The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-18 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Her Majesty honoured the Italian Opera with her pre-
sence on Saturday evening. The performances were the
opera of Ernani and the new ballet of &Wine, both of
which increase in popularity on every representation.
The quintette in the second act of El nani was rap
turously encored, as was the terzetto at the conclusion of
the opera. Her Majesty, who arrived at the commence-
ment of the second act of the opera, remained until
nearly the conclusion of the ballet. The house was
crowded by a fashionable audience from the very com-
mencement of the performances. As we imagined
would be the case, the merits of Verdi are becoming
daily better understood and appreciated in this coun-
try. His works suit the atmosphere for which they have
been composed ; and as their melodies become familiar
to the opera visitant, so will. they increase iu favour.
The principal airs in Ernani are beginning to resound in
the drawing-room, and when this is the case, the pros-
pects of a new composer are golden indeed. In a word,
Verdi has touched the fancy of fashionable England, and
he has nothing to do now but to swim, as long as he can,
with the tide. The reputation of the day is all that cou-
cerns him, and that he is likely to achieve.
The appearance of her Majesty's Theatre on Saturday
night was as brilliant as we ever remember to have seen
it, and as unlike what it used to be in the slovenly times
before Easter as it is possible to conceive. The Queen,
attended by the Prince, and a large party of ladies (who
no doubt are duly chronicled by the industrious Court
newsman) was present, and there was a magnificent dis-
play of aristocracy and fashion. Her Majesty stayed the
whole of the opera, and also during a portion of the ballet,
which had the desirable effect of preventing delays and
consequently of avoiding unseemly encroachments upon
the Sabbath. With the opera the Royal party appeared
to be much pleased: and it could not well be otherwise,
for it was capitally sung—with all those advantages re-
sulting from an improved mechanical knowledge, and on
the part of the prima donna, Madame Rita Borio, with
an accession of effect necessarik coming from mended
confidence and increased self-reliance. This lady has
fulfilled all the prognostics which were entertained in her
favour on her first appearance. Consirherahly less em-
barras,ed, she now sings with great brilliancy and power,
and with but few failures—even when her vocal flights
(as in her first cavatina) are bold and hazardous. She
always executes in a musician-like style, as if her edu-
cational exercises had been conducted upon sound
disciplinarian principles; and if she is not destined to
shine in so distinctive a manner as she does at present
when Grisi is by her side, she will prove an adjunct
immeasurably superior to any of the second-rate
aitites who have in recent years had prominent
introductions. She will turn out an excellent reserve
—a substitute of useful efficiency when the manager
is in a strait—when ill-temper is playing inconve-
nient tricks, and when ominous-looking certificates are
handed in from Dr. Wardrop. Signor Botelli is also
thriving in estimation. He is not unimpeachable as to
intonation, which sometimes fails him when he strains
his voice in " high places ;" but he is, altogether, a bar-
ritone singer capable of good service, and his presence,
like that of Madame Rita Borio, will no doubt often be
considered a useful fact as the season advances. Mo
riani and Fornasari sang with their usual skill and
good address ; but although the fine tenor voice of the
former is heard in Ernani in all its ringing fulness, and
is endued by the singer with wondrous passion and in-
tensity, the character is on the whole ineffective, from
causes incident to itself. The vehemence of this artist
is both impressive and imposing, but his voice will evi-
dently bear but little emphatic stress : it is apt to get
flat in passages of great exertion, a tendency which time
and labour will not mend. There were several encores
during the evening, and every disposition to encourage
the singers and to show favour to the opera. The con-
certed pieces improve upon acquaintance, many felicitous
points, from which the overtaxed attention was diverted
on the first night, being observable.
The ballet of Eoline is an admirable vehicle for the
performances of Mdlle. Lucille Grahn, whose elegance of
manner, ease, and feminine gracefulness, are seen in it
to perfection. It may be doubtful whether any pas de
caractere was ever more effective than the " Maxourka
d'Extase." In this, Lucille Grahn comes out as a great
pantomimic artist, manifesting an intelligence and apti-
tude, as well as a poetical feeling, likely to win the
highest kind of repute. The composition of the pas is
ingenious and characteristic. The fiend tempts the un-
willing Dryad to dance. She is animated by an unna-
tural energy, which relaxes at eech successive touch of
the malicious Gnome, who catches her in his arms as she
whirls ipsily before him ; she recoils convulsively as his
evil fingers press and collapse her heart, until, be-
wildered and paralysed by his insidious power, she sinks
down motionless at his feet. All this is described with
consummate skill. Perrot's personation of the Gnome
is a finished bit of demonianism : the glance
of his eye is fiendish, and the poor Dryad,
all lightheartedness and innocence, seems to be
benumbed as she comes under its withering influence.
The dancing of Mademoiselle Grahn is remarkable for
its firmness : it is not wonderfulthere are me of the

vigorous bounds of Cerite, nor the twinkling impossibi-
lities of Fanny Elssler, but there is the neatness of the
latter and the general impulse of the former. The new
danseuse, Mdlle. Weiss, is a painstaking person, and
flies across the stage in a suit of blue muslin, with a
strength and a determination not often seen in a
coryphee. She is an athletic of no mean power ; but
her vigour is not very bewitching. If the evolutions of
the four young ladies who assist her in the pas de cinq
were abbreviated, or expunged altogether, it would be a
boon for which most people would express gratitude.
Let us again write a word in praise of the scenery, and
the effects peculiar to it, which reflect no little credit
upon Mr. Marshall and his co-operators. The
forest scene with its shadowy tenantry of sprites and
Dryads is a masterpiece of its kind, and is worth coy-
templating as the embodyment of a pretty and poetical
fancy. The spot seems a veritable haunt of fairies ; and
when the troop of Dryads emerge from the huliow
trunks where they have been hidden, and gambol
fully under the leafy canopy which shelters teem, the
effect is delicate and enchanting. On Saturday night a
casualty happened which sadly perplexed the poetry of
the scene. Several huge trees were torn up viotently
by the roots, disclosing certain ungainly pieces of car
penter's work evidently not intended fir the e eof her
Majesty or her lieges. Windlasses were heard to groan,
and hot interjections from the lips of infuriated stage
managers flew from side to side. The little Dryads
peeped pitifully from their sanctuaries in the foliage
overhead, and wondered how the disreption of their pa-
ternal oaks would end ; but the rebellious canvas, which
was curiously cobbled up in mid air, suddenly swung
heavily down, and the trees took to their rooti again—
to the intense satisfaction of everybody both
on and off the stage. Amongst those present
were her Majesty and Prince Albert, attended by Vis-
countess Canning. the Hon. Miss Stanley, Hen. Miss
Hamilton, the Earl of Hardwicke, Sir E. Bowater, the
Hon. Colonel Grey, and Colonel Drummond ; the
Duchess of Cambridge, tie Duke and Duchess of Meek-
lenburgh St-elite, accompanied by Count Kielmansegge
and Baron Dedel, and attended by Baron Knesebeck ;
the Grand Duchess Stephanie of Baden and party ; the
Queen Dowager's box was occupied by Prince Edward
of Saxe Weimar and Lord and Lady Wharncliffe ; the
Duke of Montrose, the Duchess of Hamilton, Baron
and Baroness Brunnow, Count Esterhazy, the Marquis of
Worcester, the Earls of Lonsdale, Cardigan, Munster,
Falmouth ; the Countess of Harrington ; Lords Ayl-
mer, Foley, Somerton, Cantalupe, Ernest Bruce, Nugent,
Adolphus Fitzclarence, Ranelagh ; Ladies Shawe
Stewart, Rendlesham, Augusta Went worth, Meux.
Smythe, Caroline Maxse ; Sirs H. Willoughby-, H.
Meux, H. Webb, R. Vivian, &c.

MR. C. H. ADDAMS'S LECTURE ON

ASTRONOMY.

Last night, being the first night of Passion-week,
Mr. C. H. Addams gave his usual lecture on astronomy,
at the Adelphi Theatre. The lecturer, in the course of
the evening, alluded to the approaching transit of, Mer-
cury, which, as well as the other subjects treated of, was
illustrated by large transparent and moving scenery
The whole concluded with the exhibition of a magnifi-
cent vertical orrery. The lecture, which was most in-
teresting, was exceedingly well attended.