ITALIAN OPERA.
The Royal Italian Opera is to open on Tuesday the 29th of this month. So says the advertisement in the daily papers, and further par- ticulars are promised. Nothing whatever has transpired respecting the performers engaged or the operas intended to be brought forward dining the season.
The announcement of the sale at Her Majesty's Theatre of all the moveable goods and chattels belonging to the establishment, on the 14th instant, is daily repeated; but a variation has been made in its terms. As it now stands, the properties are to be exposed on Monday next, in one lot ; and if not then purchased, they are to be sold in lots, on Thurs- day the 17th and following days. From this it would seem that some one is expected to come forward on Monday and buy up the property. Unless a hidden champion shall thus come to the rescue, this once magnificent theatre will be dismantled.
In regard to the Royal Italian Opera, it is reported—and we notice the rumour because it is very current among musical people—that the management propose to diminish their expenditure, and that their first measure of retrenchment will be a reduction of the strength of the or- chestra. If such a scheme is in contemplation, we would advise Mr. Gye to think twice before he hazard it. The Covent Garden orchestra has been the glory of the enterprise—the only feature which has given it a decided advantage over the rival house. Its power has been derived not only from the great ability of its chief, and its numerical strength and complete organization, but from the excellence of every individual performer. If the report turn out true, that it is intended to save the sa- laries of some of its most distinguished members, the comments made on such a proceeding, adopted the moment that the stimulus of competition is withdrawn, will be anything but favourable.
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