[Illustration: Our Maggie McIntyre as "La (Prima) Donna del 'Lago.'"]
Royal Italian Opera is quite a winter rose in Covent Garden. It
blossomed well, and is doing bloomingly. How lovely and of what happy
omen is the name of MARIA PERI, whose _Valentina_ in _Les Huguenots_
is worth recording, even though it does not beat the record. It is
said to be an uninteresting part, yet I remember everybody being
uncommonly enthusiastic about this same _Valentina_ when GRISI played
it, and _her_ "Valentine" was _Romeo_-like MARIO. Their struggle, his
Leap for Life out of the window after the great "_Tu M'ami_" solo and
duet, her despair, will never be forgotten. "Nothing in the part,"
quotha! Nothing in the person more likely. Signor PADILLA, excellent
actor, is here again. Signor INGENIO CORSI has been "lent" by Sheriff
AUGUSTUS DRURIOLANUS, and we hope he'll be returned safe, sound,
and unspoilt, carefully packed, "G uppermost," in time for the Royal
Italian Season. More nice names of good omen in the ballet, LOUISE
LOVEDAY,--hope she'll "love-night" as well, and be always ready to
dance,--and "JESSIE SMILES!"--does she! Bless her heart! Signor ARD
'ITTY, as 'ARRY would say, is the energetic "Conductor," so that
Signor LAGO's 'bus "full inside--all right!" ought to go along
pleasantly, and do well.
_Friday.--Lucia di Lammermoor_, with Mlle. STROMFELD in the title
_rôle_, singing well, and recalled several times by a fairly filled
house. Signor SUANE, the _Edgardo_, looking better than he sang. But
what a fine old crusted piece of Italianised conventionality the Opera
is, with about as much to do with Scotland as it has with SCOTT! From
the general demeanour and appearance of the Chorus of "Ladies and
Knights," and "Friends of Lord ASHTON," the ASHTONS evidently in a
very second-rate set at Lammermoor. However, it must be admitted that
their attitude, as spectators of _Lucia's_ delirium, left nothing to
desire on the score of repose--the VERE DE VERES themselves could
not have been calmer, or less concerned. Blue chins, and sympathy
expressed by semaphore action, in the good old time-honoured fashion.
The "Warriors of Ravenswood" in Lincoln green hunting costume, and
the tombs of _Edgardo's_ fathers under a marble colonnade--to give the
necessary local colour.
Good house on Saturday for _Robert the Devil_,--not _our_ "ROBERT" the
Waiter. But Signor LAGO must not be satisfied with things as they are.
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