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

HER MAJESTY'S TIIBATRE.

On the stage, lyrical and non-lyrical, nothing is
more common than a triumphant success that leaves
a defeated 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 tills clai4oUr of applauding
shouts proclaims the -victory of Went. The coolest
judgment may be biassed by a dazzling and deafen-
ing combination of wreaths, bouquets, shouts, calls,
and acknowlegments ; but, nevertheless, a little
knot of Stoics will often be found to remain un-
moved in the midst of the stormiest demonstra-
tions, and in the long run these frequently remain
in full possession of the field. As tbesmallest quan-
tity of yeast is capable of leavening an incalculable
quantity of dough, so will a handful of rational
maicontents 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 he
fully appreciated. The part of Valentine, which
she has selected for her first appearance, seems
written with the deliberate intent that theartistshall
not too early take her hearers by Er orm. 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 displayer). 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 te, ms that are used to qualify the
eniowinents of the most successful vocalists. To
tsh e f
u ll
y physical
uuu
a ma de vnas nu tr as gt
ee,s
ao the
nf
dw hl
lc! y herhe cultivationreduces
r
vnmoooltsuetms
contributes
itt ltheibsu
hesoftestasrtdo to
ttsaye
whisper,ffect ;without sacrifice of
he
rtudheuruedatt. or nature
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. Tee sudden gesture with
which Valentine extends he• self against the door tia
prevent the egress of Raoul, the clinging attitude
with which she designates her abandonment to the
all-absorbing sentiment of love, the exhibition of
remorseful shame that is the reaction to the out-
burst of unmitigated passion, are remarkable as so
many histrionic achievements in which force and
delicacy are singularly combined. But they be-
come doubly effective thrones' the- fine musical
declamations by which they are illustrated, and the
btilliancy with which the vocalist executes her
passages gives additional power t) the intensity
with which the actress visibly exhibits her emotions.
An artist less eloquent in his song than Signor
Giuglini would be overpowered by so c mmantllng
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 bear 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 Invercauld) Mr. Geo.
Farquharson, and the Misses Farquharson. Amongst
the fashionable company honouring the theatre with
th, it presence were the Prince Wittgenstein, his
Excellency the Russian Minister, tae Marquis of Clan-
ricarde, the Marquis of Sligo, the Marchioness of Down-
Aire, the Countess Dowager of Harrington, the Earl
and Countess of .Mourteharles the Earl of Cardigan, the
x
tuberL
eel,
SCIELDEI
tj,
Charlotte
idatrdr.lA,ldyri
teol
rrlosf
oaeat,
Dneedi
un:Liosrcedvt
itesoi
\,eoeb,
rincor,i
3:o3NLabo,i:rena.,
dr.
natHduaeyeEstni
Ell,nuatstldl,hns,
zEestrulli,
:nphri
RalpLoh
thodisi tGyt:
jiaywi
aiunnt .d
d,eVest, atioGyeur,Ciri
,yaysrdaH:ocA.
Carpenter,
po,
Fdivui
cew:Leniun,
stall
till
.ceecri
eyisdarr.yss:::
n.
ay
Capt. Lyon, Mr. James Clay, M.P.,
Mr. A. C. Billing, Mr. Matthew Uzielli, Mr. 0. Morgan,
Mr. Longden, Mr. Theodore &c.
The last Indian mail was conveyed from
aremedy Marseillese:a
t.
ttainoPed,being a
arisin i°
ht theour rate
hours, This
hi is the ate
of nearly 22 leagues an hoar,
The Indian mail consists of only'
the a"t-poffice
he T v a
diti,n to t'rie carriages containing mail. English
post-
, office pays for thewh
train e
j3ofurr,.nep3e.r kilometre, which
makes 3 200 fr. the
se tn Tavern,
a turund,
soTeihetey is annual
on Saturday the sth o f May—Charles Dickens, Eq., in
the chair. thiestFs'rel3emBnat
fixeddtioentaerkeofplathceeaAtrt E .