Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-13
EorsIgn-The Queen OF England at the
Grand Opera, Paris.

the vicinity were Illuminated, and the Boule-
wards We're closely packed with people, The
scene IN the vicinity of the Rue Lepelletier,
where the theatre Is situated, was OF most fairy
like description. Every window was illuminated
with colured lamps, and under the arch erected
across the Boulevard by the artists Of the opera
was suspended magnificent lustre, eight metres
nigh by six III diameter, Of topez color lights in.
terspersed with white globes of glass, resembling
peuTls, forming altogether an object Of wonderful
beauty. Lofty stands OF gas jets, placed at the
corners OF the streets, and at equal distances TO
beyond The entrance OF the theatre, threw out in
Vulnerable tfames OF light, and rendered every
object clear as day. The whole front of the
theatre was ornamented with flowers, hangngs
and shields, bearing the arms OF England and
france. The grand entrance was hung with
tapestry, and the pillars at the side bore crimson
velvet escutcheons with the letters "A. and ",
interlaced IN letters of gold line Of fire ran
along the ireze Of the theatre and the initials Of
| Queen Victoria and Of the Emperor again stood
out IN Jets of gas from amidst this blaze OF light.
| Immense stands of living flowers adorned the
entrance hall and the grand staircase, and Grim
son velvet hangings covered the sides. From
| tie root OF the vestibule were suspended splendid
| chandeliers containing thousands oil wax lights,
and all up the thickly carpeted staircase similar
additions had been arranged immense mirrors
had also been disposed Of at equal distances, and
reflected the lovely scene under n thousand I'M
expected aspects, The Municipal Guard of
Paris, pied, stood close to each other down both
| sides OF the way outside, whilst the fine men of
| the mounted guard lined the staircase leading to
| the imperial box. The whole scene was one of
the greatest beauty, and organized in every part
! with the most perfect taste. Inside the house
| the preparations were still! more Imposing. The
| SIX centre boxes had been thrown into one, so as
/ to form a large room, advancing far into the
| body of the house; the wooden separations from
| the corridor being renewed, and wide commu-
1 inn ..,l... ~ u
/ ~, fdris. The whole of this large space was
richly carpeted and hung with crimson velvet and
| gold, forming suite of rooms of considerable
extent. Crimson satin chairs, richly gilt, and Of
such size as almost to constitute thrones, were
| placed Tor the august personages who were soon
| TO form "the cynosure of every eye" The as
pect oil tins box, as beheld from the interior of
| the theatre, of severely noble character
| The whole Of the front was one mass of beautiful
carving, ri, lily gilt, with lofty canopy above,
| covered with crimson velvet hangings, embroid-
| cred with gold lace in the Louis XIV style, to
| match the rest of the decorations At the right
/ corner were placed the arms of England, and on
the left those Of France, whilst in the centre the
whole was dominated by large imperial eagle
with outStretched wings, the three objects being
| resplendcnt with gold. Two Of the Centgardes,
| III their splendid uniform, stood immovable as
statues at the foot of the box, one al each side,
and two others in similar way at each side Of
/
Ter OF an hour during the performance, accord
| ing to their turn of duty.
No was admitted to the sale unless in full
dress. At quarter past eight the Queen APP
peared, led in by the Emperor. Then arose such
a peal Of acclamations as few have ever heard
i equalled in theatre. The Queen seemed quite
| struck by the enthusiasm of the reception, and
advancing with graceful dignity towards the front
Of the box, she curtsied low to the multitude be-
fore her. The cry of . Vive Ia Refine !" was
over and over agad repeated, and as each long
continued shout arose, her Majesty again curtsied
| TO the audience, successfully 10 the right in
| front, and 10 the left. Ii was only after these
salutes that the cheers began to subsde; and then
the Emperor, the Empress and Prince Albert,
who had remained rather behind during the en-
| thuslaStc reception of the Queen ms it to show
that it was for her alone that all this homage and
| burst OF feeling were intended, advanced, and
another dcafening shout arose, in which cries of
" Nlye lEmpereur! I" Niye Prince Albert - and
| 1--WE l'lmperatrceo were intemmgled. "Gud
save the Queen" was then played by the band,
and another burst ofacclamations followed After
\ the august party had saluted the audience the
| Queen and the Empress took their seats together,
the Emperor placing himself at Queen Victoria's
right, Prince Albert being seated at the Empress
| Eugenes left. Prince Napoleon occupied the
s. u at tho Emperor's right and the Princess
| Mathi!de that at Prince Albert's left. The En-
! peror gave the signal for the performance to
vs.
/ Gueymard, Obin, and Merry sang the Trio Of
William Tell Nine. Albon next gave the
variations Of Hummel with wonderful peril ction.
Roger and Bonnehee executed the duo Of . La
/ Refine dc Chypre;" Chyre;" and, lastly, Mile.
| CruvUlli sang most charmngly the bolero Of the
The Nepres Sicilienncs. IL was costume con-
cert, and Il is pregnant fact that the audience
did not wait for the applause to commence from
the royal party, according 10 etiquette.
/ As soon as the musical entertainment had con-
cluded, the whole Of the imperial and royal party
withdrew for about ten ninues to the adjoining
room, and even entered the Joyer. They also re-
tired once more in the course OF the evening. On
their return the ballet Of . La Font" was com
menced, with Mime. Rosati aud Petitpas i'm the
principal parts, Mile. Plunket and Beauchet in
'rotucing new pas The last tabeau was pre-
pared expressly for the occasion, being splendid
view Of Windsor Castle, and being desi tned to
| show that the splendid reception given to the
Emperor and Empress by her Majesty OF England
| was not forgotten in France. The whole OF the
| principal performers OF the opera formed groups
on the stage, whilst alot high in air was 10 be
seen heraidic decoration, surnounted by an i'm
| mcnse royal crown, with protecting gen hahr-
/ ing suspended from clouds around, the Youngest
and preliest dancers Of the corps De ballet having
| been selected for the purpose. The waoe was
| illuminated with electric lirht which produced
most splendid effect The Engsh national an
! them was then sung IN most admirable style by
Il hlooHli 1fuNclHs Roger, and the other singers Ot
the establishment. At tic first bar Of tho noble
ar the whole audience rose, the imperial party
doing s. likewise.
When +" God Save the Qneen!r had been
| brought TO a close, such a burst Of acclamations
\ and cries Of 80 ive ia RENE !" and . Vive Ia
i Refine Victoria !" arose from every part Of the
house Is certainly her Majesty never heard be-
/ fore ~ any theatre. Forth rushed the sponta-
neous cheers with unanimity and viror that had
\ IN them something really of the marvellous.
\ llandkcrchieis were waived by the ladies who
Joined in the acclamations, whilst amongst the
| male part Of the audience ii was absolute de-
| lirlnm. The Queen, visbly overcome, curtsied
\ her thanks. but AZ each salute the cheers again
I broke forth, until At last the Emperor gave
/ bis hand 10 the Queen and led her aw ", the
audience ms sted having q God Save the
Queen " repeated, as a means of showing their
devotedness 70 her Majesty. Nearly the whole
81 the imperial party had already left tho box:
but the Emperor, pausug, looked to the Queen
" learn her wishes. Tier Majesty, evidently
highly gralfed returned towards the front The
Emperor, by the movement, had been placed be-
tween the Queen md the Empress. " God Save
the Qheen !" was then again performed and the
I rf,f l,ttps. go