lago" is one of Rossini's happiest inspirations,
and will be looked forward to with delight.
Mdlle. Ilma de Murska is announced to sing in

this opera, with Gardoni, Tasca, Gassier, and, most
charming of all, Trebelli. If we mistake not, the
part of ltoderick Dhu used to be one of Donzelli's
triumphs ; it certainly requires a tenor of the first
capability. " Guillaume Tell "is to be produced
for the first time in this country, as nearly as
practicable in its integrity, and the whole of the
last act, including the storm scene, will be restored.
This is Mr. Mapleson's boldest venture, and de-
serves, in addition to the certain success it will
achieve, the lasting gratitude of all musicians.
It is extremely fortunate that the part of Arnold
is pre-eminently suited to Signor Mongini, who
has repeatedly sung the music in public. We
have again " Don Giovanni " with a remarkably
brilliant cast, including Mdlle. Titiens, Mdlle.
Christine Nillson, and Ilma de Murska, supported
by Mongini, Gassier, Itokitanski, and Santley ; the
" Huguenots " and the " Nozze di Figaro," which,
it is to be hoped, will have all the many rehearsals
it certainly requires. In speaking of the artistes,
we have already—in . acknowledging Mdlle.
Titiens to be the great queen of lyric tragedy,
and the grandest soprano living paid all we