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1382 T H Ei _ V.Xi _g_ A PEIt. [go. 456,...
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» RIZZIO. Riazio. A Dramatic Ballad. The...
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THE rALACE OP THE TEOrl'.B MUSWELL HilX....
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Transcript
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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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New Publications. Messijs. Rowney And Co...
a fine mezzotint engraving by F . Bromley , after Grant ' s portrait of Sir James Scarlett , the Crimean hero . TJie portrait is manly and expressive—the very type of the old campaigners—his silver-hairs doing honour to his grand martial brow . The chair in which he is seated is a Gne specimen of ancient painting . This portrait was painted for the officers of the Dragoon Guards , who . will , no doubt , be glad to see so faithful and spirited a transcript of it .
1382 T H Ei _ V.Xi _G_ A Peit. [Go. 456,...
1382 T H Ei _ V . Xi _ g _ A PEIt . [ go . 456 , JDECEamER 18 , 1858 .
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» Rizzio. Riazio. A Dramatic Ballad. The...
» RIZZIO . Riazio . A Dramatic Ballad . The Words by H . S . K ., the Mnsic by Walter Maynard . Cramer , Beale , and Co . As a composition for a single voice this ballad is of higher purpose and attainment than any similar vocal work from the pen of an English musician it has yet been our good fortune to peruse . The poet has successfully condensed in the form of a
ballad the subject matter of an entire opera , the verse being by turns narrative , descriptive , suggestivej and colloquial . If the poetry of Kizzio b ~ e deficient in lyrical character , the author undoubtedly exhibits higher attributes of his art—expression and feeling ; . Few composers would have ventured upon the difficult task of setting such lines to music ; none but a gifted and cultivated composer could have succeeded .
We have not space , nor is it m the province of our columns to enter into a critical and sesthetical examination of individual works of art , but one of such rare excellence as the present requires no apology for a few observations ; it deserves an unusual call upon the attention of our readers . ] Vlr . May nard artistically commences his composition with a symphony that is in perfect keeping as to proportion and character with the work , and through it he epitomises the whole in a manner so skilful and felicitous as to recal the design of Weber in his treatment of the wonderful preludes or overtures to his operas . The verse commences by Rizzio's declaration of love for the MrMaynard has set these
Queen . . lines to a melody after the modern Italian school . The melodic phrase is well sustained , and closes with an expressive and tender cadence ; but we do not find it chaste , nor severe enough , for the classic form of this ballad . It would prove a very telling melody for a street trovatore to sing in his soft desire to wile away the heart of some fashionable prima donna ' s maid . The succeeding narrative verse is expressed by Mr . Maynard in accompanied recitative . We may here observe that with the exception of one line of poetry adapted to the melody sung by Rizzio , the composer has sot the entire ballad continuously , avoiding any repetition of words that does not occur in the poem . Whether this be the effect of design or accident we care not to enquire : the charm is there . After the recitative follows the denunciation of
Bothwell and the assassins : the masterly treatment of this portion of the poem is an undeniable manifestation of rare ability in the composer . The melody , accompanied in pure counterpoint , is introduced several times under different phases : first , in the instrumental symphony without words ; then , on , two several occasions—in the revelries of Botli-¦ well and the assassins j lastly , after the death of Hizzio , when the composer , by a ohange in the measure and colour of tho melody , illustrates with much beauty and deep pathos the sad and lonely condition of the Queen , By these artistic resources , which appear almost a gift of inspiration , Mr . Maynard sustains the unity of his composition ,
which , under other treatment , would have proved fragmentary and disjointed— rudittindigestaque moles . Our admiration is again excited by the composer's excellent elaboration of tho climax ( the assassination of Hizzio ) , which , invested with considerable spirit and interest , culminates in a point d ' orr / ue given in a few measured yet impassioned notes to be delivered by the unaided voico and declamatory power of tho singer , We confess our surprise at tho many and high excellencies exhibited in this dramatio ballad , as
former productions by Mr . Maynard—such at least As have come under our notice—yield but slight in . dications of the hitch oapacity hero muuifost . Our readers will infer that Ititzia is not a ballad
of a popular character ; it is composed for the enjoyment of connoisseurs * An average performance of it demands the combined talents of a great accompanyist and a great singer .
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The Ralace Op The Teorl'.B Muswell Hilx....
THE rALACE OP THE TEOrl ' . B MUSWELL HilX . Tins private exhibition of Mr . Owen Jones ' s designs for this national undertaking is announced to take place in St . James ' s Hall , on Tuesday , 21 st , and Wednesday , 22 nd inst . We understand that they are on the most extensive scale , and conceived , as well as executed , in a high style of decorative art . They will present views of the exterior and the interior of the proposed building , with some of its intended contents ; and artists of eminence have
been engaged in so finishing the ' coloured drawings that they will be more than ordinarily interesting . Considerable excitement now prevails in the densely populated suburbs commanded by the new Palace , with regard to the nature of the attract ions to be provided for their amusement-and recreation . We understand that ornamental grounds have been planned by Mr . Spencer , of Bo wood , in such a manner as to include a garden in the Italian style , a French garden of the time of Louis Quatorze , and the old English garden , with its quaint clipped
hedges and bowling-green . The " plcasauuce" will be encircled by a drive for carriages and equestrians , and a sheet of water will afford a scene for rowing matches and aquatic amusements . It" the promoters receive anything like the support which they are led to anticipate from financial circles in general , and from the great railway companies , whose receipts the accomplishment of their plans will tend largely to increase , an institution will soon arise in the most beautiful environ north of London , which will combine the charms of a fashionable resort and
a fount of healthy and mental and bodily amusement for the toiling myriads of . our metropolis . We shall certainly inspect Mr . Owen Jones ' s plans . That gentleman ' s celebrity induces us to think they will offer material for an interesting architectural and artistical report , as well as for one with simple reference to their apparent fitness for the end proposed .
COVE 3 TT GARDEN THEATRE . Tin ' s ample lyric establishment , replete with every necessary for the production of first-class operas , is now in tho hands of Mr . Harrison , and his clever aides , Messrs . Murray and IJrough , who know no rest from the labour of general arrangement , besides specially getting-up Mr . Balfe ' s opera of Satanella ; or , the Power of Love , nnd the I ' antomimc . The former work , written , as we have before announced , in Mr . Balfe ' s best and lightest style , is to be produced on Monday next . The latter- —unless some indiscreet heretic dislocates and precipitates the
manngeriul arrangements of the theatres in general by rushing into the field with an ante-Christmas pantomime—rwill come in due course upon Boxingnight , We have on former occasions alluded to tho radical changes it was the rumoured intention of the new management to effect in theatrical arrangements before the curtain . These rumours are now accredited from head-quarters , and deserve especial notice , for should Mr . Harrison have force as well as will to carry out his intentions , lie will hnvo deserved
tho thanks of generations of playgoers yet unborn for striking down the most flagrant ubuso nn < l removing the grout obstacle to tho certainty of seeing a play or hearing an opera in return for tho regulated admission money , without payment of black mail for pcoce and quietness , in tho shnpo of booking and box-lceepers' fees . Tho offlcinl announcement , which cannot be made too public , us it mightily concerns tho comfort of all who by any chance over enter tho doors of a playhouse , and a twelvemonth ngo might have been regarded as involving a maniacal rovolutlon , runs as follows : —
Being of opinion thnt tho price paid for admission to a theatre ought to cover all charges , and believing that extra claims , such as fees to box-keepers , & c , are generally , if not universally , objected to , tho managorfl have determined upon abolishing all such extra olaimH . Private boxes , stalls , or seats in tho dross circle , lower dross circle , or amphitheatre stalls ( nil of which are numbered , and will bo retained tho whole of tho evening )) may bo scoured beforehand ut thobox-ofllco , at the same price as that charged at tho doors , without any fee for booking , A neatly printed programme of tho evening ' s performance will be given to each person on entering the
theatre , and as all the box-keepers and other « ~ are paid by the management , there will be no excusef . any demand of money from the audience- ami , disSed " S ^ T * demaUd WUl be *»» wdI . Sj All places secured at the box-office will be mark i i , a distinctive ticket , so that the public will be enabW 7 perceive at a glance what seats are at their dismS . 1 and as all seats taken and paid for in advancTSf guaranteed to be reserved for the whole of the evnn " the managers trust that the good feeling of the miwll will prevent any improper attempt to take these nW when unoccupied . i ' " « . t » Cloak-rooms will be provided , where ladies' bonnet * gentlemen ' s coats , & c ., may be left , and where a low fixed price ( which will be conspicuousl y announced fn the room ) will be charged for taking care of each aitfci No person in charge of the cloak-room is entitled on > any pretence whatever , to make any claim beyond ' the . price so announced .
Evening dross will not be required for the pit , amnhitheatre stalls , or amphitheatre . It is to be hoped—for we have not space for further comment—that the example set by the spirited managers of the English opera company will not be lost upon their confreres of other theatres
r » RURV I . ANE THEATR E . The first Drury Lane season of the Pyne and Harrison opera management' was broug ht to a conclusion nn Saturday last with the performance of Donizetti's Daughter of the Regiment , fox the benefit of Miss Susan Pyne > The fair lessee acquitted her . self in the sparkling little part of Marie , with sill the vocal anil dramatic delicacy and finish we fully expected of her , and may rank without question henceforth in this as in other of her parts , side byside with the most renowned of her predecessors . A crowd of lay and professional sympathisers of course were present , and were most demonstrative
in their manifestations of delight and-admiration of the heroine of the evening , who was well-nigh overwhelmed with a pitiless storm of bouquets , not to mention a wreath of laurel , that might have served colossal brows ; and a shrine or case that might have contained—for its contents did not transpire—a suite of diamond ornaments , a kilogramme . of Parisian sweetmeats or chocolat tie santc , or a portrait and an offer of the enthusiastic donor ' s heart . A
good deal of disappointment was at first experienced by the announcement that Mr . W . Harrison was too unwell to sing ; but that gentleman ' s admirers ircrc in too great force , and the public too recotjnisant of his long-tried fidelity to engagements with them , to permit this feeling more than a transient existence-In the course of a few brief observations he offered at the fall of the curtain , in obedience to a general call for the company , it was so evident to all that the favourite was indeed an invalid , that the
plaudits of the patrons whom he had but just disappointed were as warm as though he had won theni by dint of vocal exertion , and must , as a tribute ot genuine good feelings have been infinitely more gratifying . The part of Tonio was read , as the bills have it , in consequence of the principal tenors indisposition , by Mr . St . Albyn , whose voice , in the few opportunities allowed for its display—iin consequence of his obvious inadequacy , at only a tew hours' notice , to the concerted music-sounded so
pure and good , and whose intention nnd capability were also so manifest , that they secured for him a very considerable amount of genuine approbat on . it we are not mistaken , Mr . St . Albyn will have littlo occasion to regret the chance that t | irc « r in his vay the reading of Tonio , though , the season being o \ er , it was for one night only . Miss Susan 1 ' yne , vjo was the Jfarquise tU Birhenfehlt , was , us usuui . ^ « " *" able to both the musicnl and dramatic cnwnbie , am Mr . Corri made a capital Sergeant b ' ulpieio . the puoi *
An address from tho management to was extensively circulated through tho house '"" "fa the evening , in which tho immediate removal otwu company to Covent Garden Theatre was ** nf ™ Zr and tho lessees pleaded for a vote of contutence . That this will bo allowed them nem . con . is , wes tn" > a certainty . They have demonstrated inBcvciu ' stances , as they sot out to do , that Knglw" operas by nativo composers can bo performed to tno uu ; mont of nativo audiences by native nrtlsti . i »• they havo not more often varied their PW ^ ftl"JJJ ,, / due to tho amazing popularity of Mr . B ' "V , / ir re-Castillo and Jiohemian Girl , which assured tlie r tontion , ami that when they have varied it tl > w «» lu
been with tho works of foreigners , is . yT moro some of our readers may bo awaro of the i « ci--to the dearth of native opera writers thnn to » a j desire of Miss Pyno and Mr . Harrison to « trj « original colours under which they have ac ii re much favour . They eoino forward , on tho comx » g spontaneously to renew their implied oorunanr ^ rise or fall , if possible , by English oporo , In JJ lowing reniarkablo passago of their vakUJow j * iSglThithorto debarred , by «> ° ^ "f' ^ ln'Sshown to works in our existing repertoire , lw >» 1 _
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 18, 1858, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18121858/page/14/
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