tOt t4tatrts.
Mademoiselle Piccolomini—who almost ever since the end of the Lon- don opera season has been making the tour of the Three Kingdoms, playing her round of parts and singing at numberless concerts—reap- peared at Her Majesty's Theatre on Thursday night; Mr. Lumley having got up two performances on her account as she passes through London for Paris. She performed Norina in Don Pasquale; and sang, in character, an air from La Figlia del Ileggitnento. La Traviata is re- served for her last appearance, this evening. There was an immense house on Thursday ; and there will be a greater, if possible, to- night, as not a single box or stall is to be had. The fair prima donna has been well employed during the autumn. Instead of taking repose, she has been practising her art laboriously, and keeping her vocal powers in constant exercise. If her opera performances were confined to a nar- row round, her concert-singing took a wide range and embraced a large selection of classical music. Her activity seems to have done her good. She looks more robust—or rather less fragile—than formerly, and seems glowing with health and spirits. Her voice has gained in strength and firmness, and there is a decided improvement in the aplomb and finish of her execution. To the principal air in Don Pasquale, "So anche la virtu magica"— in itself sufficiently trivial—she gave a fresh colouring by some new and graceful embellishments and turns of the melody; and she sang the fine air in La Figlia—Maria's tender farewell to her be- loved regiment—with charming expression. Piccolomini is evidently making progress as an artist ; and, by the time she returns to the Hay- market boards, she will probably be able to take a much higher flight than she has yet done.
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