The Royal Italian Opera season, instead of this evening, commences
on Thursday next, with Semiramide—Grisi and Angri in the two principal characters. In addition to the standing repertoire of the theatre, several novelties are announced : a new opera founded on Auber's Enfant Pro- digue ; Sappho, by Gounod, the young composer of whose genius we had a specimen at one of Mr. Hullah's late concerts; the _Haut° Magic° ; Weber's .Euryanthe (erroneously said to be for the first time in England); Spontini's Vestale ; Beethoven's Fide& ; and Spohr's Faust. The names of Gluck's operas, annually promised for several years, have disappeared. Among the performers, we observe the names of Viardot, Castellan, Mario, Tamberlik, Ronconi, and Formes ; but Tamburini is not thete. Costa continues to be director of the music.
The Opera Commonwealth no longer exists ; the whole concern being in the hands of Mr. Gye as lessee and manager. This " revolution " we foresaw and foretold ; for it was evident that performers accustomed to receive their thousands a year would not be willing any longer to receive as many hundreds, with the chance of receiving nothing at all. Mario, accordingly, positively declared of and refused to return on any other footing than an engagement on his usual terms. We see from the general programme, that much stress is laid on the prospects of " the extraordinary season of 1851." We hope they will not be disappointed.
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