The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-30 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S OPERA.

Mr. Mapleson has made a good beginning. The
performance of "Lucrezia Borgia," with which his
operatic season commenced on Saturday evening at
Drury-lane Theatre, was as fine a performance of
that work as could possibly be heard. " Lucrezia
Borgia" is one of Donizetti's masterpieces, and, if
not a masterpiece absolutely, is at least an excellent
specimen of modern opera. It is full of pleasant
singable music, which here and there is really
beautiful, and in one scene at least is very nearly
being grand. It has, moreover, the advantage, or
disadvantage, as the case may be, of containing four
excellent parts. At her Majesty's Opera this was
manifestly an advantage, inasmuch as it afforded, at
the very outset, an opportunity of showing the
strength and compactness of the company—or,
rather, one section of the company. Mdlle. Titiens
is not the only soprano engaged, as Madlle. Clara
Louise Kellogg and Madlle. Christine Nilsson can
bear witness; nor, as Signor Mongini and Mr. Tom
Holder will allow, is Signor Fraschini the only
tenor ; nor, as Signor Gassier will admit, is Mr.
Santley the only baritone. But the quartet of
singers who took part on Saturday evening in the
representation of " Lucrezia Borgia " was remark-
ably complete.

Signor Fraschini, as a debutant, made his first
appearance in England many years ago, in the days
of Jenny Lind, when he sang with great effect, but
not with thorough success, the part of Edgardo in
Lucia di Lammermoor, and of Robert in Robert le
Diable. He was said to enjoy a special celebrity in
Italy for his manner of delivering the curse in the
finale to the second act of Lucia, and was called
emphatically the tenor " della maledizione ;" but,
somehow or other, his foreign reputation was not
maintained in England. It is very re-
markable that what Signor Fraschini's ad-
mirers now find to praise in his singing is not
the power of his voice and the energy of his de-
livery, but the art to which he was formerly sup-
posed to be a stranger, and of which he is now a
master. His singing, for intelligence and expres-
sion, is admirable. He sings naturally, in his na-
tural chest voice, and has a good manly style. 110
has lost a note or two, as the greatest beauty, with
advancing years, may lose a few teeth. But he is
still a tenor of merit and ability, and, in the pre-
sent dearth of tenors, is a great acquisition to the
operatic stage.

Of the other performers what can we say that has
not been said in these columns a score of times ?
Madlle. Titiens was, it is true, in even better voice
than usual ; and the effect of a full house, a dis-
tinguished audience, and perhaps also of a novel
arena, seemed to be felt by both the other leading
vocalists—Madame Trebelli-Bettini and Mr. Sant-
ley. This trio of the second act was encored, and
Madame Trebelli was called upon to repeat the last
verse of the drinking song.
Signor Arditi conducted, which is as much as
to say that under his direction all went well.
That there was a brilliant attendance has already
been mentioned ; an I we must not forget to
add that the theatre has been repainted and
redecorated ; in fact, entirely renovated as to the
interior. The whole of the pit has been converted
into stalls ; but a commodious amphitheatre and
gallery have been provided up stairs. On each of
the five tiers there are private boxes ; and three
tiers are given up to private boxes exclusively. The
new decorations are of gold, on a white ground,
with which the crimson hangings of the boxes har-
monise admirably.
We earnestly hope that all the late patrons and
admirers of Mr. Mapleson will rally round him, and
make the present season one of the greatest suc-
cesses he has ever had, to reimburse him for the
great losses he sustained by the fire at her Majesty's
Theatre.

OXFORD AND CAMB.RIDGE BOAT RACE•

In consequence of the bad state of the tides this
week the crews will have to do the greater part Of
their work in the morning early, and this they be-
gan to-day. Both crews went out within ten minutes
of each other between 11 and 12 ; the Oxonians
went first and proceeded up the river, steered by Mr'
Tottenham, and coached from the bank by Jr.
Risley, an old experienced Oxford oar ; they rowed
slowly; against the ebb, but with a swing and life
fast nearing perfection. The stroke, it is true, l'g
rather short, but the stamina in the boat is just the
requisite to stand the fatigue and the necessary
spurts required in a five miles' row. The crew pro-
ceeded in the fog ;that hung over the river above
Hammersmith, and then rounding came down at lb
smart pace over the ebb.
The Cantabs were the next to appear, and they
also went up the river at a steady pace. Their row-
ing was admired by some of those hanging about?
but to an experienced eye it is unfortunately too
patent that the reason why the boat has not so reuell
life in her is because the crew have not Yet
properly learned that boat-rowing axiom—the use
of their legs ; their form in the boat truly looks fine'
and the manner in which their arms are brought t 0
the chest would induce one not well up in the prac-
tice of rowing to the belief that there was a:tremen:
dous lift; but that is what the men most lack, Out,
all must be well aware that arm and body NW:
over the Putney to Mortlake course is useless, an
must bring inevitable defeat.
As to the individual oars in the Oxford boat, the
best are Benson, Gume, and Willan ; while in that
of their opponents, Anderson (a splendid bowman)'
Still, and Lowe.
Mr. Ross, of Bladensburg, in the Oxford, is un-
doubtedly a fine oarsman, but boils have not Ye',
allowed him to show himself to perfection ; the roof
of the men are well.
The Cambridge crew were only out half an boat
the Oxonians much longer.
Betting is still 7 to 4 on Oxford offered, 2 to 1
however is taken. Both crews will resume prat'
tice at five this afternoon.

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—The usual Lent
performances of Handel's "Messiah" in Exeter gal! (:):
Friday next, April-3, and on Wednesday, April 8, will ;„
given by this society. Principal vocalists—Mdlle. 031°—;
Madame Sainton-Dolby, Mr. Sims Reeves, and
Santley.
MENDELSSOHN'S C WALPURGIS NIGHT.--Th° Pera;
formanco of this great work by the National h°—r
Bsete.
Society on Wednesday, with 700 performers, at
Hall, under the direction of Mr. G. W. Martin, has create!:
r 4
so much excitement in the musical world that Mr. gar
S~pdeti
has arranged to give a repetition performance.
"Messiah" will bo performed the Monday in Pass
-°3

Week, Mr. Santley singing the principal bass. al
When the Pope presented the hat to Cardin
Buonaparte he is reported to have said—" that he wil°
not only to honour France, but the great Sovereign W

. _
had done so much for Rome."
A complete and authorised edition of Air. Bright:°

speeches is in preparation. ,pd
The Gentleman's Magazine is to be
price from 2s. Gd. to I.s. .
Mr. and Mrs. Dion Boucicault will in all Pr°ll3
bility visit the United States next year. tone Of
‘.LBLE COLLEGE, oXFORD.—The first SO-- ,to
this college, founded in memory of the author of
" Christian Year," is to be laid on the 25th proximo, by
the
51
Archbishop of Canterbury. Before the ceremonyhurchl
will be preached by the Bishop of Oxford, iu the church
e
of St. Mary the Virgin. A meeting is to be held DI 0,
Theatre after the ceremony, at which most of th Pr°D3
tors of the college will deliver addresses.
liorniman's Pure Teas are Bd. per pound cheaper- .1„
is
2,500 agents—confectioners in London, and chenn9'" of
the country—are constantly receiving fresh supplioo
these long-approved teas. Sold only in PackeZ