The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-02 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Lt'cia de Lammermoor was represented last evening
fnr the purpose of intro:lucing `Madame Anaide Castellan
foe the first time to an opera audience in the character of
Lucia. Although last night was the first appearance
of Madame Castellan on these boards, she is not altoge-
ther unknown to the English musical public. She ran
a very brilliant career here last season as a singer at
concerts. Her success at the Ancient Concerts was
complet and a singer who can succeed there must be in
' every sense of the word an accomplished artiste.—She
has, moreover, achieved great triumphs in Russia and in
America ; and to these, she may add the crowning suc-
cess of a triumphant debut before confessedly the most
fastidious musical audience in the world in the audience
of her Majesty's Theatre. Her voice is a pure soprano,
beautifully clear, and of considerable compass.
Her tuusiettl education is perfect—not the most
critical ear can detect a fault in her intonation,
not the most fastidious taste can discover anything
whereat to be offended. The opening cavatina was
beautifully given ; it was a beautiful exhibition of power
refined and chastened by exquisite taste and judgment,
and was rapturously applauded, At the conclusion of
the first act she was called fur, and received with en-
thusiastic applause. The duet, "Se tradismi to potrai,"
in the second act, was superbly given by Fornasari and
Madame Castellan. It was a perfect triumph of art,
both as regarded singing and Ating. It is seldom that
an opera audience is worked up to such a pitch of en-
thusiasm as they were by this magnificent duet. The
applause was long and loud, and both actors were called
for at the conclusion of the duet. The marriage scene
followed, and was beautifully acted by Madame
Castellan, who, at the fall of the act drop,
was again called for. The mad scene was
very fine, and the concluding aria was given with
the most thrilling pathos. The success of Madame
Castellan was complete, and, what is more, it was well
deserved. She is a delightful actress and an accom-
plished musician. It is as unnecessary to praise the
Enrico of Fornasari as it is to write an culogium on. the
Richard of Edmund Kean, or the Coriolanus of John
Kemble. It stands alone as a perfect piece of acting.
Moriani was the Edgardo. It was in this character that
he made his delni4 before an English audience last season,
and his Edgardo stamped him as the primo tenore of the
world. The last scene, whether considered as a piece of
acting or as a vocal effort, is unrivalled. It is the finest
thing of the sort on the stage. So delighted
were the audience that at the conclusion of
the opera they called Moriani twice before the curtain.
There was a third call for Moriani and Castellan, and,
after a short interval, he appeared leading forward the
prima donna, enveloped in a large silk cloak, preparatory
to quitting the theatre. The audience seemed mightily
pleased at thus seeing a prima donna en pa, ticuliere, and
there was some good-humoured laughter mingled with
the shouts of applause with which they were greeted.
The ballet of Eoline concluded the evening's entertain-
ments. The House was crowded to excess. His Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who honoured the
performances with his preseoce, arrived at the theatre
before the commencement of the opera.