Otatrro.
At the reopening of her Majesty's Theatre, on Tuesday, the perform- ance of Lucia di _Lammermoor was attended with the unusual circum- stance of the two principal characters being sustained by English artists. Miss Catherine Hayes appeared in the part of Lucia, and Mr. Sims Reeves in Edgardo. Both of them had already performed these characters separately in London; Miss Hayes last season at the Royal Italian Opera; and Mr. Reeves in English, at Drury Lane, in the time of Jullien's opera- tic management. But Miss Hayes laboured under the disadvantage of a stage mesalliance ; the great tenor who was the Edgardo having chosen to walk through the part with a listlessness cruel to the young actress and disrespectful to the public. The joint performance was now tri- umphantly successful. Miss Hayes exhibited very beautifully the soft and gentle features of Lucy's character; and her singing was that of an Italian artist of the first class. Reeves's Edgardo had the force and energy which were remarked in his performance at Drury Lane • and his having now to give utterance to the original words, enabled him to sing with a. smoothness and finish which cannot be imparted to the rugged sounds of an English version. Both performers were warmly welcomed and ap- plauded by a crowded audience. On Thursday, Madame Sontag, flushed with her splendid Parisian tri- umph, reappeared before the London public ; and was received, if pos- sible, with even more enthusiasm than last year. She chose the part of Norina in Don Pasquale, which she had not performed before, but which is admirably suited to her graceful and elegant style of comedy. Her version of the character differed essentially from Grisi's, and from Albo- ni's,—equally comic, but more refined ; deriving its effect from an infinity of fine and delicate touches, while Grisi fills up a bold outline with greater breadth and strength of colouring. Both, in their several ways, are ad- mirable; but Sontag's vocal execution sets all comparison at defiance. Her voice seems as fresh and youthful as ever; and its exquisite sweet- ness and purity, joined to an execution as facile and unerring as that of the finest violin, and the highest polish of style, place her alone among stage vocalists. She was capitally supported by Lablache, Belletti, and Calzolaxi ; and this pretty opera never went off with greater spirit.
Covent Garden opened on Thursday, with ifasaniello ; in which the principal character was sustained by Signor Tamberlik, a tenor of great Continental fame but new to this country. His vocal powers were int- _ paired by evident weakness,—tbe effect, we understand, of recent illness and a fatiguing .journey : but he showed himself an energetic actor and his style of singing was highly artistic. In other respects the opera was performed nearly in the same manner as last year; but Castellan was substituted for Dorus Gras, and Mademoiselle Bailin for Leroux. The en- semble of the performance in regard to spectacle, chorus-singing, and orchestral accompaniment, was most gorgeous and beautiful; surpassing in all these particulars even the Grand Opera itself.
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