From 1850 to 1858 Mme. Persiani sang with her usual brilliant success in all the principal cities of Europe, receiving, for special performances in which she was a great favorite, the then remarkable sum of two hundred pounds per night. Her last appearance in England was in the spring of 1858, when she performed in "I Puritani," "Don Pasquale," "Linda di Chamouni," and "Don Giovanni." In the following winter she established her residence in Paris, with the view of training pupils for the stage. Only once did she depart from her resolution of not singing again in opera. This was when Signor Mario was about to take his benefit in the spring of 1859. The director of the Theatre Italiens entreated Persiani to sing _Zerlina_ to the _Don Giovanni_ of Mario, to which she at last consented. "My career," she said, "began almost in lisping the divine music of 'Don Giovanni'; it will be appropriately closed by the interpretation of this _chef-d'ouvre_ of the master of masters, the immortal Mozart." Mme. Persiani died in June, 1867, and her funeral was attended by a host of operatic celebrities, who contributed to the musical exercises of a most impressive funeral. Mme. Persiani, aside from her having possessed a wonderful executive art in what may be called the technique of singing, will long be remembered by students of musical history as having, perhaps, contributed more than any other singer to making the music of Donizetti popular throughout Europe. MARIETTA ALBONI. The Greatest of Contraltos.--Marietta Alboni's Early Surroundings.--Rossini's Interest in her Career.--First Appearance on the Operatic Stage.--Excitement produced in Germany by her Singing.--Her Independence of Character.--Her Great Success in London.--Description of her Voice and Person.--Concerts in Taris.--The Verdicts of the Great French Critics.--Hector Berlioz on Alboni's Singing.--She appears in Opera in Paris.--Strange Indifference of the Audience quickly turned to Enthusiasm.--She competes favorably in London with Grisi, Persiani, and Viardot.--Takes the Place of Jenny Lind as Prima Donna at Her Majesty's.--She extends her Voice into the Soprano Register.--Performs _Fides_ in "Le Prophete."--Visit to America.--Retires from the Stage. I.