I have begun my course of water drinking at the fountain of Sta Lucia.
Since I was here the last time, the theatre of St Carlo has been finished
and I went to visit it the second night after my arrival.
It is a noble
theatre and of immense size, larger it is said than the Scala at Milan,
tho' it does not appear so. The profusion of ornament and gilding serves to
diminish the appearance of its magnitude. It is probably now the most
magnificent theatre in Europe. The performance was Il Babiere di Siviglia
by Rossini, and afterwards a superb Ballo taken closely from Coleman's
Blue-Beard and arranged as a Ballo by Vestris. The only difference lies
in the costume and the scenery; for here the Barbe Bleue, instead of
being a Turkish Pacha, as in Coleman's piece, is a Chinese Mandarin, and
the decorations are all Chinese. A great deal of Scotch music is introduced
in this Ballo, and seems to give great satisfaction. At the little
theatre of San Carlino I witnessed the representation of Rossini's
Cenerentola, a most delightful piece. The young actress who did the part
of Cenerentola acted it to perfection and sung so sweetly and correctly,
that it would seem as if the role were composed on purpose for her. The
part of Don Magnifico was extremely well played, and those of the sisters
very fairly and appropriately. The three actresses who did the part of
Cenerentola and her sisters, were all handsome, but she who did Cenerentola
surpassed them all; she was a perfect beauty and a grace.
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