Two young female violinists, sisters, are creating a great sensation
at Vienna. They are Italians—Caroline and Virginia Ferni—and are com- pared to the two sisters Teresa and Maria Milanolo, who, as many of our readers will remember, charmed all-Europe with their sweet sounds some fifteen or sixteen years ago. The Mademoiselles Ferni are said to equal the Milanolo sisters in beauty and grace as well as in artistic excellence. We trust they will find their way to England.
Mademoiselle Artat, the accomplished pupil of Madame Viardot, after a year's engagement at the Grand Opera in Paris, during which time she suc- cessfully appeared in Sappho, in La :Favorite, and (as Fides) in Is Pro- phets, has resolved to go upon the Italian stage, and intends coming to Lon- don during the present season, before her departure for Italy. She is al- ready known in London, having, in 1857, made a great sensation at the pri- vate Concerts of the nobility. At our public Concerts she will be a valuable acquisition, in the present dearth of good and well-educated vocalists.
Rossini's Semiramide has been revived in Paris ; Grisi having resigned this, the greatest of all her parts, in favour of Pence, who appears to be reigning favourite on the Paris Italian stage. The statement that this lady had been engaged by Mr. E. T. Smith for his Drury Lane opera seems to be unfounded.
Berlioz has undertaken- to compose a new opera in three acts, for the opening of the new theatre at Baden.
Liszt has resigned his post, which he has long held, of director of the Opera at Weimar. He has done this, it is said, from disgust at the failure of an opera called The Barber of Bagdad, composed by a M. Cornelius, one of his pupils.
The New Philharmonic concerts, carried en by Dr. Wylde, are to take place at St. James's Hall on the 14th of March, 2d of April 9th and 23d of May, and 6th of June. Several great works are announced; particularly Beethoven's Choral Symphony, Schubert's Symphony in B flat, and the Historical Symphony of Spohr.
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