It is evidently a difficult matter to gauge the taste of the Shanghai public as far as Italian operas are concerned. When Company commenced their series of subscription performances complaints were made that pieces were placed on the boards with which people here were not familiar. The programme was changed and others substituted which were supposed to be estab been complete disappointment to Signora Silini and her colleagues; the attendance has been growing gradually less, and on Friday evening every part of the house was miserably empty. the cas. Gicult it to aay, though we think it is ill-advised on the part of the Company to perform two nights in succession as they did on Thursday and Friday, and as they have announced to do to-night and to-morrow evening. 'The programme on Friday evening consisted of Donizetti's 'Lucia di Lammermoor,' which has been 1 times represented here, the last occasion being during the former visit of this Company when Signora Vela assumed the title rule. Signora Petrovich was Lucy Ashton, and although her representation of it was not an unqualified success it was very oreditable in many respects and was groated with repeated rounds of hearty applause. Her voice is scarcely equal to those of Signore Velaand Lubicci, but her acting was remarkably good in some of the most important passages of the opera. In the scene between her and Sir Edgar in the first act, when vows of mutual fidelity are ox-changed, she was graceful and natural, and the dut by the lovers was much admired. She was also very effective in the betrothal scene in the second act, though there was alight straining after effect; but the quartet' between her and Signori Ciocci, Petrovich, Patierno and Lanzoni was by far the most attractive morceatt of the evening and created quite an ovation, Her rendering of the mad scone was very commendable but not quite up to the mark of that which we had previously seen at the Lyceum. Signor Ciooci was thoroughly at home as Lord Ashton and was several ti encored in the songs which fell to his lot. Signor Petrovich made a capital Sir Edgar Ravenswood; he was in very good voice though some of his notes' were rather harsh; his acting in the befret! where he invokes a curse on Lucy fidelity to him was very good, but in the himself by histendering of the well known, jing passages of the opera ho surpassed
and much admired Fra poco. The entire business of the scene was thoroughly well managed and made n good impression on those of the audience to whom the plot was familiar, and the curtain descended amidst land and prolonged applause, It is only fair to say that Signor Patiorno made a good Lord Arthur Bucklaw though the effect of his impersonation was somewhat marred Signor Brunetti was as vorentilo as over and sang and acted with his usual energy and exuberance of spirits. Signor Lanzoni and Signora Bersolini sustained the parts of Raymond and Alice respectively. The scenery, especially in the last act, was appropriately arranged, and Signor Gord de-great oredit for the admirable man-in which the accompaniments were played by the orchestra. The prompter again favoured the audience with one or two solos or recitatives, which appeared to be a source of amusement to a few but were a great annoyance to many, and the same want of punctuality was again manifested by long delays between each act.
Although the house was very far from being full there was a better attendance at the Lyceum Theatre on Monday evening than on the occasion of the last performance of the Company. Every box was occupied, the dross-circle was much lo empty than usual and there was o fair gathering in the stalls and pit; the gods," however, shone principally by their absence, This was probably di to the re-appearance of Signora Silini, who did not take part in the two previous performances, as well as to 'Il Harbi di Siviglia' being on the programme which has always been rather a favourite opera here. The representation was advertised to commence at 9 p.m. sharp, but the curtain did not rise until about. twenty minutes after that hour—an unnecessary delay which sorely tried the pati of the occupants of the pit. The title role was sustained by Signor Ciocci whose singing was much applauded and once of twice encored; he acted with
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.