The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-27 00:00:00

THE PRINCESS'S.

This truly superb little theatre was opened last
evening for the first time for theatrical amusements.
, It is fitted up in the most gorgeous yet tasteful style
of magnificence. The decorations are in the richest
style of the Renaissance. The ceiling is adorned
with paintings in arabesque of the most brilliant
colour, cornices and corbels, richly carved and gilded,
and the panels of the boxes are adorned in the same
profusely gorgeous and costly, yet tasteful, style of
magnificence. We have visited many theatres in this
country, and most of the celebrated theatres on the Con-
tinent, but we never saw one which in magnificence
of decoration could for one moment be compared
to the Princess's.. The Royal theatre of the
Palace of Versailles approaches the nearest to
it, but even that must rank as second to this
tastefully magnificent theatre. But it is not on
account of its superb fittings up alone that this theatre
is worthy of -the public patronage. The convenience
of the visitors has been studied in every possible way.
The boxes are most luxuriously fitted up with
cushioned chairs, are numbered, and the pit is marked
out into numbered places, in the same manner as
Drury-lane. The lobbies are spacious and lofty, and
so admirable is the ventilation, that although last
evening the theatre was crammed to excess, the heat
was by no means oppressive. It would appear that
Opera is to be the grand feature at this establish-
ment, and the operatic company engaged is first-rate.
The piece chosen for the opening was La Sonnambula,
with Madame Eugenia Garcia as Amina, Templeton
as Elvino, and Mr. Weiss (an excellent primo basso)
as the Count. This opera has not been so well cast for
many years on the English stage.. We have had ex-
cellent Aminas, good Rodolphs, but our Elvinos
have of late years, all been feeble. Some we have had
with taste to appreciate, but without power to execute
the music of the part, whilst others, with a sufficiency of
power, have been so deficient in taste, or so deficient
in science, as to be totally,
.incapable of managing their
powers. Such, however, was not the case last evening.
Templeton has taste, power, and science combined,
and his Elvino last evening was all that the most fas-
tidious could desire. He has always been, far and
away, the best Elvino on the English boards ; and now
that Rubini has retired, we doubt whether the Italian
stage can produce his equal. Without waiting to in-
quire whose fault it is that we have seen so little of
him of late, we cordially hail his re-appearance, and
trust that he will not again leave us. Madame Eu-
genia Garcia is worthy of the name she bears. She
is a Garcia, which is saying, in other words, she is a
thorough musician. Her voice is clear, powerful, sweet,
and of immense compass ; her articulation most distinct;
her pronounciation, for a foreigner, wonderfully correct ;
her countenance is expressive, and her action energetic,
yet graceful. In her delineation of the part of Amina,
she not unfrequently reminded us of poor Malibran.
Her execution of the finale—" Oh, do not mingle
one human feeling," was brilliant in the extreme, and
was honoured with a double encore. She was called
for at the conclusion of the opera, and a profusion of
wreaths and bouquets showered on her. Mr. Weiss,
who made his first appearance before a London au-
dience, as Rodolpho, is a decided acquisition. His
personal appearance is good, and his voice is a rich,
powerful, well cultivated barytone, approaching to a
bass. He sang the music allotted to him •
with great taste and judgment, and was
much and deservedly applauded in the celebrated air
"Vi raviso." Mr. Loder is the leader of the band,
and Mr. W. L. Phillips, the chorus master. The
conductor is Signor Schira, from La Scala, at
Milan. Mr. Maddox, the lessee, is evidently endea-
vouring to make this the Opera Comique of London,
and sincerely do we wish him success in his praise-
worthy endeavours. A grand burlesque burletta,
entitled, The Yellow Dwarf, concluded the evening's
performance, and introduced to us Mddle. Melanie
Duval, and Mons. Denize, principal dancers from the
Academie Royal, Paris, in a new pas de deux.
Never have we seen anything on the English stage
which could at all be compared to the taste, ease,
and gracefulness of Mademoiselle Duval. The most
difficult tours were accomplished with a graceful
agility, which delighted while it astonished. In an
ordinary danseuse we should have spoken of them as
tours de force; such an expression would, however,
be most inappropriate in speaking of Mademoiselle
Duval ; in her they were tours de grace. She was
the muse of the many-twinkling feet, giving expres-
sion to the poetry of motion. The burletta was
superbly got up, and went off exceedingly well.
The house was crammed.