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

FRENCH THEATRICALS.

ITALIAN OPERA. ,--The well-known " Semiramide" of
Rossini, with Madame Penco and Mme. 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 may be duly
appreciated and welcomed, "Il 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 beauties,
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 Raggio," 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 Penco 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 ABsur 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
Angelini ; 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.

VARIETEB.—This theatre appears in a vein of success. ,
The annual " Revue," which is entitled " Astu va la
Comete, mon gas P" bids fair to be as profitable as the
" Bibelots du Diable." The piece is of the usual character
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.
GAITE.—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 means favourable to the Latter, for every triumph of
Cartouche over the authorities is received with shouts of
admiration and sympathy. Dumaine plays the accomplished
robber with amusing spirit, and the names of the writers,
demonstrations of success.
n out with the usual
Messrs. Deunery and Dogue, were gi
ve
The Cirque Imperial has this week given the 800th re-
presentation of " Les Pilules du Diable!"
apropos to which we find the following
We lately mentioned the debut of Mlle. Thomson• at the
Grand
iOpnerathe London Court Journal. We trust the
remarks
statement is founded on misinformation, and shall be
pleased to receive a refutation of the charge it conveys
Miss Augusta Thomson, of Glasgow, appeared on
To
Wednesday evening in the character of Matilda, in the
operahe
voiceo f
g Tell,'lady
isanda sowipranth
soprano of
pexletteraosrducinacer;
volume, purity, and beauty ; and, although the ride of
Matilda was not
by any means calculated to show her
great talents to the best advantage, she fairly cap-
tivated the audience 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 witii:her spirituel 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, and hindrances,
which, but for her own energy and the• interposition of
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."