The rival Italian Operas are about to take the field
for another cam- paign. No programme of the season has as yet been put forth by Her Majesty's Theatre; but an article has appeared in the Morning Post which, from its demi-official air, may be regarded as giving at least a general idea of Mr. Lumley's preparation. The programme of the " Royal Italian Opera" has appeared for some time in the principal journals in the form of a regular advertisement.
At Her Majesty's Theatre, Jenny Lind, as last year, will be the great attraction. It appears that her range of characters is to be much extended; and Donna Anna, Desdemona, and Lucia, are specified as parts in which she will appear. The second prima donna (in the Irish phraseology of the Operahouse) is to be Signora Tadolini • a lady of great Continental repu- tation, but who has never been in England, though she has held the highest place in the Italian theatres for twenty years. She is described by the foreign journals as excelling in the grand and lofty walk of lyrical tra- gedy; and her style, from its contrast to that of the Swedish Nightingale, will probably give an agreeable variety to the repertoire. Three other ladies are mentioned: Mademoiselle Moltini, who made a favourable im- pression here several seasons ago; Mademoiselle Vera; and Madame Schwartz, a contralto. Gardoni is to be the principal tenor; with two others, Signora Cuzzani and Labocetto, the latter of whom is said to be highly esteemed at Berlin, and to have been strongly recommended by the Countess Rossi (Sontag) and the Earl of Westmoreland. The basses and baritones are our old acquaintances, Lablache father and son, Coletti, and Bouche. In the ballet, the theatre, as usual, will be very strong: the principal stars announced are Carlotta Grisi, Cerito, Rosati, Marie Taglioni, St. Leon, Perrot, and Paul Taglioni. Balfe continues at the head of the Orchestra.
The Covent Garden programme exhibits a host of vocal talent: for so- pranos, Grisi, Persiani, Garcia Viardot, Castellan, and Corbari; for contral- to, Alboni; for tenors, Mario, Salvi, and Roger; for baritones and basses, Tamburini, Ronconi, Marini, and Revere; besides several inferior names of each class. The ballet list, with the exception of Lucile Grahn and Flora Fabbri, consists of names unknown in this country. Costa is musical di- rector, and, it is said, will have a " voice potential " on the stage as well as in the orchestra.
Her Majesty's Theatre, according to the demi-official announcement, is to open about the middle of this month; the Covent Garden Opera is ad- vertised to open in the first week of March.
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