The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-10 00:00:00

FRENCH THEAT.RICALS.

ITALIAN OritA.—The well-known " Semiramide" of
Rossini, with Madame Pence and Mine. Alboni as the Queen
and Arsace, with Badiali as the Assur, drew a brilliant
assemblage here on Tuesday night, and its beautiful music
was listened to and applauded with an enthusiasm which
proved that though other modern composers maybe duly
appreciated and welcomed, "Ii Gran Maestro" still holds
the first place in the favour—the heart of hearts—of the
public. Nothing can be more elegant or brilliant than the
music of this opera, though, considering the tragic
nature, we may occasionally wish for ' something more
grave and powerful amid the honeyed sweetness of
the melodies with which it abounds. Coming at
once, hOwever,
,to its execution, it is almost superfluous
to state that the singing of Alboni in Arsace is almost
perfection. The opening cavatina drew down long-.
continued plaudits, and to the close of the role she was not
less admirable. She felt herself at home in her old part,
and not only sang, but even acted with a degree of • spiri
and abandon which surprised the spectator. Her costume,
it is true, is something of the nondescript class, evidently
arranged with a view to conceal her too ample beautie..%,.
which male attire certainly is not calculated to display to
advantage. Mme. Penco sang and acted splendidly. Her
voice betrayed a little nervousness in the first scene, but it
had disappeared before the commencement of her first great
air " Bel Haggle," which she gave delightfully. But
probably the gem of the night was the duo be-
tween the two ladies, " Ebben a to fereici," one of the
loveliest melodies ever composed, and its execution
by Mmes. Alboni and Pence is a thing to be
remembered ; taste, tenderness, expression, brilliancy,
nothing was left wanting by these accomplished artistes
,to give every passage—every note its proper nuance; the
result was indeed delightful. Needless to add that it was
repeated by a general demand, and the rival nightingales
saluted with reiterated applause. M. Badiali proved him-
self, as before, a complete master of his profession. As an
actor and as a singer his Assur takes a high place. His
voice reminds the hearer of that of Lablache, wanting at
present, however, the roundness of that magnificent organ,
but still preserving wondrous flexibility, more perhaps than
the great basso ever possessed. Belart gave the

little part of Idreno with taste and sweetness ; like
Mme. Alboni, he is always at home with Rossini.
The high priest found a good representative in.
Ang,elini ; and 'to crown all, the choruses and orchestra
went capitally. The opera was repeated on Wednesday by
" special desire," and went off equally well: It was to have
been repeated-again on Thursday, but from the indisposi-
tion of Mme. Penco was unavoidably deferred until Satur-
day.

FlLANcAlS.—Picard's pleasant little comedy, "Les.deux
Menages," has been revived here, and in the hands of
Regnier, Leroux, and the Mdlles. Brohan, is found amus-
ing; though the talent of the writer was by no means of
the highest order. The comedians we have named carry
it off with great spirit, and the piece, as now acted, agree-
ably diversifies the performances, without adding much to
their attraction. ,

VARIETES.—This theatre appears in a vein of success.
The annual " Revue," which is entitled " Astu va la
Comete, mon gas ?" bids fair to be as profitable as the
" Bibelots du Diable." The piece is of the usual character
—a broad satire upon everything at home and abroad which
the authors, Messrs. Cogniard and Clairville, have been
able to bring under notice. The doings of the French and
English in China, the comet, the fashions, the theatres, the
alterations in Paris, &c., &c., are all made the subject of
sundry jokes in prose and verse, which, though not of a
very brilliant or original cast, were quite good (or bad)
enough to please the crowd, and, with the aid of Mlles.
Scriwanek, • Alphonsine, Boisgontier, and a host of fair
colleagues, and the comic strength of the gentlemen of the
company, secured the piece a most flattering reception.
GArrE.—Our old acquaintance " Cartouche" has turned
up here in a new form, that is to say, the incidents are
different from those by which this famous criminal's adven-
tures were exhibited on former occasions, though his in-
genuity and cleverness in defeating the police furnish the
materials of the drama. The public here show themselves
by no moans favourable to the latt.n., for every triumph of
Caitonehe over the authorities is received with shouts of
admiration and sympathy. D amain() plays the accomplished
robber with amusing spirit, and the names of the writers,
Messrs. Deanery and Doguii, were given out with the usual
domen.stratNns of success.' - •

The Cirque,lmpciiallas this week given the 800th re-
presentation.of " Les Pilules du Diable 1"

lye lately mentioned the debut of Mile. Thomson at the
Grand Opera, apropes to 'which we find the folloWing
remarks in the London Court Journal. We trust the
statement is founded on misinformation, and shall be
pleased to receive a refutation of the charge it conveys
"bliss Augusta Thomson, of Glasgow, appeared on
Wednesday evening in the character of Matilda, in the
opera of Guillaume Tell,' and with complete success.
The:voice of this young lady is a soprano of extraordinary
volume, purity, and beauty; and, although the role of
Matilda was not by any means calculated to show. her
great talents to the best advantage, she fairly cap-
tivated the audiefie.e by her graceful and fine
`rendering of the air Sombre foret,' and the suc-
ceeding duo with Arnold. Many ' bravos' greeted
the young stranger, and in the following acts she fully
maintained her newly acquired fame. Miss Thomson is of
small stature, but assumes on the stage a certain dignity of
bearing, which, coupled with her spirited and expressive
features and excellent dramatic action,•engaged at once the
sympathy of the audience. To the shame of parties in
authority and others at the Grand Opera, notwithstanding
her well-known ability (and perhaps because of it), this
young foreigner has only arrived at her debut after encoun-
tering a mass of intrigues, jealousies, ma hindrances,
interposition
friends, would have kept her back altogether. Instead of
that generous treatment which any young debutante had a
right to expect, all kinds of obstacles and vexations were
thrown in her way."

who is in England, has, just
Instead of a mere selection of airs, as at
eßni
cl cetdt
ntel
e
highly successful.
commenced csopenelico:sieori concertwhich promises to be
an ordinary concert, his intention is to give a complete
little opera. We find the following notice on the subject
in the London _Musical World :—" The Operatta
Company.--We found great hopes upon this new
undertaking., and report speaks in high terms of, the
merits of the piece, entitled Caught and Caged,'
with which their repertoire is to be inaugurated; the libretto
being from the practised pen of Mr. J. Palgrave Simpson,
and the .music by Sig. Emanuele Biletta, in addition to
which it will have the advantage of the personal direction
Of the composer. The artists to whom the interpretation'
is entrusted are : Madame Enderssohn, Mrs. Tennant,
Messrs. Patey and Tennant. Appropriate scenery and,cos-
tunics are promised, and the object is to present a complete
opera, adapted alike to theatre, concert-hall, 'or drawing-
room. Signor Biletta, and his little troupe are about im-
mediately to commence a provincial tour, and are already
engaged in various parts of the country."

ACCIDENT TO SIR E. LUGARD.—On Thursday'
last Sir EdWard Digard, accompanied by his lady, and
his sister, Mrs. Robinson, of St Mary's-lodge, Rcedvalo,
Teignmouth, with whom the gallant knight has been
lately residing, attended a dinner party at Dawlish, and on
returning thence atubcut half-past 11 in the evening, in a
hired carriage, the horse took fright and set off at a rapid
pace down the. Dawlish-road, at the bottom of which the
carriage overturned, and, its inmates were thrown out. Sir
Edward has sustained a fracture of three ribs, his lady has
her shoulder bone broken, and Mrs. Robinson is severely
injured, and we hear her life is despaired of.