The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-12 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Mozart's chef d'ceuere, Il Don Giovanni, which is
without exception the most perfect opera in the
world, was produced here last evening, in perhaps the
Most perfect manner in which it has ever been pro-
duced. The following was the cast :
Donna Anna ... Madlle. Parodi
Donna Elvira ... Madame Giuliani.
Zerlina ... Madame Sontag.
Don Giovanni ... ... Signor Coletti.
Don Ottavio ... Signor Calzolari.
Masetto ... ... Signor F. Lablache.
Leporello .. ... Signor Lablache.
We had imagined it scarcely possible to cast this opera
more strongly than it was cast last season at her
Majesty's Theatre, but we must confess that the cast
of the present season is even still stronger, stronger
by all the difference between the Zerlina of Madlle.
Alboni and that of Madame Sontag. The Zer-
lina of Madame Sontag ,is perfect. She is
by far the best Zerlina that has ever ap-
peared upon the lyrical stage. There is a win-
ning simplicity dashed with a coquettish arch-
ness about her acting of the part which is perfectly
fascinating, and then she is so graceful, so naturally
lady-like, yet so perfectly artless and so completely
void of guile, that her Z3rlina is, without exception,
the most perfect representation of the character ever
seen, and only to be compared to her Susanna, her
Rosina, and her Norina. Her singing was exqui-
sitely beautiful and true to the music ; she seldom
indulged in ornament, and when she did
they were in exquisite keeping with the text, and
were such as Mozart himself would have
written for the part, could he have foreseen the advent
of such a perfect artiste as Madame Sontag. Her
acting in the " La ci darem" scene was a fascinating
piece of coquetry restrained by rustic timidity,
and her singing in this far-famed duet was exquisitely,
beautiful ; it is needless to say that the duet was en-
thusiastically encored, as indeed was every other
piece in the opera in which Madame Sontag took a
part. The " Bata, Matti " was the very perfection
both of singing and acting; beginning slowly, and
in a somewhat melancholy mood, she gradually
lapsed into playful coquetry and then burst out into
joyous exultation, as Masetto gradually yielding to
her coaxing, at length consents to a reconciliation.
The greatest triumph, however, was reserved for the
last, it was the " Vedrai Carino," which was rendered
in a style that, for purity, of taste, for exquisite feel-
ing, for flute-like sweetness of tone, and for marvel-
lous perfection of execution, has never been equalled.
The audience were stilled into breathless admiration
during her performance of this beautiful aria, and at

its conclusion there was an outburst of enthusiastic
applause and a loud and unanimous call for its repe-
tition, with which Madame Sontag gracefully corn-
'plied. Coletti, who made his first appearance
fur the season, was in excellent voice, and
acted the part
.of the Don with great spirit.
Hz sang the music excellently well, was
encored in " La ci darem," and in " Finche han dal
Vino," and ought to have been encored in " Deh
vieni albs finestra," the serenade in the second act,
which he rendered with great taste. Mademoiselle
Parodi exhibited immense tragic power as Donna
Anna. Her denunciation of Don Giovanni as the
murderer of her father was intensely impassioned.
Madame Giuliani sang the music of 14Ivira with
great taste, and Calzolari has added greatly to his
well.earned fame, by his , admirable performance
of Don Ottavio. His vocalization was perfect
throughout, and he was most deservedly
encored in "Il mio tesero," which we have
never heard more exquisitely rendered. Lablache
was the Leporello, c'est tout dire en un mot;
and the Masetto of Frederick Lablache was worthy
the Leporello.of his father. In the ball scene Car-
lotte Grisi and Marie Taglioni (the latter habited en
Cavalier) danced the minuet and the zarabunda
in the most graceful and picturesque style ima-
ginable—each pose was a study 'fur a sculptor.
The zarabunda was encored. Between the acts
Mademoiselle Amalia Ferraris danced her grand pas,
and was received with the greatest enthusiasm. Les
Matarnorphoses concluded the evening's entertain-
ment. We cannot conclude this notice without pay-
ing honour due to Mr. Balfe and the orchestra, for
the admirable manner in which the former conducted
and the latter performed the beautiful music of the
masterpiece of Mozart. It'was worthy of the theatre,
of the conductor, of the artistes, and of the Maestro.
The theatre was crowded in every part.
The Queen's box was occupied by Lady Emily
Seymour, Miss Seymour, Colonel and the lion. Mrs.
Berkeley Drummond, and Captain H. Seymour.
Amongst the company were the Duke and Duchess
of Montrose, his 'Excellency the Russian Minister,
M. de Berg, his Excellency the Swedish Minister,
the Marquis of Bath, the Earl Bruce, Viscount
Cantilupe, Viscount Somerton, Viscount Dupplin,
Lord. Southampton, Lord Adolphus Fit zcla-
rence, Lord George Paget, the Count de
Berke, Count de Chivry. M. de Breuil, Lord
E. Bruce, Lady Augustus Wentworth, the Misses
Wentworth, Mr. T. Wentworth and party, Lady
Kerrison, Lady Charles Somerset and the Misses
Somerset, Lady Hawley, Lady Ross, Comte de
Mareschlehn, Comte de' Bassompiere, Sir H. S'.
John Mildmay, Sir. R. Wilmot, Bart., Sir J. Low-
ther, Bart., Sir J. Bailey, Bart., Sir Thomas Barrett
Lennard and Lady Barrett Lennard, Lady Anne
Beckett, Lady West, Sir Isaac Goldsmid, Sir
Thomas Baring, Hon.. Claude Lyon, Lady Frederick
Bentinck, Lady Charlotte Denison, General the
Hon. H. Cavendish, the Hon. Captain Vivian,
the Hon. C. R. Neville, the Hon. Mrs.
Dudley Ward, Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Napier,
Bart., YLady Flower, Admiral Sir John West and
Miss West, the lion. Captain Walpole, Mr. and Mrs.
Mildmay, Captain Sutton, Mr. Professor Farraday,
Mrs. Brande Hon. Major Needham, Capt. Ottway,
Mr. Lennard, M.P., Mr. W. Delafield, Mr. C. Barry
Baldwin, M.P., Major Buckley, Colonel and Mrs.
Gascovne and Miss Blythe, Captain Phibbs, Mr.
and Mrs. 13rereton Trelawney, Mr. and Mrs. C. J.
Palmer, Mr. W. Cubitt, M.P., Miss Curteis, Mr.
Denison, M.P., Mr. Henry Baring, M.P., Mr.
Forde, &c.