_Opening of Opera._ _Monday, May 13._--Crowded house. _Grand Otello Co._ unlimited. The Orchestra has been sunk four feet, thus giving Stalls clear view of stage. DRURIOLANUS proposes a puzzler "Orchestra _lowered_," he says, "yet all performers in it _hired!_" Royal Highnesses present. DRURIOLANUS, taking happy musical publishers' points of view, looks towards Royal Box and murmurs "'Royalties' on music." ALBANI surpasses herself as _Desdemona:_ quite wonder that _Otello-Tamagno_ has the heart to smother her with pillow after her song about the willow. Signor PESSINA as _Iago:_ rather a ponderous villain. Pecuniary operatic prospects exceptionally good: at all events, possessing JEAN DE RESZKE, TAMAGNO, and BERTRAN, DRURIOLANUS has "three tenners" in hand to start with. [Illustration: Vocal and Orchestral. Marguerite and Strauss.] _Tuesday._--BOÏTO'S _Mefistofele_. "An opera that 'grows on you,'" says LOUNGER in the Lobby. "If there were a probability of many such growing on _you_, my dear LOUNGER," quoth Sir DRURIOLANUS, with satirical affability, "you would be worth cultivating." The advantage of a long opera, with disconnected acts, is, that you can "pick 'em where you like," as the coster says of the walnuts, and come in anywhere for something good. MAGGIE MACINTYRE is "getting a big girl now." Charming as _Margherita_ and _La belle Hélène_. Signor DE LUCIA a rather timorous and bashful _Faust_, with one eye for MAGGIE and the other for NELLI (short for MANCINELLI), as if praying the latter to conduct him safely and keep him from temptation to go wrong. _Faust_ in situation of TOOLE in _The Houseboat_, when he used to exclaim, "SARAH! I'm slipping!" PLANÇON equally good as _Jupiter_ or _Mefistofele_; this time it is _Mefisto_. _Wednesday._--_Le Prophète._ In spite of name, unprofitable opera. Signor TAMAGNO (or familiarly TAM AGNO), as _Jean of Leyden_, rather over-laden, but bearing burthen bravely. TAM receives big _encore_ in Star-spangled Banner Hymn. The two CORSIS and CASTELMARY ably represent Liberator Firm of _Jonas, Zaccaria, Mathisen & Co._, always ready to draw on their false prophet in order to save their own credit. Two CORSIS and dessert to follow. Beaming BEVIGNANI conducts invisible orchestra.