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

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

IMr. Mapleson's prospectus, which has just been
issued for the season of 1867, cannotbut 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," " 11 Flauto Magico," Der
Freischutz," " Medea," " Iphigenia in Tauris,"
and " 11 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., Signors
11ongini, Gassier, Rossi, Herr Rokitanski, t 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 Her 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. lima 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 Roderick 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 Jima de Murska, supported
by Mongini, Gassier, Rokitanski, 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 Aoprang Dying -- paid all we

can. Mdlle. Christina Nillson has already cre-
ated a furore at the Thatre Lyrique of Paris,
where she made her first appearance three years
ago. She is of Swedish origin. Possessing a
voice of unusual compass and pleasing quality,
and the charm of great personal beauty, there is
but little doubt as to her ultimate success. Mdlle.
Übrich, prima donna from the Grand Opera of
Hanover, will be remembered as a concert singer
of decided reputation. The other first appearances
are Mdlle. Amalia Giacconi, prima donna from
the opera at Genoa ; Mdlle. Eracleo, prima donna
contralto, from the Theatre Royal, Madrid ;
Mdlle. Martelli, prima donna contralto a.csoluto, from
the San Carlo at Lisbon ; and Signor Pandolfini,
prim() baritono assolnto, from the Theatre San
Carlos at Naples. The latter is announced as
Guillaume in " Guillaume Tell." Amongst the
tenors Signor Gardoni is one of the most accom-
plished artists and singers of the pure Italian
school—a school which, unfortunately, has but
few representatives at the present day. One of
them, perhaps the most delightful, is Mdlle.
Sinico, the sweet, sympathetic-voiced Sinico, who
is an artist in the truest sense of the word, and
who, in the first act of " Fidelio," always creates
such a pleasing impression. The name of Mr.
Santley speaks for -itself, and Signors Tasca, Gas-
sier, and Herr Rokitanski are invaluable artists.
Every one will welcome the reappearance of Signor
Arditi, to our thinking the first conductor unques-
tionably in England. There is poetry in Signor
Arditi's conducting, and if it is a symphony, as
lately during his concerts, he tells you the whole
story almost as if it were written. Moreover, he
has thoroughly conquered the difficulty (and what
a difficulty!) of taking an orchestra, that exceeds
fifty or sixty in number, plays delicately and in
subdued tone when necessary. Nothing conveys
such an idea of grandeur and strength as a big
orchestra playing under its breath, always suggest-
ing what it could do if unrestrained_ Signor
Arditi has made his band almost perfect if not
actually so. It is rarely that one hears such a
splendid performance as the overture to " Fidelio "
at Her Majesty's. The corps de ballet is under the
superintendence of M. Lauri, niatre de ballet ; and
the names of Mdlle. Maria Gosselin and Mdlle.
Lanza are announced as the principal danseuses.
The scenery is under the direction of Messrs.
Telbin and W. Telbin, and Mr. Jarrete is the
acting manager. One of the revived operas, " I
Lombardi," will be given on the opening night,
Saturday, the 27th inst.