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534 THE LEADER. [No. 474, April 23, 185C...
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KOYAI, ITALIAN OPEKA—DRCET-LANE TnEATItE...
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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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At the annual dinner of the Artists' General Benevolent Association last Saturday , liord Hardinge was in the chair , and while he congratulatedthe members in hte after-dinner' speech , on having distributed 20 , 000 / ., very properly claimed Credit for the society oh the score of the ridiculously trifling cost at which this good had been done ; the annual expenses being jiot more than 16 QL , or about 8 per cent , on the amount distributed—a very favourable contrast with the aristocratic expenditure attending the disbursements of the Literary Fund .
Mr . Triibner , of Paternoster-row , has shown us some first rate collections , or "Albums " of high class German photographs , mounted on fine cardboard , and published in neat portfolios , at an absurdly low price . Among those we have seen , are the " De L . a Roche Album , " the " Album Berliner Kiintsler , " arid the Vernet Album . " The Delaroches are mostly taken from the standard line engravings after the master ' s best known works , and comprise the " Mary in the Desert , " " The Entombment , " " Napoleon
at Fontainebleau , " " Napoleon on the Alps , " " The Death-bed of Queen Elizabeth , " " The Infant Pic de Mirandola , " " Peter the Great , " " StrafFord , " " La Viergeala Vigne , " " Charles in the Guard-room , ' the " Marie Antoinette . " The "Vernet Collection , as we saw it , was very poor ; indeed we fancy its riches must have been culled from it ere it reached us . The Berlin Collection comprises the works of several modern riien of repute . It is chiefly rich in domestic subjects of themost pleasing type , by Meyerhehu , one of the German Websters .
It is pleasant to report that on the 15 th inst . the Mansion House opened its doors to a crowd of amateurs and professionals connected with that gentle art , Photography . The learned Master of the Mint , and Professor Donaldson , Messrs . Gassiot , Gilbert Scott , Owen Jones ; Weiitworth Dilke , Digby Wyatt , Theodore Martin , and George Goodwin ; Dr . Croly , with Frith , Bailey and Foley , the academicians , besides a number of other literary , artistic , and scientific people , as well as a due proportion of civic notabilities , were present , ostensibly to meet Mr . Glaisher the president , h Photo
and the other councillors of the Blackheat - graphic Society . In the Egyptian Pall , and the adjacent gallery , the newest and most perfect photographical devices were displayed , with the choicest productions of the "imprisoned ray . " Messrs . Murray and Heath , of Piccadilly , showed many excellent instruments , and some pleasing dissolving stereoscopic views . Messrs , . Smith and Beck brought pho ' tographic , and Mr . De la it ' , stereoscopic views of the moon ; and , in short , all the leading artists and commercial firms connected with the business were adequately represented by their works .
534 The Leader. [No. 474, April 23, 185c...
534 THE LEADER . [ No . 474 , April 23 , 185 CL
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Koyai, Italian Opeka—Drcet-Lane Tneatite...
KOYAI , ITALIAN OPEKA—DRCET-LANE TnEATItE . Mr . Smith has just issued his programme , or bill of promises , from which it appears he keeps his hold upon that much-disputed , treasure , Signor Graziani , In addition to the great attractions in the shape of Madame Titiens , Signor Giuglini , and our fair countrywoman , Miss Victoria Balfe ,. as well as Mddles . Sarplta , Guarducci , Vaneri , and Enrichetta ^ Weiser , and others of lesser note , and in unlimited quantity , whom Mr . Mapleson , the musical agent , has been olover enough 'to collect . Most of the foreign stars , however , being just now in . full song in capitals whore sitting in hot opera-houses is a ¦ winter— 'not , as here , a summer—diverslqn , the entrepreneurs lead off" on Monday with Miss Bitlfe , ¦ who made a pleasing impression 6 n her debut at the Xyceum two years aince , and has been recently gathering laurels in other lands , as well as that stage -experience which was , of course , her weak point at starting . The band of fifty-five performers , under Mr . Benedict ' s able direction , and the chorus of sixty , were almost all members of Mr . ILuinley ' s troupe at Her Majesty ' s Theatre ; and it seems little doubted that , despairing of over working that unfortunate property to a profit , its Into lessee has wisely effected some fusion with Mr . Smith * who , bosklcs being
master . of theatrical economics , holds a handsome theatre at a reasonable rental , Wo only hope no unpleasantness will occur between the managonient « na the renter ' s ticket-holders . This incubus upon Covoht-gardon managers died with the lato theivtro , but though it remains yet on Prury-lano , we have faith enough in Mi \ Smith ' s business tact to think he will easily come to a satisfUctory arrangement . A good deal of money has been laid out , wo hear , upon tho requisite alterations and decorations of the house , and the subscription list is in a sound position , While wo reword all these flicts for our realtors ' entertainment , we cannot refrain from expressing v hope that tho town is not to bo distracted or amused by a struggle between " tho housos twain , " whoso
this Chamberlain ' s Office is one of them . But be tween ours and his there is this slight diiFere nce-L the hitter would seem to be supported by the public —the former , upon it and in spite of it . Quousaue tandem ? ^ ST . JAMES ' S HALL . — -MONDAY POPULAR CONCER TS The second series , which we last week announ ced as projected , opened on Monday with a " Mendelssohn night , " and a programme not a whit less scientific yet more popular—as more tuneful—than many of its classic predecessors . The grand piece was an Otett for four violins , two tenors and two violoncellos —played by Messrs . Wieniawski , Kies , Carrod us Goffric , Doyle , Schreurs , Daubert , and Piatti . What
these eight can do is now a matter of fame , thanks to the management of these concerts , who , while they gracefully admit M . . Ju'UiCn ' s services to the cause of popularisation , have done well by music , and the public in bringing the great soloists into double , fourfold , and eightfold harness . We had never the wit . we confess , and it may thus be seen we are not of the elect but of the people , to appreciate . Wieniawski , when he was nightly tormenting , before promenade audiences , our old pontcs asinarum , the Carnaval de Venise and Rode ' s Air . We fancied somehow ( of course we were wrong ) , that by taking any young fiddler of moderate taste and ear , fine fingers , and a very good instrument , and locking him tip certain years with those two pieces and a book of exercises for
company , he might be brought out in time , by dint of printer ' s ink and other Barmimisms , sis a musical wonder . But . now that , weekly , ' -we hear our artist in some classic composition entirely new to us ; now that we mark his devotion , his super !* .. Intensity , his execution , and his wondrous tone , piercing ,, as it were , through mobs of music , we are ourselves-being educated by these popular concerts into an understanding and admiration of . him and of the music he plays , and are glad enough to tall -others to the class . We have not left ourselves space for ji notice of the long Otett , but must give our admiration to its exquisite and original scherzo ( . Tnl ) ' movement . Next in importance was the quartett in K minor , for two violins , tenor , and violoncello , played for its first time at these concerts . Of its ibnr movements we prefer the third , " Andante con nioto , * ' having the charm of a sentimental and sustained melody ; while the second , u . sclwrzu allegro di ? nollo , exhibits to the full the authors -power-of intricate construction , and called for fairy-like ( k'licticy of fingering to hit off" its extremely r : \ pid passages . The performers were Wieniawski , l ! ies , Schreurs , and Piatti . Their splendid playing no less honoured themselves than the composer ; We never heard Mr , Wilbye Cooper to greater advantage than in the well-known " ¦ Uarland " which followed , lie gave this beautiful strain without the si finest lire , but with a perfect musical accentuation aim ]> uresimplicity of voice that was a treat lo hear . Mr .
Benedict and Mr . Lindsay Sloper gave , as it seemed to us , without sufficient light and . simile , uu unpretending andante pianoforte- duo , which , phiyed at the Hanover Uooms by Mendelssohn ami Sterndnle Bennett , in 1844 , caused a sensation in the musical world . We wore not able to hi- , present ihroujrliout the concert , which was a long out-, hut . were much surprised at the loud encore vouchsafed lo Miss Dolby in " the Song of Night . " It im h truly ( , 'nindnnu simple declamation , of liymnul character towards its close ; but while we admit , iho profundity ot tJio iiiumc At
singer ' s voice , we were sorry lo miss its . the end of the first part , JUis * Munim Moss ,-Miss Dolby , Mr . Wilbyo Cooper , uiul . Mr . Sanilcy , sontf admirably a graceful four part song v . itluuit iii'funipaniment . " When the Weat with Ivvur . iitf « l ° vs is , us says tho excellent little hiuul-Uok «> the performanco sold in tho room , " one «> r ilic iiiiihI melodious and one of tho most populnr Qwe should iiimosi say tho most popular ) of the Muster ' s voc . i qunrtotts . " . Wo should mention , in conclusion , timttne second encore of the evening wn » conlmlly " "'"I '! , ,, to Miss Theresa JcflVics , whose Hinging ol " / -ulowca
fairly desorved the honour . Concerts of the old stylo , " popular " ' ^< : ft , ?" wore given with success on TucH'lity wwl " V "" . "' ilny . 'JMio stars of tlio flrttt Diiit fniiiidc vnw . ui » J ' oolo and MivHiniB Houvcs . It is jiccilcss lo pny that the roiippoanincu of tho luiu-r n . iu-rii it » nj . " " noss wna loudly wolcoiuwl . "e mjiiik ^|> K . juIi . m . \ i »« ; tiama lVom » Obo , ron , " "OIi . 'Uh a tf lnrli . us mu t . and Mr . II . Snmrt ' B ballad , " In v . un 1 \ v . ' »' ; l g time . " MifiH Poolo nuulu an lmp » v « Hl «» ii In Mk- » m » foctod song of " Juunlta , " whicli wu * retl euianueu . ST . niAUTIN ' M U . M . I .. 6 n Tuesday , whilo Mr . ( Jurmaii 1 { t ^ ' ^ ulll '' oS fretting ovor tho oxorcisoOf . tho ilmujiiilc n i « flo authority , and Mr . ( jroomvoml , «>>' ^ IV . ' ' ; ii i \ , 1 b-Qonsulous that 1 b was a fur cry from \ V IIIlu-iuti' IJ Hilton , was troutlng Iho nfflvlal IIkIiUiIhw : ' ^''' [ /'" fulmv ,,, MIhs Clara Hc-ytyu K" /* ' J » 'i ; o . »»' ;; ' Jy J her " Pouular DramaUft ur . d MumIciiI Moii ^ oj )
only end would be disaster to both of the rival managers . HATatAEKET THEATBE . On Easter Monday will be repeated Mr . Palgrave Simpson ' s comedy , ¦ " The World and the Stage , " of which we gave good report some weeks back , with Miss Amy Sedgwickj Messrs . Buckstone , Farren , and Compton , in the principal parts . Of Mr . Francis TaHburd ' s cpniic version of " Electra , " all who are acquainted with the author ' s more than masteryfor it is absolute tyranny—over the language , speak highly as a charged mine of facetiae , and the classicists anticipate their usual pleasure from his loyal adhesion to his antique models . The ¦ " Argument " is as follows : —
"Agamemnon , having confided the guardianship of his kingdom to JEgiisthus during his absence at the siege of Troy , returns to resume his sovereignty . His wife , Clytemnestra , conspires with JEgisthus , for whom she has conceived a passion , and they , lying in wait for the king as he is leaving the bath , barbarously slay him Avith an axe ( an acc-ident which possibly anticipated for him his Homeric title Agamemnon—An-ax Andron ) . The guilty parties are married , and JEgisthus usurps the throne of ArgoS , to the exclusion of the rightful heir , Orestes . Electra , however , true to her father ' s cause , and fearful for the safety of her brother , sends him away privately to the court of . his uncle Strophius , king of Thocis ,
until he shall be of years , to avenge their father s death and claim his rights . Seven j'ears elapse , at the expiration of which—indeed , on the anniversary of the marriage of JEgisthus , the present drama opens . The people are crushed beneath the despotic sway of iEgisthus , who , in Ms turn , bows in slavish submission to the will of his strong-minded lady , while both combine to render . wretched the life pi Electra . She , unswerving in her loyalty to her father ' s cause , is awaiting the expected return of Orestes , who ' having spread a report of Ids
own death at a chariot race , the more easily to gain admission to the palace , arrives with his friend Pylades at Mycenie ; they have provided themselves with a . funeral Urn , supposed to contain the ashes of Orestes , to give additional probability to their story ; they are hospitably received as the bearers of welcome tidings . Orestes then discloses himself , but is spared the personal infliction of vengeance on the usurpers by the intervention of Nemesis , who contrives that they themselves are made the instruments of their own destruction , "
The Easter feast of scenery and flow of illustration , in which the ' Amphitryon of the llaynmrket is never behind his neighbours , may be looked ibr as a matter of course . At the General Theatrical Fund dinner , on Monday , Mr . Charles Mathews made , we . believe , his debut as a chairman , or other prominent character , at a public dinner . Albeit unused to public speaking of the after-dinner school , he diverted his audience as much as the most practised hand could have done . The subscription list of the " evening amounted to 500 £ , and the society appears to conduct its valuable opera .-tion without the chronic insolvency so often characteristic of such bodies , Oni-y Fancy !—The Lord Chamberlain and his merry men have found a corpus vile in poor Mr . and Mrs . German ltecd , who were about to give a character and musical entertainment of the usual sort at the Olympic , during Passion Week . Contrary to the custom of their kind , these functionaries , it scorns , do not ignore newspapers ; so having read in our happy contemporary , theJiVa , that the bill comprised "A Visit to HollyJUrtlge , " anil "My Unfinished Opera , " they , ¦ on Saturday last , gravoly forbade the performance—1 . Becauseit wusudramaticrepresentation ; 2 . Uccauso the Olympic is not licensed by the magistrates for music and dancing . Whut peril , then , must jMessrs . Robson and Emtlun be in , during fitty-ono upon weeks of tho year , if No , 2 bo tho fact ; and if No . 1 bo true , how much more wimple an aflliir than wo imagined must' bo " a dramatic representation ! " It should be observed that while the . Keods are thus bruised
that tho Chamberlain ' s Office may have its annual opportunity of asserting its inflexibility , tuo doors of St . Martin ' s Hall are opened by Mr . Dickons , whose audiences term his readings " as good as a play . " Clara Soy ton ' s " ontertalnmont " also flourishes there during Passion Week . The outlying Grecian and Marylobono Theatres announce masked ball , ballot , and tableau without hindrance . Tho Ethiopians in PiccacJiUy give their scenes from negro life urulor tho
wgis of the magistracy . Tho Casinos invite paint and sinner , turned from playhouse door , to seek light , shelter , and music under their moral shade . The Howard Pauls ilofy Coufli intorlorenye at Sadler ' s Weils . Wo are prepared for tho Interesting saw that may bo hero suggested to uh , ' two blacks won't inako a whltoj" but wo know another us much to tho point , tjiat " you may not make folks pjous byonaotmont . " Wo may suroly , like our bruthor Jonathan , claim to have also our •? peculiar Institutions > "
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 23, 1859, page 22, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23041859/page/22/
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