The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-09 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

The London season may now be said to be approach-
ing its zenith. The great stars of the opera have risen.
Grisi and Lablache made their first appearance last
night ; and Les Danseuses Viennoises, those wonderful
children who have created such a sensation among the
world of fashion on the Continent—who would have ap-
peared here at the commencement of the opera season,
had not obstacles to all appearance insurmountable in-
terposed—have at length made their debilt. It appears
that the guardians of these children had heard sad re-
ports of the doings in this island of ours. They had
heard of kidnapping, they feared the children would be
stolen, therefore they would not permit them to
come among us savage islanders. They had
heard of Exeter Hall, and of those who con-
gregated therein they dreaded the Protestant
propaganda, they feared that these good Catholic chil-
dren might be by some mesmeric and mysterious means
perverted unto heresy, therefore they would not permit
them to come. However, Mr. Lumley at length suc-
ceeded in convincing them that the English generally
were neither savages nor fanatics ; and, thanks to his
exertions and tact, we have them here, and most wonder-
ful children they certainly are. We have been for some
years past in the constant habit of attending the per-
formances at her Majesty's Theatre, and in the course of
that attendance we have seen some of the very first
dancers in the world, Taglioni, the Ellslers, Cerito,
Carlotta Grisi, and Lucille Grahn. As solo dancers,
if we may be allowed to make use of the
term, these stand unrivalled. The corps de ballet,
too, of this theatre is admirable ; but, to use
a Parliamentary phrase, "we are free to confess"
that, until we saw these Dauseuses Viennoisse
last evening, we had no idea of the perfection to which
the cheorographic art may be brought. These children,
some thirty in number, are of all ages from 16 to 8;
but although they vary in age they are all equally
talented. They performed last evening their pas—
L'Allemande L'Hongroise (a sort of ensemble Polka)—
and the pas deFleurs. A well drilled regiment going through
its manoeuvres—an accurate piece of machinery per-
forming certain given movements in certain given times,
may give a faint idea of the dancing of these children.
We say a faint idea, because in the regiment there will
be certain members of the awkward squad, and there
are none among the Danseuses Viennoises, and in the
machinery there will be a want of vitality and
spirit, and there is no want of it among those
children. It is a perfect combination of accuracy and
spirit—and as a German chorus is the perfection of
harmony of sound, so is the dancing of these children the
perfection of harmony of motion. Not the least attrac-
tive part of the performance too is that they are chil-
dren—you feel they are children—there is the joyousness,
the spirit, the freedom, the freshness of childhood about
everything they do. We were about to say that it was
evident they were engaged in a labour of love—but
the phrase would be inaccurate, it is no labour to them,
it is play—it is sport—it is enjoyment, and
they are quite as much delighted as the
audience. The arrival of these children is an
era in the history of the ballet. The improvement
which has taken place in our choruses, since perform-
ances of the German Opera in this country, is marked
and decided ; and if we mistake not the appearance of
Les Danseuses Viennoises will occasion quite as great
an improvement in the drilling and manceuvring of the
corps de ballet. Certain it is, that those who have not
seen those children can form no idea of what a corps de
ballet ought to be. They can know nothing of the har
mony of motion. It is needless to add, that the applause
with which they were received was most enthusiastic.
Seldom, indeed, have the walls of her Majesty's Theatre
resounded as they did last night, and never was ap-
plause more richly merited. But Les Danseuses
Viennoises must not make us forget the opera.
It was Norma with Grisi as Norma, Lablache as Oroveso,
Moriani as Pollio, and Mademoiselle Rosetti as Adalgisa.
Never has this opera been more strongly east—never has
it been more perfectly performed—Grisi and Lablache
were both in excellent voice, and exerted themselves to
the utmost. The Caste Diva was magnificently given.
Rosetti's Adalgisa was very beautiful, as apiece of acting,
pathetic and subdued, everypoint told, and told well,without
any visible effort; there was no straining after effect. As a
piece of vocalization it was perfect, her intonation was
critically correct, her expression beautiful. Moriani has
made the part of Pollio. It has hitherto been the fashion
among tenors to avoid appearing in Pollio, if possible, or
if found to accept the part, they have slovened it over in
the most careless manner possible. No audience, until
last night, has had an opportunity of judging of
the capabilities of the part—Moriani has created it.
Would that Bellini had lived to have seen him to have
known that there was one singer at least who thought
more of his art than of himself, who took the pains to
study the meaning of the Maestro ; and who had the
power of developing that meaning to its fullest extent,—
Nothing could exceed the impassioned intensity of Mo-
riani, his tones were thrilling and with the full remem-
brance of the Casts Diva and of the De conte, which
was beautifully given by Grisi and Rosetti,
we have no hesitation in saying that the
concluding trio of the first act, "Oh di qual to
sei vittima," by Grisi, Moriani, and Rosetti, was the gem
of the opera last evening. and the audience were of the
same opinion, for it was the only piece honoured with an
encore. At the conclusion Moriani and Grisi were called
for and received with loud applause. The ballet of
Eoline concluded the evening's entertainments. The
house was crowded by a fashionable audience within five
minutes after the doors were opened. His Royal High-
ness the Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by the Duke
and Duchess of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz, arrived before
the commencement of the opera. Her Majesty and Prince
Albert honoured the theatre by their presence. They
arrived shortly after the commencement of the opera,
and remained until nearly the conclusion of the ballet.

SIR WALTER SCOTT ON BEAUTY.--.-111 one of the
delightful descriptions of female loveliness which adorn
the pages of this interesting writer, he alludes to a fra-
grant and balmy mouth and pearly set of teeth, as rank-
ing among the first attributes of feminine beauty. Thu
care and conservation therefore of ornaments, so pre-
cious and important, cannot fail to become objects of
high interest, and our own experience induces us unhe-
sitatingly to recommend " Rowland's Odonto, or Pearl
Dentifrice," as an indispensable appendage to the toilet
of beauty, and as calculated to heighten and preserve
the advantages of " Balmy Breath," and " Pearly Teeth,"
in all their beauty and perfection.
LAUNCH AT BLACKWALL.—Yesterday an India-
man of 1,400 tons was launched from the yard of Messrs.
Wigram and Green, at Blackwall, in the presence of a large
body of persons who had assembled to witness the interesting
spectacle. There were a number of individuals on board of
her, and booths were erected on either side of the slip on
which she was built, for the accommodation of the spectators,
among whom were a considerable portion of the fair sex.
Shortly after two o'clock, at high water, every necessary
preparation having been completed, the supporters were
knocked away and she glided into the element, on which
hereafter she is destined to become an auxiliary to the fur-
therance of the commerce of the country, amidst the cheers
of the spectators, and the band of the Royal Marines, which
was present on the occasion, playing the national air " Rule
Britannia." She is named the Alfred, and is a splendid
specimen of the naval architecture ,which constitutes the'
elite of our mercantile marine. Immediately after she was
launched she was taken into the East India Docks to be cop-
pered and equipped for service.
SALE OF _RARE PRINTS, &E.--Yesterday was com-
menced, at Messrs. Christie and Manson's, the
pictures, .
S_m., disposal of the
rare collection of prints, drawings, belonging
to the late A. Geddes, Esq., R.A. a any of the rare prints,
although extremely small, as mucliaaeix and seven
guineas eacl4