The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-02 00:00:00

ITALIAN OPERA CONCERTS, CRYSTAL

PALAOP.

The announcement that these attractive enter-
tainmeLt would be rcnewed gave great satisfacion
to the patrons of the Crystal Palace, and the first
of a aeries of 12 concerts, whi.,•h took .pllce yester-
day, trorigl,t t etweEn 3,000 and 4,000 re sons to
the music-room, provided for the occasi n in the
great cent al trans-pt. The new conEtructi,n is
very sinilar in plan to tlat in which the perform-
ances to ,k place last season, the arrangement of
the pr. scenium, with the chorus and principal sing-
ers en the stage and the band in the o-chestra, be-
ing precisely the same. In soma respects the for-
mer was preferalle ; but as the prPparationsfor the
great 11,-,nc1,1 Festival made a change of Ei'e from
the nive to the triinaept indispensable, allowances
nmst, b 3 made. The effect of the music, vocal and
instrumental, though good, might still, perhaps,
be improved by some such expedient es was adopted
previously for shutting out the concee.-room (as far
as practicable) from the rest of the interior, and
which tended in a great measure t'r modify excess
Of reverberation, an inevitable condi ion of so vast
and peculiar a building. The best places for hear-
ing are in the stalls and galleries nearest to the or-
chestra., which are covered in by a roof of canvas,
an I she;te ed on either side by adequate contriv-
tences. The general aspect is anivated, cheerful,
and picturesque • and the idea of a musical fete
chumpetre as vividly suggested as before, the fea-
thered tr b. s, _

" In profuse stra;ns of unpremeditated art::
taking from time to time even a larger :hare in the
harmonious proceedings, and establishing a friendly
rivalry which adds to rather than detract; from
their charm.. The audience were evident' y_ delighted,
ani the succe,s of the peiformances gsue:ally was
net a bit less than that which crowned the and
taking last year.
The concert itself calls for lit'le remark. The
whole compaly of the Royal Italian Opera (Mario
excepted), with the chorus and the splendid orches-
tri, in all its pride of number, and efficiency, were
called int) request. The selection wa3 as follows :

PARTE PRIMA.
Overture— Zanberfloto
Aria—" Ah per sempre" (Puritani), Signor
Gra ziani
Madrigal—" Who shall win my lady fair I" Pearsall.
Duet—" Pronta io sou" (Don Pasquale), Ma-
dame" Grisi and Signor Ronconi
Wie naehte" (Der Freisehutz), Ma-
dame De :ries
" Ferbami Ognor" (Semiramide), Ma-
dame Grisi a d Madame Nantier
Didiee •
Air, kith ehorzs,—" Inflammatus" (Stab t
Mater), Madame Grisi .
PARTE SECONDA.

Mozart,

Donizetti.

Ariai,—'

Weber.

D uot

Rossini.

Aubcr.

O ,erture —Masaniello
Aria—" Alma soave" (Maria di Rohan), Sig-
nor Baraldi
"Vella S udi" (Elisir), Signors Gar-
doni and Tagliafico
Diet—" Da qual di" (Linda), Mademoiselle
Marai and Signor Gardo i
Aria —" San iagiero" (Maria). Madame Didiee Donizetti.
Romanza —" thin vergine" (Favorita), Signor
Gardoni
Finale—" Oh soino Carlo" Ernani
Co:dat tor, M. Sainton.

Duet—'

Douizetti.
Ver A.

To criticise such a -programme wou'd be super- 1
fluous. Every piece was ss fair il'ar as household
words. The l'oa's shire accorded to Don.zetti in
the second part was scarcely balancei by th-. 3 bril-
liant orchestral prelude to Atibet's lest optra, with
which it commenced; and certainly not a'oned for
by the pompons. and noisy morceau d'ensomb'e of
Signor Verdi, -which brought it to a rio ;0. How-
ever, the singers weie a)1 iu th&r livelife mood,
and exerte 1 themselves to the uttnest--the indomi-
table Grisi, who appeared three times in Part I.
(having to sing at night, in the " Trovatele, to
r alie up the account !), shining conspicuous above
them all. The madrigal of Pearsall was encored ;
and a like compliment was paid to Sinter Neri
Baraidi in the aria from "Maria di Rohan. We
must insist, nevertheless, that the ent.rtainment,
considered from a musical point of view, was essen-
tially poor, unworthy alike of the-Crystal Palace
and of tie powtrful resources of the Royal Italian
Opera. One great merit, however, calls for notice ;
it was short—two hours, an interval of repose be-
tween the first and second part nclut.led—com--
priiing the ex' eat of its duration.

RAILWAY IN TELLIG.IM CE.

OPENING OF THE BASINGSTOKE AND
SALISBURY.
This important link in the South-Western
scheme for a direct railway to the West of Eoglaud
was opened for passenger traffic yesterday—lessen-
ing the distance between London and Sadsbury 10
miles, and opening up a new and important agri-
cultural district hitherto unsupplied with facilities
for railway locomotion.
The line from Basingstoke to Andover—about
1.6 miles—has been worked fornearly three yews,
and the ext:niion of this branch to the city of Salis-
bury—about 17 miles—Constitutes the new railway.
The line traverses throughout the chalk formation
—the prevailing geological peculiarity of this district
of England. Without presenting any ratiaikabl.e
engineerieg d'ffieulty it has some rather heavy
arthwerks, which have been admirably executed by
Mr. Brassey, the eminent contractor. T,,e sui face
of the eiultry is chiefly sh:ep downs. There ars
only two s'ations c n the new line, Grately and
Porton ; bat Weyhill, the scene of the great a-rri-
cultural stock fair, and the important town of
Amesbury, are served by it, and a large accession
of traffic to the mother railway is anticipated from
the extension. The face of the cout,try traversed is
picturesque, and there are some intereAii g histo-
rical associations connected with the vicinity. Soon
after leaving Andover the village of Abbot's Ann is
passed,. remarkable as the scene of George the
Fourth's marriage with Mrs. Fitzherbert, which
took place at Red Rice, a curious old family man-
sion formerly belonging to the Pitt family. The
river Teat meanders through the valleys of this
district, and adds much to the beauty of the land-
scape. Amport Hall, the ancient seat of the Win-
chester family, now in process of rebuilding, is next
approached, and presently Grately station, over-
looked by Qurrley hill, ou the summit of which is
an eld Roman encampment, commanding an eaten-
rive prospect of 20 miles in. every direction. The
" Hampsbite Gap," a long ridge covered with trees
and brushwood, here forms a natural division be-
tweenthe counties of Hants and Wilts, shortly after
entering which Porton station--the point of con-
nection with Amesbury—is reached. The country
continues remarkably picturesque —thenceforward
to Salisbury, at present entered over the Bishop-
stoke line, but the new railway will hereafter have
a station at Fieherton, ou the other side of the
city.
A largo part,/ interested in the undertaking left
London yesterday morning to test. the new line,
and afterwards, on, the invitation of Mr. Brassey,
to dine at Salisbury. Both operations were pre-
eminently successful and agreeable. The railway
proved to be in capital working condition, in
proof,of which we may mention that Mr. Beattie,
with one of hiS coal engines, ran the whole dis-
tance of 34A miles in rather less than an hour ;
and the dinner was all that could be desire .1,
Mr. Jones, of the White Hart, exhibiting a
talent for, catering which will no doubt secure
him extensive patronage during the Agricul-
tural Society's Show in the ensuing autumn.
Mr. Lacy, the Hon. Ralph Dutton, M.P., and.
Col. Luard, represented the directors of the South-
Western Railway, the former presiding. Sir Chas.
Fox and several other engineers of eminence were
present, and Mr. Brassey (who was himself detained
en the continent) was ably represented by Mr.
Ogi'vy and Mr. Tomline. The Mayor of Salisbury,
Mr. Payne, Mr. Jacobs, and other influential gen-
lemen of the district, joined the party at the White
Flare. The former propovd "Success to the New
Railway ;" and the latter, in responding to'his own
health, mentioned as a remarkable fact, reflecting
great credit on Mr. Brassey's conduct of the works,
that, although acting as a magistrate in the neigh-
bonihood, not a single ease arising from rniscon-
duct on the pert of the workmen had arisen during
the construction of the railway.
Mr. Crcmbie, the secretary, Mr. Soott, the ge-
neral manager, Mr. Stress, the engineer, and Mr.
Young, the company's superintendnt, accompa-
nied the party. Mr. Godson wasp revented being
present by pressure of business.
The return train left Salisbury at six. o'clock,
and ran into Waterloo station at half-past nine.

THE INDIAN JUNCTION TELEGRAPH

COMPAIVY.

The following letter has been addressed by the
In&a, house t..) the chairman of this company
" East India-House, April 30.

Sir,--With reference to the correspoadence that has
passed en the subject of the establishment of telegraphic
communication between this country and India by way
of Asiatic Turkey and the Persian Gulf, I am com-
manded to state that the Court of Directors of the East
India Company have resolved to meet the wishes of the
European and Indian Telegraph Company, by allowing
Sir W. O'Shaughneesy to accept the appointment of COL-
sulting engineer to that company.
" The Court have likewise resolved to sanction the
employment by the Telegraph Company in the construc-
tion of the line through Asiatic Turkey of Captain Chas;
Douglas, of the Bengal Artillery, and Lieutenant Arthur
Hawes, 38th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry, it being
understood that the salary and allowances of these offi-
cers during such employment are to be paid by the Tele-
graph Company.--I am, sir, your most obedient burnt le
servant, J.Amf.s C MELVILL.
66 W. P, Andrew Esq."