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    tfd. 503. »». itt-WHMPl ' - THE LEAPEB 1...

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    MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

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    MUSIC AND THE DRAMA

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    Miss Avavvrx Thomson.—A 1'aris correspon...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    Authorised Interpreter Of The Scriptures...

    & t * i' -a 7 td West , and other Poems . By L . L T- — Jame * < BI » eferwood . tTiffi domestic life of England is here contrasted with scenes of adventure and experience in foreign climes . The author , who appears to have been present at Inkermann , and to have had a brother devoted to military pursuits , and who , perhaps , has been hhnself a soldier both in the Crimea and India , paints nature with a free and g « tle touch , ana Caches the affections with a sympathetic power . His verses are musical , and his expression , always graphic , is frequently energetic , eloquent , and passionate , lie has many of . the qualifications that go to make a goo 1 lyric and descriptive poet . The Tourist ' s Handbook for Ireland . —W ' . Smith and

    Sons . This is the seventh year ' s edition of a descriptive work , whioli , to travellers , is of the utmost utility . It is embellished with one hundred illustrations by Mahony ; to which have been added useful maps and plans , such as the tourist is likely to stand , m need of . With these accessories , the publication justifies itself as both entertaining and instructive ; and will no doubt be extensively read . A Biographical Memoir of-. Cons-tan tine Simonides , Dr . Ph . With a brief defence of the Authenticity of hi ? Manuscripts . By Charles Stewart . —J . Skeet . 8 vo .

    This is a defence of Dr . Simonides against certain Charges relative to manuscripts of a very ancient diite . and very interesting matter , which he discovered , but which some of the learned pronounced not to be what it was asserted they were . It would lead any political periodical quite out of its line , to enter into a discussion on this profoundly learned topic , and we shall therefore content ourselves with referring all interested in . the subject to the paiiiplilet itself , which at all events we can say is clear in its narrative and temperate , in its tone , and seems to have been undertaken with the view of rectifying what the writer considers a wrong . Pilgrim Walks ; a Chaplct of Memories . By Mrs . Robert Cartwricht . —Charles Westerton .

    Mas , Cautwuigiit ' s " Pilgrim Walks" is a small volume of two hundred pages , containing the reflections of her visits to twenty-one towns or places of historical interest . We need hardly say that most of these " chaplets " are very short ; thus , for instance , Walmer castle is disposed of in two pages , Coventry in four , and Kew Gardens in eight . From this it will be imagined that the remarks of Mrs . Cartwright are not very profound , but they have one advantage —they are not wearying in minuteness of detail . Some of the memories are recorded in verse which sound pleasantly on the ear .

    Tfd. 503. »». Itt-Whmpl ' - The Leapeb 1...

    tfd . 503 . »» . itt-WHMPl ' - THE LEAPEB 1255

    Music And The Drama.

    MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

    Music And The Drama

    her debut under Mr . Gye ' s management of the Royal Italian Opera at the Lyceum in 1857 , as Elvira in the " Puritani , " Hnd in the following year sang with the same admirabletroupe at this theatre . and at the Crystal Palace Concerts , Her Leonora is an excellent one . While it offers much for the critical amateur to admire , from the vocal point of view , it is especially admirable from the dramatic , is a lyric actress she is entitled to a . place in the very first rank , a rank , as our readers must be aware , very limited in its numbers . Tim Trnvntnrp . Mr . Ha . iffh" whom we snoke of by

    anticipation , in former impressions , as an elegant vocalist in the small scale , fully realised all we expected of him in that respect , but was too nervous on Monday to allow of our noticing him as an actor at all . The handsome young mezzosoprano , Miss Pilling , whose unaffected rendering of the Goatherd ' s part in " Dinorah , " raised her per saltum , as it were , from among the novices to a place among minor celebrities , was comparatively ineffective in the part of Azucena , with which the public

    insist upon associating the dramatic power of the superb Guarducci and the energetic and sympathique Nantier Didice . Santley ' s beautiful voice , obscured albeit , from a severe cold , from which he had la = t night recovered , helped admirably to support the concerted pieces , and procured him a lively encore in " II balen , " We were pleased to observe that within the little month of his association with this company under Mr . Harrison ' s clever management , and of his first appearance upon any stage , this gentleman has mnAa a nrnn-i > ,. co in , tlip > nrt of" . stasre detiortment

    that could hardly have been expected , and bids fair , at no distant date , to be worthy as indisputable a position among respectable actors as lie already holds among celebrated singers . As we have no scruple in candidly * reporting our impressions of shortcomings as well as excellencies in the vocal department , we must not deny ourselves the pleasure of referring for the hundred and first time to the grandeur of the Covent-garden band and

    the perfection of the choral and scenic departments . The same ' musicians , or most of them , who surprised M . Meyerbeer by the precision wherewith , after a very limited number of rehearsals , they interpreted his niusical ideas in " Dinorah / ' having now achieved a still more complete mastery over the intricacies of that composition , return to the more simple instrumentation of "II Trovatore " and " Satanella , " with a certainty of time and tone no less marvellous than charming . The chorus , again , has attained a degree of perfection not formerly dreamed of ; arid , with regard to the iivise en scene . we must name as a . specimen of profuse , yet not vulgar outlay , tlie grand " Camp of Count de Luna , " with its strong array of mail-clad warriorsa beautiful tableau arranged in a style not achieved , if attempted , elsewhere . On Tuesday a large and fashionable audience attended the revival of " Satanella , " clearly indicating the s . oundlv-roc ) ted popularity of the native composer ' s work . Miss Pyno , Messrs . Harrison , Honey , Corri , St . Albyn , and W . II . Payne took their original parts . Mr . Santley was the mysterious prince of fiends , Arimanes ( late Mr . Weiss ) ; . Miss Pilling the Stella , and Miss Fanny Cruise an interesting Leila . . . ...

    style , a sweet voice , and good style . Ho made the most of the opportunity thus unexpectedly offerod to him , and was justly applauded for his efficiency under the circumstances . Signor Aldighieri , of whose " J ) o Luna" wo have boforo spoken warmly , gives us no reason to change our opinion . ' On Thursday wo expected tho pleasure of assisting at Mdllo . Tieljen ' s appearance in Flotow ' s Martha , but owing to incontplotcnoss of certain stage managerial ( as we understood ) , tho opera was put oil ! Tho resources of tho thoatro and tho talent of the company favour tho chance that this very pleasing work will bo bottom appreciated aft or its adoption by La Titions than has hitherto boon tho case .

    Royal , English Ofioka , Covkij-t Gakden , — Thq management of this theatre having succeeded beyond thoir own and tho public expectation , in popularising the last great yet simple work of Meyerbeer , now proceed to fulfil thoir programme by introducing further novejties , if not in operas , atloast in the way of eingers . On Monday evening the " Trovatoro " gave opportunity for the appearance of MailomojisoHo Parupa , an Englishwoman , though sho do fllgnatea hcraolt after this Gailo-Italian ftisljion , nnd a very excellent vocalist as well as actress , This lady , thpugli she nmy fairly be called it novelty among thelOnglieh Opera , company , has nevertheless been for eomo time recognised as an artlsto first of promise , then of no mediocre distinction . She made

    v Italian Oi'eha , Duchy-lane . —The section of MCr . Smith ' s double company , which comprises Mdllo . Tietjens and Signor Giuglini , is taking a scini-brevo rest in town mi route for the Continent , nnd on Tuesday evening gave " II Trovatore . " The house was densely crammed , and the great and amiable artist first named appoareil , notwithstanding sinister rumours that she had too longoutstayed our fugitive summer , in the first , of force , ' Signor Giuglini , on tho cpntrary , was manifestly labouring under indisposition . Ho sang admirably , however , through tho first act , after which lUs place was supplied by Signor Corsi . This gentleman has an agreeable

    Olympic—Mr . Robert Brough ' s "Medea" was reproduced here , on Monday . The wild progressions , of Mr . liobson withhis author , from pathos to bathos , from sublime to ridiculous , are too familiar to the world to need our good report ; und no labour of ours could convey n satisfactory improssion to thoso who have not in turn laughed or trembled at the broad humour or tho tragic denunciations of poor old Medea . Mr , Addison sustains his old part of Croon , and Miss Wyndham is a Ml ' Jason . . AnisM'ni Thbatuk — "Dinorah -Under Difficulties , " tin adaptation ( as it is called . by courtesy , but , in fact , we approhoml . a rocination ) of n French trifle , entitled " La 'ChOvre do , rioermel , " was produced her with groat success on Monday , and in tho course of a few days will figure importantly among London theatrical attractions of tho day . Without venturing more than a faint opinion thatto place an audience on tho wrong side of tho footlights is tho very height of illegitimacy , and , Shnkcspearp and Sheridan notwithstanding , in extremely bad taste , wo may proceed to inform our renders that tho interest of this Dinorah consists in tho difficulty of producing the Dinorah without a prima donna . How to do this is a taBk imposed upon poor Mr . Topsuwycr ( J . L . Toolu ) , manager at the Mudborough Thoatro Royal , and liis first lieutenant , stage manager , and prompter , Stmffka ( Mr . 0 . J . Smith ) . Tho solution they hit upon and , by dint of hard work , carry out between tiioin , is the impersonation of tho heroine by tho manager himself . Then follows a slight attompt at u trnvostlc , without merit as fur as author or adnpier Is ' concerned , but reflecting considerable credit upon tho aforesaid Messrs . Toolo ana Smith , and Miss K . Kelly ( who makes n , fascinating CorrentinoY , and lastly , the orohostra , -who givo some

    pretty music from Meyerbeer , the Christy minstrelsy , and divers other sources , with much spirit . We cannot speak too highly of Mr . Tcole's Dinorah . While the piece was yet young we had o / ur misgivings as to its success , so worn-out seemed the introduction of the manager in trouble j and so little novelty could we discover in his illustration of his griefs . But when as the goat-bereft maiden he showed how mad , how passionate , nay , almost how graceful the Dinorah of the opera should be , but never was before , we heartily joined the masses in their applause of his exertions . The capital makeup and highly finished fiissiness of Mr . Smith were , it is only fair to say , no less admirable nor admired than " the clever " Shadow dance " of his fellow artist .

    St . James's Theatre . —A sufficient number qf sympathising critics to make a , moderate success—as times go—assisted at the first representation here , on Wednesday , of a posthumous comedietta , by the late Mr . James Kenney , called " London Pride ; or Living for Appearances , " an artless story of every day life , illustrating , once more , the culpability and then remorse that wait too often upon extravagance , couched in neat language , and entrusted to such competent hands as those of Mr . Leigh Murray * Mrs . F . Mathews , and the rest of the company here , could hardlv fail to please , though it could not startle a modern audience , to whom the lesson and tlie form of its exhibition are only some fifteen years stalerthan they were when the " London Pride" was written . The attractions of the Misses St . Casse and Lydia

    Thompson seem undiminished , and the chances are , that at the present extremely lo ^ scale of prices the little St . James ' s will tide it well over until Parliament and spring shall bring its legitimate clientele of the squares and clubs again into its neighbourhood . The Grecian Theatre . —Mr . Conquest , the highly intelligent and enterprising manager of this theatre , on Monday made a very praiseworthy attempt to introduce the high poetical drama to his mixed audience , and selected for his experiment a play by Mr . J . H . Heraud , the well-known author of several high class poems , and also of " Tidena" and other high tragic dramas that have been acted with success .

    The piece thus chosen is entitled "Aguolo Dorico , and reveals the fortunes of a noble-minded napnk , Dorico ( Mr . Mead ) , who having a daughter , Veronica ( Miss Conquest ) , is in continual anxiety a-bout her in consequence of the licentiousness of a certain profligate , Cardinal Frivolio ( Jlr . Spencer ) , and of another seducer , Count Luigi ( Mr . Linghum ) , who , botli pursue with infamous designs , and indeed lure her to the ruins of the Collosseum , wliere an attempt at outrage is made , but which . calls down the avenging arm of the half-crazed monk , who slays them . Another young cavalier , bat of a virtuous and honourable mind , and who is the suitor for Veronica's hand in lawful wedlock , is

    accused of this double murder , and is about to be executed for it , when the monk appears and confesses to tlie deed , but , at the same time , declaring lie was ltd to it by the dictates of an inwurd and spiritual monitor . This relieves the cavalier , and tho young people arc made happy , lhere is much power and eloquence in , this dramu , find suvernl of the situations wrought thu audience to a great pitch of interest . Mr . Mead was efficient and putlietic as the monk-father , and Miss Conquest ' iretty and natural as the innocent daughter . Hie scenery was exceedingly good nnd all tho appliances very carefully provided , and tho ontiro performance vm-v much to the satisfaction of tho audience ana

    highly creditable to tho lessee ' s judgment ami tusto . Tho npplauao was loud and genuine , and the autUor was culled on the stage to receive the well-deserved thanks of the audience . As a first move towards the higher class of tho drama , this truly literary drama deserves every euooumigoiwnt .

    Miss Avavvrx Thomson.—A 1'Aris Correspon...

    Miss Avavvrx Thomson . —A 1 ' aris correspondent of lie Ohmjow # m // rf . writes : " Miss Augusta Thomson , wno 8 c musical triumphs in Paris you duly ohroniXi lust year , nnd who hat . boon . continuing hr si lies hero under M . Rdvial , leaves for Glassy thH week , to allow her native city to . ju dge of 8 Zs per eminent vocal talents . I may «*»* »««} that Scotland has never protluco . l the musical canal of tl . lE vounir lady , whose natural extraordinary volci hnabSK cultivated by something which tho inlmbltnnts of Glasgow will soon bettor appreciate ^ AiffiJJSSS ^ ACHC -Thc principal topic of conversation in theatrical circles " says a Melbourne pnpor , "is tho contemplated ( loparturo for Swlaiid of Mr . G . V . Brooke . On tlio 18 th of lost mon I e " took his benefit at the Theatre Royal In tho character of Virginius-ix magnificent imnorsonaiion At tho conclusion of tho tragedy ho ap-I oared boforo the curtain In response to a call from tho audionofl , and after expressing his thanks fbr the patronage bestowed on him , ho announced his intention of sailing in tho October mall ship . Ho stated

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 12, 1859, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12111859/page/19/