The two rival Opera managers have at length spoken, by
newspaper advertisements. Mr. Lumley merely states that Her Majesty's Theatre will reopen early in May; that engagements of great interest have been effected both in opera and ballet; and that the prospectus will shortly be issued. Notwithstanding some gossiping paragraphs in the daily papers, this, at present, is all that is known on the subject.
Mr. Gye enters more into particulars. From his advertisement it ap- pears that he intends to open the Lyceum on the 16th of this month. He retains all the great stars, and indeed almost the whole company, of last year, but is to reduce the orchestra and chorus to a scale corresponding to the small size of the theatre ; and it appears from the enumeration of operas to be produced that the same consideration has governed him in their choice. The great spectacles of the French stage—the Huguenots Prophete, &c.—areexcluded ; and the pieces mentioned are really Italian operas, which will be seen and heard to greater advantage on a small stage than a large one. No new performer is announced, and the only new piece is Verdi's last opera, La Traviata. For our part, we look for- ward with some pleasure to the change : the sweet and graceful Italian singing and acting of which we have the prospect will be a welcome re- lief from the glare and glitter, the sound and fury, of the modern Gallo- German stage. It will be all very well if Mr. (lye can make his theatre pay,-but this seems simply impossible.
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