THE ITALIAN OPERA.
THE real Opera company arrived last week ; and the season began on Saturday, with La Gazza Ladra ; in which Geist, RUBINI, TAMBURINI, and LABLACHE, sustained the principal characters. It was this opera in which GRISI first appeared at the King's Theatre, and Ninetta is evi- dently her fitvourite, as it is her best part. Her voice is rather more full and flexible than last year; her shake is closer ; and the sparkling melodies of ROSSINI acquire added brilliancy by her performance of them. RUBINI is, if possible, more outrageous than ever. This was to be expected. As a singer grows old, he naturally seeks to veil the inroads of age by a profusion of ornament. As the freshness and firm- ness of youth depart, with it departs also the power of giving its true effect to the cantabile. This RUBINI never cultivated from choice ; and now, driven out of it by necessity, his singing must degenerate year by year. TAMBURINI is rich and graceful, and LABLACHE potent as ever.
LAPORTE has announced, in terms of marked exultation, that be has secured a new opera by MERCADANTE. What a catch !
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