Sorry, indeed, are all London lovers of music at the sudden departure from our midst and mist of Cavalleria Rusticana, the Rustic Cavalier.  It is no comfort to us to be told that the Rustic Cavalier will go into the provinces and appeal to the country.  His province at present should have been to remain in London, where, with nothing to speak of in the way of mise-en-scene, he—­that is, his composer, pietro Mascagni—­has made a decided hit.  Wise was our Signor Lago “al factotum” in producing this, and knowing, too, must he be in his use of Windsor soap to have so speedily “taken the cake.”  Nay more, did not her gracious majesty absolutely retain a Royal Box at the Shaftesbury up to the last night of the run of this one-Act Opera? “Ah, bravo, Figaro, bravissimo!  Fortunatissimo!” What a treat, too, to hear again the “Che faro.” which brought down the Curtain, and brought down the House, on this termination to GLUCK’s Orfeo.  Strong, indeed, must be the Cavalleria to be successful after the Che taro:  but it was.

The Overture, the solo sung, by way of novelty, behind the Curtain, by TURIDDU,—­(what a name! like the commencement of a comic nonsensical chorus!  TURIDDU ought to have been in love with Tulla Lieti and have behaved badly to Tralala.  “But this is another story.")—­the choruses, and most of the concerted pieces are charming; and, above all, the intermezzo, which, were the piece in two Acts, would he the overture to the Second Act is simply so fascinating, that without a dissentient voice from a full house it was warmly and heartily encored, and would have been called for a third time had the judicious Signor ARDITI shown the slightest sign of conceding a supply to a fresh demand.  None of the solos, except the one sung behind the Curtain, are particularly catching, or dramatically effective.  Mlle. ELANDI, as Santuzza, acts and sings well; and Signor BERTINI, with a good voice, is about as stiff in action as a rustic Cavalier would naturally be; while Signor BROMBARA’s Alfio the Mule-driver is histrionically just about perfect.  Of course it will not he long ere we hear it again, and under vastly improved conditions.

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A MAYOR AND OLD HUNTER.

[Illustration]

Last Thursday the Fishmongers gave a banquet in their hall to the Duke of BEAUFORT and other Masters of Hounds.  But why should the Fishmongers thus publicly advertise themselves as “going to the dogs.”  What fishly a-fin-ity is there between hounds and herrings, except in the running of a drag?  However, the Lord MAYOR improved the occasion, which we dare say judging from the liberal hospitality, or, in this instance hoss-pitality, of the Fishmongering Corporation, scarcely required improvement, to inform His Grace of BEAUFORT and other noble sportsmen that he too