The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-03 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Last evening Signor Corsi, a baritone of great conti-
nental reputation, made his first appearance in England
as Nino, in Verdi's opera of that name. Much was ex-
pected from him, especially as an actor, and in this re-
spect we may venture to say that he fully realised the
anticipations of the audience, and would also, in all pro-
bability, have been equally successful as a vocalist, but
for a severe cold, and the anxiety inseparable from a
debut, which deprived his voice of much of its force, and
occasionally rendered his intonation uncertain. We
have rarely seen better acting on the lyric stage than
Signor Corsi's. Throughout the second and third acts
of this opera, and his singing, at least in one duet, " 0
di (pal onta aggravasi," where Abigail induces the de-
rnented king to sign a warrant for the execution of the
Babylonians, was every way worthy of his long-esta-
blished fame.. This was redemanded, but Signor Corsi
was evidently unable to go through it a second time,
and could only bow his acknowledgments of the intended
honour.
Madlle. Spezia, who has been steadily advancing in
public favour ever since her debut as Leonora, in "La
Favorita," appeared last night to much greater advan-
tage than she had hitherto done, and achieved, we may
add, her first really great success.
The subordinate parts were well supported by Madlle.
Ramos and Signor Mercnriali. Many of the admirers
of Signor Verdi declare "Nino" to be his best work,
and it is certainly in some respects superior to his more
recent productions. The opera, moreover, had not been
performed for some years, and therefore much of the
charm of novelty belongs to its present revival.
The principal artists were called before the curtain
several times in the course of the evening, and the per-
formance was warmly applauded from first to last.
The Queen's box was occupied by the Hon. Caroline
Fitzroy, Miss Harriet Fitzroy, Mr.
Cavendish, Mr. Storer, and party. Amongst the
C a v e
Charlesn d
distinguished visitors also' honouring the theatre with
their presence on this occasion we observed the -Duke of
Wellington, the Marchioness of Clanricarde and Lady
Bb'
Miss
Margaret De Burgh, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the'
Marquis of Sligo and party, Frances Countess of, Walde•
grave, the Countess Grosvenor, the Countess Dowavr
of Harrington and, Mrs. Highmore, the
,Countess of
Clarendon, the Earl of Sefton, the Earl of West/net-eland,
Earl Granville! 'tis Earl of Chesterfield, the Earl( of
Wilton and party, Earl Grey, the Viscount Canter-
bury, Viscount Exmouth, Viscount Grey de Wil-
ton, Viscount Curzon, Viscount 'Chelsea, his Excel.;
leucy *General Almonte (the Minister Plenipotee-
tiary of Mexico), Jon Jose M. Gonzalez de Is Vega
(Premier Secretary), Don Angel Huici and party,
Lord Seaton, the Hon. Mr. Pot tescne, Colonel the Hon.
Jima Macdonald,,C.B., Lord Burghersb, Lord Beau--
clerk, Lord Charles Bruce, Lord and Lady Elcho, the
Hon. Mr. Villiers, Lady Theresa Lewis, Lady Anne
Beckett, the Hon. Mrs. Cost and party, the Hon.
Francis Egerton, the Hon. Julian Fane, General the
Hon. H. Cavendish, the Hon. Dudley Ward and the
Han. Mrs. Ward, the Hon. Mrs. Doyle, the Hon. H.
Grey, General Sir G. Bowles, K.C.8., Sir Geo. Womb-
well, Bart.. Sir John Lowther, Bart., Sir H. Webb,
Bart.. Sir Robt. Adair, Bart., Lady Louisa Pennant,
Mr. Strapini, Mr. Alderman Salomons and Mrs. Salo-
mons, Sir John and Lady Thorold, Sir Charles Aldis and
Lady Aldis, Mr. Oust, Mr. Josephs, Mr. W. Delafield,
Mr. Harvey Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo, Mr. and
Mrs: Colville, Colonel Dickson, Colonel Lockyer Free-
stun, Captain Marshall, Captain Lyon, Captain Hogge,
Captain Peyton, Captain Middleton and party, Captain
Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Carpenter, Mr.
R. Dick, Mr. J. -Wray, Mr. Cutler, Mr. and Mrs.
Douglas Moffatt, Mrs. J. P. Heywood, Mr. Kingscourt,
Mr. Trelawney, Mr. Brereton Trelawney, jun., M. and
Madame Lizardi, Mr. and Mrs. C. Palmer, Mrs. Horace
Twiss, Mr. and Mrs. Bingham, Mr. A. C. Billings, Mr.
Fortescue, dtc.

THE ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA-LYCEUM.

Madlle. Victoire Balfe's second appearance took place
last night, and was in every respect most successful.
Having recovered from the nervousness of a first night,
the charming young debutante produced increased effect
in alt those points we remarked in our first notice, and
we predict for her a most triumphant career in the musi-
cal world. The Lyceum theatre is the most ungrateful
in Europe for sound. It shows all the defects of the voice
and none of the good qualities. It makes the most
powerful voice appear weak. One of the great artistes
of European reputation made a most just remark, that
it was like a great swimmer, that can only prove that 'he
can swim, by swimming against the current. On this
account Madlle. Baits did not choose an arena for her
debut to. make a yoke heard to advantage. However,
her voice is a pure soprano, quite peculiar in its
timbre, fresh, although slightly veiled, and most
sympathetic., that speaks right to the hearts of her
hearers, and reminds them in many of her notes of those
of Jenny Lind. Her style of singing is the pure italian
school. Her phrasing and execution are quite surprising
for so young a Creature, and we cannot help compli-
menting her on the distinct and beautiful manner she
pronounces the Italian language. She was recalled
after each act by,the unanimous voice of the most
crowded night of the season, when she was applauded
most enthusiastically. She was ably supported by Gar-
doni and Ronconi. We understand Madlle. Tictoire
Balfe's next rule will be Maria in "La Figlia del
Reggimento."