The discovery of an enacted and unpublished opera by Donizetti,
thirteen years after his death, will be a memorable event in the annals of music. This opera, entitled Rita, ou le Mari bathe, was produced at the Opera Comique on the 7th of this month. Doubts of its authenticity were at first entertained, but they have been removed by unquestionable evidence. It was composed, like Don Pasquale, expressly for the Opera Comique ; but, after undergoing from suc- cessive managements a series of delays, it appears to have been lost sight of altogether. But Donizetti's original manuscript remains, in his own handwriting, the score (pito complete and ready for the copyist. From this manuscript the piece has been prepared for repre- sentation. When it came to be performed, it was evident to every one, from intrinsic evidence, that it was a genuine work of the celebrated master. The public were convinced, from the freshness of the melodies, the spirit and gaiety of the style, and the Italian colouring throughont, that it was from the pen of the author of Don _Pasquale and the _Elie* d'Amore. The subject is described by the Parisian critics as being light; comic, and very amusing, and there can be no doubt of the great value of the work. Surely the management of the one or the other of our operahouses will find means to bring it without delay before the English public. When there are so few opportunities of producing an interesting novelty, such a one as this is not to be neglected.
Henry Wieniawaki, the young violinist who was so great a favourite here last season, is now resident at St. Petersburg, where he has been appointed solo violin to the Emperor and the Imperial theatres, a valu- able post, which, it is said, will fix him permanently at the Russian capital. From an official report just published, it appears that the receipts of the theatres of Paris, for the year from 1st May 1859, to 30th April 1860, amount to the sum of 10,367,227 francs, or 414,6891. sterling. During the same period the droits d'auteurs (authors' dues) have amounted to 1,304,054 francs, or 52,162/. sterling. Verily Paris is the paradise of dramatists, composers, actors, singers—of all who belong to the theatrical profession.
A new operetta in one act, by Flotow, the author of Martha, has just been produced at the Theatre Dejazet, with the utmost success. It is called Pianella, and its subject is the same with that of the celebrated old piece, La Serve Padrona, treated by the modern composer with in- finite grace, gaiety, and humour.
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