THE ITALIAN OPERA.
CARA DORI took her benefit on Thursday evening, in the opera of La Somnambula. She sang and acted in a chaste and finished manner, and with perhaps even more grace and animation than usual ; in spite of the discouraging appearance of a thinly-attended house. La Somnambula is BELLINI'S best opera: the choral parts of it arc remarkably effective, and in some parts almost original; and the airs elegant and melodious. RUBINI sang with surpassing beauty : his performance throughout was quite charm- ing—and why ? Because he indulged but sparingly in ornament, and what he employed was conducive to the general effect. We never heard him sing so exquisitely as in that song of reproach which is addressed to his mistress on her supposed infidelity. The opera did not go so smoothly as we could have wished : a few more rehearsals were wanted.
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