Madame Viardot has reappeared at the Grand Opera in her
original part of Fides in the ProphRe. Since she last appeared there in that character—which was written expressly for her, and with a special consideration of her peculiar powers and qualities, both dramatic and vocal—twelve years have elapsed, and it has had several distinguished representatives. Her resumption of it last week excited great curiosity and interest, and the result was a triumph more brilliant than even her original debut, "Comment decrire Penthousiasme et le sum& ?" says the Gazette Musicale. "Tonto la salle applaudissait, tout Porchestre se levait en temoignage de surprise et de joie. Nous ne savons si dans son existence d'artiste Madame Viarclot compte un plus beau jour que celui oa elle a repris si puissamment possession d'uu role et d'un theatre !"
The extensive premises which contained the scenery, costumes, and decorations of the Grand Opera were burnt down on the night of Friday last week, and their whole contents destroyed. The amount of damage is estimated at a million of francs—forty thousand pounds sterling. Fortunately the properties used in the current pieces were in the theatre, so that the performances have not been interrupted. The decorations of Gliick's .dleeste, which is about to be produced with great splendour, have been saved, having been transported to the theatre only the evening before the accident.
The new Sultan, Abdul-Azziz, has placed his late music-master, Signor Guatelli, at the head of the military music of the empire, with the title of pasha.
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