The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-09 00:00:00

.ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

The representation of " Les Huguenots," on
Saturday evening, for the first time this season,
was an important musical -event, respecting which
most of our readers will be glad to learn something,
although the cast, with Madame Grisi, Madame
Didee, Madlle. Marai, Signor Mario, Signor Tag-
liafico, Signor Polonini, and Signor Zelger, in the
principal characters, presented no novelty what-
ever.

It was Madame Grisi's first appearance since last
year, and an overwhelming reception given to her
whilst as Valentina she descended the long flight
of steps leading to the gardens of Chenonceaux.
Never of late years has this gifted lady more
worthily sustained her re
immediately up 7:Liation than on the oc-
casion'l,ter notice, when all the most
important scenPL and " points" of the arduous
character -Valentina were expressed with the fire
and tree of youth, combined with the finish, and
nap ered by the judgment, which matured ex-
perience can alone confer. The same species and
degree of praise is due to Signor Mario for his im-
personation of Raoul—another masterpiece in its
way, and the worthy companion picture to Grisi's
Valentina.

Madame Nantier Didiee showed us one of the
very best impersonations of the page Urbano which
the Italian lyric stage can boast, and Signor Zelger,
who promises to arrive at a Lablachian degree of
adipose, if not of vocal, celebrity, made an excellent
Mercello. In short, the performance of " Les
Huguenots" at Covent Garden was a triumphal
success, and may doubtless be repeated frequently
with honour, no less than pecuniary profit, to the
management. The house was crowded in every
part.

WYLD'S MAP OF ITALY.

THE THEATRE OF WAR.

A map of northern Italy is now indispensable
for every reader of newspapers, and Mr. Wyld has
not failed, with his usual promptitude, to furnish
us with one specially adapted to present require-
ments. No mere description can give in many
Birds what the map shows at a glance, of the
position of the invading and defending armies, the
latter, we trust, soon to become the invaders of the
country which has so long groaned beneath the
brutalities and political oppression of Austria. The
mountainous districts, which form three sides of
Piedmont—the plain which the Austrians first
entered, and mross which it was supposed they
would dash to Turin—the once more famous
Ticino, separating by an easily - passed boun-
dary, Lombardy. from Piedmont—the mightier
Po, which it joins at right angles, and on
which the Austrians are now principally manceuvr-
ing—all lie distinctly before the eye. The important
addition to modern warfare of railways is also
apparent ; we see how both the armies can be
easily reached by all the supplies their respective
countries can furnish. Very different in this respect
will be the position of both compared with that of
the Russians in the Crimea, and of our own soldiers
too, till Mr.Peto forwarded them with the railway
from Balaclava. The sea will be evidently a great
advantage to the French while they hold the rail-
way, which we see turning up from Genoa to
Alessandria and Turin. We need not say that in
a map of Mr.Wyld's, accuracy and fulness are sure
to be found. lire have found it so, as usual is the
present case.