The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-20 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA

A very welcome harbinger of " coming • summer"
lies before us in the shape of the program; ne for the
Italian Opera season for 1861, just issued by Mr.
Gye, containing a degree of promise and novelty
which is pleasant to anticipate. In looking through
the prospectus of engagements, we may miss an
artiste or two who have become such familiar
favourites with musical spirits, that we feel a touch
of disappointment at being obliged to go through
an Italian Opera season without them ; neverthe-
less, there is so much offered that we must needs be
grateful to Mr. Gye for his indefatigable efforts to
satisfy the public and to do credit to his proprietor-
ship.
The leading sopranos will comprise—Madame
Ortolani-Tiberini, from Milan ; Madlle. Rosa Csil-
lag, Madame Miolan-Carvalho, Madame Didiee,
Madame Penco, Madlle. Corbari, Madame Ruders-
dorff, Madame Leva, and Madame Tagliafico. The
tenors are—Signor Tamberlik, Monsieur Jourdan
(his first appearance in England), Signor Lucchesi,
Signor Rossi, Signor Neri-Baraldi, and Signor
Tiberini (his first appearance in England). The
baritones consist of—Signor Ronconi, Signor Tag-
liafico, Signor Polonini, Signor Patriossi, and Signor
Graziani. The basses of—M. Zelger, and, probably,
Herr Formes. Mr. Costa, that distinguished and
unrivalled " director and conductor of the music,"
retains his post ; indeed, he is so eminently and
essentially incorporated with the successes of the
Italian Opera, that the orchestra without him would
be something like the constellation of the Ursa
Major deprived of its chief pointer-star.
The chorographic art will be chiefly illustrated
by Madlle. Zina Richard and Madlle. Salvioni, a
fresh danseuse from Italy ; the former has already
won considerable laurels in the ballet department,
but Madlle. Salvioni is, we believe, quite new to our
boards. We may expect the same amount of grand
scenic effect that we have been accustomed to at
this theatre, seeing that the names of Mr. William
Beverley, Mr. Telbin, and Mr. Grieve are the pre-
siding rulers of the pictorial arrangements ; while
a great amount of completeness in their various
duties may be expected from chorus master, leader
of the military band, director of the ballet music,
ballet master, and "poet," when filled respectively
by Messrs. Smythson, Godfrey, Nedaud, Desplaces,
and Maggioni. Mr. A. Harris is still to be stage
manager, and he has already proved himself
thoroughly up to his business in every way.
The opening night will be on the 2d of April,
when Meyerbeer's great work, " Le Prophete," will
be produced, with Mdlle. Rosa Csillag as Fides, and
Tamberlik as Jean of Leyden. This opera was
produced last season, but had only six representa-
tions, however, such was the enthusiasm and
applause attending them that we imagine it will be
received with great gusto as the inaugurative opera
of the coming season. Rossini's enchanting master.
piece, " Guglielmo Tell," will be given during the
second week, sustained by such a host of co-opera-
tive talent that must render it a great and attractive
feature. Seven years have elapsed since its last
representation, therefore it will constitute a novel
allurement to a large portion of the musical public.
The " cast" has seldom been equalled ; the
characters being thus distributed, Matilde,
Madame Miolin-Carvalho ; Gemini, Madame
Didiee ; Gesler, Signor Tagliafico ; Un Pesea-
tore, Signor Neri-Baraldi ; G.iglielnio Tell,
Mons. Faure ; Arnoldo, Signor Tamberlik ; and
Gualaero (most probably), Herr Formes, with
considerable addition to the chores. Verdi's new
opera, "Il Ballo in Maschera," which has created
some sensation in Italy during the list year, is to
be given, supported by a combination of power
which will conduce to afford it every possible ad-
vantage. Bellini's "Il Pirata" will introduce
Signor Tiberini as the principal tenor, thereby
fully testing his standard of singing. Don Gio-
vanni" wilt be performed according to the original
text, and Gluck's classical work, " Orfeo e Euri-
dice" is promised ; which will be a great treat to
musical amateurs. We may sum up our notice by
saying, that from the rich character of the pro-
gramme, and the knowledge that Mr. Gye in-
variably keeps his word when he ean, we can
safely predict one of the most gratifying and suc-
cessful seasons that the Italian opera or its audiences
have yet experienced.

ADMIRALTY WARNING SIGNALS.—Tae subjoined
warnings of danger were received yesterday at the Under-
writers' Rooms in Liverpool from Admiral Fitzroy, and
duly posted .—At 12 at noon, the message was, " A gale,
probably from N.W. to N.E." At 2 p.m. the message was,
"A. dangerous wind expected ; its probable first direction
from N. of W. or E."

A special meeting of the South Eastern Railway
Company is called for the 4th of April, to sanction a pro-
posed agreement with the Charing-cross Railway Com-
pany for the working of that line by the South Eastern,
and to consider two bills now pending in Parliament. One
of these is to enable the South Eastern " to raise a further
sum of money, and to increase their subscription to the
Charing-cross Railway Company," whilst the second
authorises the Charing-cross Company " to make a line
of railway from their authorised line into the City of Lon-
don, with an additional line in Southwark, and to raise
further moneys," ac.

The impression gains ground that the Bank
directors will on Thursday reduce the rate of discount to 7
per cent. It has been remarked that, seeing the Court have
occasionally raised the rate on other days besides a Thurs-
should, now there is the prospect of cheaper
day, they
money, advise an alteration without further delay. Pro-
bably they would have done so before this but for the threat-
ening aspect of affairs in America.
The next West India steamer is expected to
bring some rather considerable parcels of gold from Cali-

fornia.
The Austrian merchant shipping from 1863 to
1860 increased by 327 vessels of 133,696 tons, and in that
space of time it lost 225 by wrecks.
Under the new arrangements proposed by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to Exchequer-
bills, the improvement will be effected of causing them to
bear interest at so much per annum instead of per diem, by
which they will be assimilated to all other forms of nego-
tiable securities. Thus, instead of 2d. per day, which
yields £3 Os. 10d. per annum, or ltd., which yields £2 ss.
7td., the rates adopted in future cases will be 2i or 3 per
cent., or any other even sum that may be found necessary.

THE BRITISII ARMY.—According to a Parlia-
mentary return issued last week the number of effectives
on the British establishment, not including officers, on the
Ist of February last, was 82,410 at home, and 54,907 in the
colonies. Of the Indian establishment, the numbers were
67,909 in India, and 13,429 in depots at home. The number
of embodied militia was 5,068. The average coat per man
of the British establishment, in 1859-60, was £54 4s. sd.
THE NEW STREET CONNECTING SOUTHWARK
AND WESTMINSTER.—Yesterday and the preceding day
the materials of a large number of houses, hop warehouses,
and other buildings in Counter-street, Coffin's-yard, Red
Cross-street, Southwark, were sold by Messrs. Pullen,
EverFfield, and Horne, auctioneers to the Metropolitan
Board of Works, and notices of removal were given to the
occupiers of premises in Castle-street, in the Southwark-
bridge-road, the sites of which are required for the forma-
tion of the new street, the works of which are making rapid
progress in several points of the line. In the afternoon
workmen were engaged in pulling down the buildings, the
materials of which were sold. The sites will be cleared
immediately, and an opening, extending from the High-
street to the Southwark-bridge-road, completed.

Mr. C. H. SruRG EON'S TABERNACLE.—The pre-
iminary meeting for the opening of this immense place for
Divine service was held yesterday in the school-room and
lecture-hall, when a grand fancy bazaar was held, and at-
tended by upwards of 2,000 persons. The halls and rooms,
large as they are, were fully occupied with stalls. The
whole of the flooring was fitted up with seats made by Mr.
Greenfield, of Lambeth-terrace, and were greatly admired
for their elegant appearance and cheapness. In the bazaar
there were a peacock and peahen, two beautiful birds, the
upset price being marked at £4 4s. Upon the cage in which
they were confined were some verses, which commenced
thus : _ _ _

" The birds you now see so youthful and gay,
Are sent by their owners the truth to convey;
They feel much indebted for helps on the road,
To Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the servant of God.
To help a good cause they tender their aid :
Right glad will they be when the debt Is all paid.
Then strive altogether, and let the world see,
The Great Metropolitan Chapel is free."
The ladies at the various stalls did all they could to command
ready sales, and several hundred purchases were made ; but
the centre of attraction seemed to be a large stall presided
over by Mrs. Spurgeon, who had perhaps the most miscel-
laneous assortment of goods in the bazaar ; for she not only
sold baby-linen, purses, pictures, and other fancy goods,
but also dealt in daggers—one taken at Delhi, and another
(if WQ correctly remember the fair lady's statement) at
.
Sebab:9Pol. Mrs, Spurgeon tried, ala George Robins, to
dispose of These t:.tiele4'
stating that they would be very
sites ; but had not found a
useful to those fond of cu::
night. The
purchaser for them up to nine o'clOcit
bazaar is to be kept open until Saturday net