The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-19 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S TUBATRE.

On the stage, lyrical and non-lyrical, nothing is
more common than a triumphant success that leaves
a defe sted minority thoroughly unconvinced. Some
undefined fascination has ensnared the sympath es
of the larger multitude which, urged by a suddenly-
kindle I fanaticism, overpower every obstacle, and
at last convert the caprice of the hour into the
fashion of the season. But the unconvinced mino-
rity is by no means annihilated. It growls forth
its opinions loudly enough to be heard amid the
tumultuous shouts of its adversaries, and as incon-
siderate enthusiasm is naturally of short duration,
the growl has a fair chance, if steadily maintained,
of remaining the sole audible expression of
the public mind. One can scarcely imagine a more
exciting spectacle than the first appearance of an
artist who gradually absorbs the sympathies of a
huge mass of spectators till a clamour of applauding
shouts proclaims the victory of talent. The coolest
ju.lgment may be biassed by a dazzling and deafen-
ing combination of wreaths, bouquets, shouts, calls,
and acknowlegments ; hut, nevertheless, a little
knot of Stoics will often be found to remain un-
moved in the midst of the stormiest demonstra-
tious, and in the long run these frequently remain
in full possession of the field. As thesmallest quan-
tity of yeast is capable of leavening an incalculable
quantity of dough, so will a handful of rational
malcontents ultimately convert a whole public of
admiring zealots.
Now, the new singer, Mademoiselle Titiens, has
this security against the noted fickleness of popular
favour, that she does not appeal to any transient
weakness on the part of her audience. She does
not dazzle or cajole, but she convinces, and there-
fore the more carefully and coolly she is watched,
the greater is the chance that her merits will l•e
fully appreciated. The part of Valentine, which
she has selected for her first appearance, seems
written with the deliberate intent that the artistshall
not too early take her hearers by storm. Her posi-
tion, when the first act has reached its close, seems
little beyond that of a leading chorus-singer, and
an insignificant person in this situation might be
almost overlooked by a careless spectator. But
the great natural gift of Mademoiselle Titiens is
already displayed. Her voice predominating over
the mass of sound on the stage and in the orchestra
challenges attention and enforces acknowledgment.
As the opera progresses, and the character de-
tached from the general group rises in individual
importance, the audience discover that they have
not been deceived by the earnests given in the pre-
vious finale. The organ is all that can be desired,
fresh and full throughout the whole range of an ex-
tensive register. It cannot be called bard or thin, or
harsh, or wiry, or indeed designated by any of the ob-
jectionable terms that are used to qualify the
endowments of the most successful vocalists. To
the physical advantages of the lady her cultivation
is fully commensurate, and when she reduces her
notes to the softest whisper, without sacrifice of
volume, it is hard to say whether art or nature
most contributes to the effect produced.
Of course, it. is in the great duet with Raoul that
the various merits of Mademoiselle Titiens are most
conspicuously shown. Here the actress shines forth
as well as the singer, but neither predominates at
the expense of the other. Tie sudden gesture with
which Valentine extends he:self against the door t•
the clinging attitude
esignateashler abandonment to the
with prevent
which she
s egress(i of Raoul,
all-absorbing sentiment of love, the exhibition of
remorseful shame that is the reaction to the out-
burst of unnsiiigated passion, are remarkable as so
many histrionic achievements in which force and
delicacy are singularly combined. But they be-
come doubly effective through the flue musical
declamations by which they are illustrated, and the
brilliancy with which the vocalist executes her
passages gives additional power to the intensity
with which the actress visibly exhibits her emotions.

An arti=t less eloquent in his song than Signor
Giuglini would be overpowered by so cimmanding
a person as Valentine in the third act ; but the
exigences of his position force the tenor to exert
himself to the utmost, and by pouring forth his
treasury of passionate notes he claims in friendly
rivalry the applause of all who hear him. This
elaborate duet, which tells a whole story of passion,
is the crowning feature of the opera when executed
by such artists as Mademoiselle Titiens and Signor '
Giuglini.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The Queen's box was on
Saturday evening occupied by Col. the Hon. Sir C.B.
Phipps, K.C.8., and Lady Phipps, Mrs. Sayer, Capt.
Sayer, C. 8., Mr. Farquharson (of Invercauld) Mr. Geo.
Farquharson, and the Missed Farquharson. Amonvt
the fashionable company honouring the theatre with
their pre. ence were the Prince Wittgerntein his
Excellency the Russian Minister, the Marquis of 'Clan-
ricarde, the Marquis of Sl!go, the Marchioness of Down-
shire, the Countess Dowager of Harrington, the Earl
and Counter of Mountobarles, the Earl of Cardigan, the
Eari of Lincoln, M. de Tolstoi, Vi;count and Viscountess
Doneraile, Viscount Exmouth, Lady Robert Grosvenor,
Lady O'Donel, Lady El zabeth Bulteel, Lord Foley,
Lord Sondes, Lord Sandy., Lord James Stuart, Lady
Charlotte Schrieber and the Misses Guest, Lady Marcus
Hill and Miss Hill, Sir Proby Cautley,
Sir Alex tnder Bannerman, Hon. Otway Toler, Admiral
Ryder Burton, K.H., Sir Ralph and Lady Howard,
Capt. Lyon, Mr. James Clay, M.P., hies, Carpenter,
Mr. A. C. Billing, Mr. Matthew Uzielli, Mr. 0. Morgan,
M.P., Mr. Longden, Mr. Theodore Uzielli, &c.
The last Indian mail was conveyed from Marseilles
to Paris in 10 boors. This is the greatest speed yet at-
tained, being at the rate of nearly 22 leagues an hour.
The Indian mail consists of only a post-office van in ad-
dition to the carriages containing the mail. The English
ipays for the train 3fr. per kilometre, which
whole ourney.
The annual dinner of the Artists Benevolent Fund
Society is fixed to take p
makesp post - offi3c,oofplace at the Freemasons' Tavern,
tof May—,-Charles Dck E
ens, eq., in
2e r. for the j
on Saturday the S
the chair,