The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-29 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT THE

ITALIAN OPERA, DUBLIN.

(From the Freeman's Journal.)
The opera season has closed in Dublin for the
present year, and the noblest composition of all—
the "Don Giovanni" of Mozart—vras reserved, as
a bonne bouche, for the concluding entertainment
on Saturday evening, and it would seem as if our
music-loving public, of all ranks and classes, had
-reserved all their enthusiasm for this occasion. It
has often been our pleasing task to record the oc-
currence of flattering demonstrations of popular
regard and admiration evinced towards eminent
actors and vocalists within the walls of the Theatre
Royal, but certainly on no occasion within our
memory have we witnessed such a furore as that
which pervaded the vast audience which contrived
to get crammed and packed into every part of
available space in every compartment of the theatre
on Saturday evening. Long previous to seven
o'clock every approach to the interior was besieged
by dense crowds. The colonnade leading to the
box entrance was densely thronged, and the crush
in the vicinity of the pit door was immense. At
the opening of the doors, the rush into the pit was
really awful, whilst the crowd poured in like an
avalanche into thegalleries, so that,in a marvelously
short time, the interior of the house was crowded in
every part. But " the cry was 'still they come ;'"
and we do believe that the problem of how many
living beings could be packed into a given
space, without suffocation ensuing, has seldom
been more effectually tested. After the close of the
first act there was a general call for Mademoiselle
Piccolomini, accompanied by loud cheering. The fair
chanteuse was led in front of the curtain, and was
greeted with renewed thunders of applause, &c.
Here an offering from "the gods," as well-con-
ceived as it was cleverly executed, was presented to
Mdllo. Piccolomini. From the roof of the theatre,
in front of the stage, a very beautiful wreath, or
corona), composed of! natural flowers of the rarest
kind, was seen descending, being let down by slen-
der strings from the top gallery at either side. This
wreath was taken by Sig. Mercuriali, who, after
disengaging it from its suspension, placed it upon
the brow of the fair donna, amidst one of the most
exciting scenes imaginable. Appended to the
wreath, and confined by a network of silk thread, I
was a beautiful canary bird. A richly-embossed
card was attached by red, blue, and white ribbons
to the wreath, bearing the following inscription :
" With the best wishes for her further fame and
further happiness, this wreath is presented by the
gods to Maria Piccolomini, as the most worthy
offering to genius, worth and beauty."
Mdlle. Piccolomini seemed deeply impressed
with this compliment, not for itself, but for the
cordial manner in which it was offered. The gods
then put their vocal choir into requisition, under
their conductor, wielding a white wand. They
sang with much taste the following original song,
the refrain of which was chorused by a large num-
ber of the audience :

SONG-" PIC CoLOMNI."
Air—" The Red, White, and Blue."
We thank thee, sweet daughter of beauty,
For the light of thy presence and song;
We thank thee, for 'tie but a duty
We feel as we cheer thee along.
The sweet winning grace, and the pleasure
That beams in thine eye while you sing,
Have leronght us a joy beyond measure,
For which we your praises now ring.
Chorus—For which we your praises now ring,
For which we your praises now ring—
Have brought us a joy beyond measure,
For which we your praises now ring.
We have twined thee, with friendship and feeling,
A garland of flowers for thy brow,
With the hope that though years may come stealing,
They will find thee as happy as now.
For thy pure mind no fitter a token
Than the wreath which we give you to-night ;
May thy fame, like that wreath, be unbroken,
And bring tq you always delight.
Chorus—And bring to you always delight,
And bring to you always delight—
May thy fame, like that wreath, be unbroken,
And bring to you always delight.
During the rest of the evening Mdllo. Piccolo-
mini wore the wreath on her arm. Subsequently
the toast of the Lord Lieutenant was given, and
responded to by the chorus of " He's a right gay
fellow," and loud cheers. Gen. Havelock and British
rule in India was then given with the air "Rule
Britannia." Whilst this was being sung the cur-
tain rose, revealing Signors Bellettiand Aldighieri
on the stage. They both waved their sombreros
in unison with the sentiment. After the second
act the toast of "The Ladies" was given, with an ap-
prints song; also "The Memory of M00r.." At
the close of the performance, the chief artistes, in
one body, were called forth, and showers of bou-
quets were flung at their feet, and the farewell of
the house was given in three parting cheers. Thus
has closed the Italian opera season in Dublin.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)