OPERA NOTES.
Tuesday, July 17.—"The opera season will terminate July 30." To-night Verdi's opera of Aïda, "with the dotlets on the i." First appearance of Madame Adini, a spacious prima donna who amply fills the part. Giulia Ravogli an excellent Amneris. Opera apparently not particularly attractive, or more powerful attractions elsewhere.
Saturday, 21.—Pagliacci followed by new opera entitled The Lady of Longford, though it would have been more polite had the Pagliacci allowed the Lady to precede them. But Pagliacci will be Pagliacci. The Lady's Librettists are Sir Druriolanus Poeticus and Mr. F. E. Weatherly. The music is by Emil Bach. The Gentlemen of Longford are represented by Messrs. Alvarez and Edouard de Reszke, while the Lady, the big lady, is Emma Eames—"quite the lady"—and the little lady is Evelyn Hughes. This new Lady turns out to be our old friend the one-act drama by Tom Taylor entitled A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing, set to music, the comic characters being omitted, and the end made tragic instead of happy. The music does not entitle Bach to take a front seat. Emma Eames excellent; Fanny Hughes funny; Alvarez good; Jean de Reszke first-rate all-round-head Colonel, but more like a Cathedral than a Kirk. Composer and Librettists complimented; Mancinelli conducted; house full. General satisfaction.
Hard Case of "Evicted Tenants" in Drury Lane.—At a general assembly of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane Company of Proprietors last Wednesday, Mr. Chitty is reported to have observed that "after putting £300,000 into the building without receiving a farthing in return, they were now to have their money confiscated by the law, but in such circumstances as one would not have expected from a nobleman in the Duke of Bedford's position." Ahem! Why did not Sir Druriolanus arise and, remembering the Barber of Seville, sing "Chitty, Chitty, piano! piano!" But naturally the Drury Laneites must feel a bit hurt.
THE "GRAND NATIONAL" TRUST.
A Meeting has recently taken place at Grosvenor House to establish a National Trust, the idea being to preserve places of historic interest and natural beauty. Announced at the meeting that already a beautiful cliff had been promised by a lady. We understand the following promises have also been received:—