THE THEATRES.
" The season before Easter" commences this evening; that is, Her Ma- jesty's Theatre opens—with Verdi's Ernani and a new ballet. From a hearing at the last full rehearsal of the opera, on Thursday, we are enabled to tell our readers something of the singers who are to make their debilt on this occasion, and to anticipate in some measure the effect of their per- formance. With the exception of Gardoni, they are all new to England. Mademoiselle Cruvelli, who sustains the character of the heroine, is young and handsome, of an intelligent and serious aspect, and dignified air. Her voice is a soprano, of that ,resonant, bell-like quality, designated by the term "voce vibrate," which is at once the most grateful to the ear and best fitted for the expression of feeling. It has ample volume, its intona- tion was irreproachable, and the cantatrice used it with clear and polished execution. A rehearsal, of course, is carried on in a subdued tone; but there was a youthful freshness and warmth in her whole manner that led us to expect a performance of no ordinary animation and power. Garden'', who, as a tenor, might have been expected to take the part of Ernani, has got that of Carlo, written for a baritone, and performed last year by Su.- perchi. It has been necessary to raise the pitch of his principal airs, particularly the great song, " Vieni rneco "; which, thus transposed, is ad- mirably suited to his voice, as well as his smooth style and soft expres- sion. Ernani is assigned to the new tenor, Signor Cumuli; who appeared reserve his powers for the performance, but to be fully master of the ;art. The stern old Roy Gomez will have an admirable-representative in Signor Belletti, one of the best bass-singers we have ever heard. His voice has the power of the " basso -profondo" without the heaviness that usually attends it; and his execution had an instrumental clearness and articulation, like the passages which Piatti's violoncello was occasionally emitting from the orchestra. The orchestra seemed to have been aug- mented in strength since last season, as well as improved in ensemble and smoothness. We never enjoyed this opera, at any previous performance, so cinch as at this rehearsal, from a quiet stall in the unbelted house: it brought out greater beauties of melody, vocal combination, and instru- mental effect, than we had supposed Maestro Verdi capable of producing.
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