Star.
London, England, 1824-03-01 00:00:00

KING'S THEATRE.

CATALAiI has returned to the Theatre so long the
scene of her popularity and her triumphs, and hence-
forth the Opera will become the great centre of aurae.
tion—where Statesmen will forget the cares of Govern-
ment, and Legislators relax after their labours in the
Senate; where the fitshionable world will be ever "'at
home," and the plodding tradesman quit his shop and
indulge in a luxury which this age and this highly-gifted
individual could alone furnish. Saturday night was
fixed for her first appearance, after an absence of ten
years, and, had the Theatre been as large as one of our
squares we believe it would have been filled, so intense
was the anxiety of the Public to see this modern St.
Cecilia. The Manager, with great care and attention
to the convenience of the Public, opened the doors be-
fore six o'clock, and in half an hour the house' was
crowded from the orchestra to the ceiling. The piece
chosen for her first appearance was the well known
comic Opera of 11 Fanatic° per la Musica, in which she
had often before delighted us by the performance of
Aristea. The production of MAYER, however, was
little more than the canvas for a new musical tablet,

which wat filled up by the composition of several other
eminent composers, as will be seen by the following list
of pieces introduced in the course of the performance:
Act I.—Firet Air, Madame CaitAnuat ALLAN—" Un non so
che," by OUGITANO. Second Air, Madame CATALAM•••••" Damn
inuatriorate," Pocrera• Third Air, Madame Caratant—Martial
Air, "La di Matte in campu," by MORIACHL Duo, CATALANI
and Da Beams—" Con pazienza;' by blArza.
Act 2.—Cavatina and L'olacca, CATAT.AtiI Se mat turbo," by
L CIAnCIinTTIE Air, Madame CA RALORI ALLAN—" Ad un amato,"

by Rossini. Trio Canone, " Cessimo alfine," was given to Ma-I
dame CATALAN', in Russia, author unknown. Air, CATALAnI
IC Canto," RODIL'S variations.

After two short introductory scenes between Don
Febeo (the fanatico) and the two servants Biscronta end
'Celestine, Arislea comes on the stage alone. The mo-
nient was interesting. The whole House, crowded as it
was in every part, eagetly liailed the rc-appearance of
the Queen of Song. She was cheered with a universal
and enthusiastic shout of applause. The clapping of
hands and-waving of handkerchiefs lasted for several
minutes, during all which time CATALANI was over-
come with emotion, her fine eyes filled with tear; and
she seemed scarcely able to support herself. She was
simply dressed ; her person rather inclining to embon-.
point, but with all the natural ease and grace which has
ever governed her movements, and with the same ex-
pressive variety of change that has ever animated her
countenance. In the recitative, No, no, pegno pin grata
,he was scarcely mistress of herself; but by degrees she
recovered her self-command, and in the beautiful alle-
gretto, Donzellc innantorate, she shone with all her for
user life and spirit. In the fifth scene too she was quite
herself,- and gave the recitative, Ecco degli oricalchi
(which precedes the martial air of Morlachi) in a mag-
rificent style of declamation. The air itself La di Marie
in campo armato, is delightfully animated, and received
additional brilliancy from the energy of her manner and
the expression of her countenance. The famous prac-
tising duet Con pazienza, between the Baron and his
daughter, was given most effectively throughout by CA-
LANI and Da Ileums ; and the audience seemed fully
to share in Don Febco's opinion, when lie said—
fa sua yore in questo Istante
• Pare un organo suosante,—
and were ready to exclaim with the worthy old Gentle-
man—" Afla cliefiglia the virtu!" The concert scene
in the second act, however, was that in which 'all the
richness of this wonderfursongstress's talents were deve-
loped. She gave the beautiful cavatina and polacca of
CIANCIIETTINI-=4 Se mai turbo it too riposn" with a de-
gree of expiession that was quite captivating. The com,
position was full of taste and genius, and was made ex-
pressly for CATALANI, and she did it ample justice. If
the young and talented composer was in the house, he
must have been highly gratified both by the effect given
by the singer to his music, and by the rapture .with
which it was (somewhat unmercifully to CATALAN') en-
cored. Independent of the musical excellence of this
air, we could not but admire the look and movement of
the singer. There was a spirit of conscious genius about
her—a glorious repose in her own mighty strength—an
enthusiastic self-possession beaming and bursting forth,
which charmed and fascinated the whole of the audience.
Never was there an encore more promptly and deserv-
edly bestowed, or more graciously acknowledged.—
,
But why do we dwell on merits which'no language tan
adequately describe? Madame CATALANI must be
'heard to know what the human voice is capable of ef-
fecting, and even then the judgment is overwhelmed in
astonishment and admiration. At the conclusion of the
Opera, Madame CATALANI retired amidst the most
lively expressions of applause: She was called on to
appear; and after some time Comma led her before
the curtain, when she expressed her thanks to the au-
dience by a modest curtsey. DE BEGNIS played the
music-mad Baron with considerable humour. The di.
rections to the orchestra, prior to the performance of
'the Baron's new grand symphony, were given with
great comic force. It is an introduced piece, but is very
worthy of the situation in which it was placed. Cu.
letorn has very little to do as Don Carolina but that
little he performed pleasingly. Signora CARADORI
sang with unaffected simplicity. In the last scene she
was very disadvantageously situated. She had to sing
Ad un umato a oggetto immediately after Madame
CATALANI'S grand effort. It was a fearful drawback
on her exertions; but the sweetness and delicacy of
Iher execution received their just reward in a loud ex-
pression of applause.

IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE.—The Officer of Hussars,
who was lately sent to Coventry by his brother officers,
for drinking a glass of porter after his cheese, has, we
are happy to state, been restored to the harmony of
his mess!
The following interesting Works have been just pub-
Ilished by Mr. COLBURN, New Burlington-street, viz.
'l. The Life and Times of Salvator Rosa. I.ly Lady Morgan, two
vols. Bvo.-2. The History of the Commonwealth of England. By
William Godwin, evo.-3. The Private Correspondence of the Poet
Cowper, with several of his Friends, two vols. avo.—And Sayings
and Doings ; or, Sketches from Life, in three vols.
There was literally a scramble for Whole Tickets at
all the Lottery Offices, Two Days before the Dfawing
commenced, and the consequence is, a WHOLE TICKET
cannot now be obtained for love or money-I, Mr.
SIVEWRIGHT, however, has arranged, that whver
wants a TiCket may have Two HALVES at the same
Pi ice, the Contractor making good to the Office-keepers
the difference in amount—this alternative the Purchasers
seem very well reconciled to L and as there are still
Fivz 00,000 Prizes (two of them for the 17th of
March), it is very possible for Two Halves to gain Two
different Prizes of 120,000; but whoever gets only One
of them, would be verylikely to-console themselves with
the recollection that " hiqf a Loaf is better than no Bread."