The Press. — London, England, 1858-11-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS, NOVEMBER 27,1858. 1164 character. Of the Mozart symphony the people's song is the chief element. lie breathed into his instruments the yearning tones of the human voice, with which his genius most strongly sympathized. He poured rich streams of harmony into the heart of melody thus confided to mechanical instruments, to achieve the portrayal of that peculiar depth of feeling, that emotional intensity, that glowing com pleteness of impassioned sentiment, for the expres• sion of which the inmost heart supplies ample, indeed inexhaustible, resources to the human voice alone. Thus, whilst giving free vent to the peculiarly vocal bias of his genius, by acquired. as by original means, by unsurpassable contrapuntal skill, no less than novel richness of harmony and tcnal colouring, Mozart raised the orchestral instruments to an extraordinary capability of vocal expression, and, by causing them to express in his symphonies almost every passion, sentiment, and emotion with equal truthfulness, made a decided advance upon Day dn, whose efforts, great as they were, had been almost exclusively confined to the expression of com placent gaiety or tranquil pleasure. The most free and boldest use of the illimitable resources of instru. mental music was, however, reserved for Beethoven. He it was that invented a new musical language whose marvellously significant accents almost ex pressed a moral will and equalled words in defini tiveness of meaning. By unheard-of—almost super human—efforts, he at length, in the third and last period of his artistic career, endeavoured to make music express more than, unaided by the sister arts, it could possibly express; and these Titanic heaven storming aspirations eventually led him to the dis covery of his error, and brought about the grand climax which we find in the immensely great choral symphony which is the redemption of art—the glorious herald of the still more glorious day which shall witness the reunion of the long unnaturally divided art-sisters—the triumphant inauguration of the "future work of art." After this colossal work had been given to the world (continues Herr Wagner), all " absolute " music must necessarily cease, for everything bad been accomplished which was possible to music as an independent art, Vainly might those who could discover nothing in the ninth symphony, but a " symphony with cho ruses," fume and fret, and fancy themselves inspired. Vainly might they borrow from Mozart, gird up their loins with the heavy contrapuntal armour of Sebastian Bach ; compose oratorios (those sexless embryos of operas), "songs without words," operas without text. Vainly might they endeavour to imitate Beethoven's inimitable last symphony by writing three very long instrumental movements, and thanking God at the end for enabling them to get through the onerous task with all possible clever ness. Vainly might they endeavour to stem the ever onward-flowing stream of time by making for themselves a kind of intellectual steamboat, which guided by their own egotistical freewill, would take them anywhere against both wind and tide. The still progressing course of years must on, despite their sublime ingenuity, and leave them behind as highly intelligent anachronisms, destined to hold no essen tial position in the history of art Thus much have we communicated respecting Herr Wagner ana his doctrines for the information of our musical readers, but, be it understood, with many critical reservations, and altogether without prejudice," as the lawyers have it, to any judgment we may on a future occasion think it necessary to pronounce. Having other claims upot our space, we must for the present take leave of our intellec tual artistic reformer, but not without strongly re commending his extremely clever book to all Ger man scholars who take an interest in the subjects of which it treats. The Three Favourite Masses of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. The Accompaniments Arranged by Vincent Novello. Critical Remarks by E. Holmes. London : A. Novello. Tim above great works—namely, Haydn's " Impe rial " Mass, Mozart's so.ealled 12th, and Beetho ven's Ist—are too well known to require a word of comment. The accompaniments are judiciously arranged for the pianoforte from the orchestral scores; the critical comments of Mr. E. Holmes are for the most part interesting and instructive. The volume (in which all three masses are included) is stoutly and handsomely bound, and the price ex tremely low. With such a rare combination of merits, it were strange indeed if the publication under notice should not meet with a ready and most extensive sale. We cordially recommend it to the notice of all lovers of fine music. Sabilla Ncvello's " Voice of Vocal Art." London : A. Novello. WF: need only call attention to the reprint of this well-known and really excellent compendium of vocal art, which is generally acknowledged to be one of the best things of its kind, as well as the cheapest vet published. It deserves a place in the library of every student of singing. Chappell's One Hundred Dances. Arranged for the Cornet-a• Piston by Franz Nava. London : Chappell and. Co. T►lE greatest praise we can award to this little work is, that the various tunes are for the most part good of their kind, and effectively arranged for that new and favourite instrument, the cornet. Almost any moderately endowed player could make an effect in them, and nothing is wanting hut a pianoforte accompaniment to render the publication complete in a musical point of view. usir. DRURY-LANr: THEATRE. Tun Pyne and Harrison season of so-called English opera is drawing to a close at the above house. Mr. Harrison takes his benefit on Monday evening, when Il Trovatore will be performed for the first time this season, and with the beneficiare and Miss Louisa Pyne for the first time in London as Manrico and Leonora. The performances of the past week presented no novelty whatever, unless a repetition, or " revival," as the bills had it, of the eternal Bohemian Girl can be considered as such. Miss Louisa Pyue sang the music of Arline delightfully, and Mr. Harrison exhibited his peculiar abilities to great advantage as Thaddeus. Mr. 11. Corri's Dev ilshoof was a very spirited and vigorous impersonation, and Mr. St. Albyn made an efficient Florestan ; but the rest of the characters were but feebly supported. LYCEUM THEATRE. M. JOLLIER'S CONCERTS. M. JumrEN is indefatigable as ever in his efforts to provide tempting musical fare for the million, and, we are happy to add, quite as successful us in years gone by. He continues to blend the utile et dulee in his attractive programmes, and to win the approbation of cultivated musicians, as well ai the substantial patronage of the general public. During the past week the Lyceum theatre has been crowded nightly, but no novelty sufficiently important to require special criticism has been produced. qt grain MR. KEAN'S RENDERINGS OF SHAKESPEARE. THERE is nothing more difficult, we imagine, than to present in action a comedy of Shakespeare's to the present generation. Passion is the same in its phenomena throughout the existence of the world, and successive ages introduce but little variation, even in its modes of expression. The tragedies, therefore, of the great Poet address themselves as fully to the men and women of 1858 as they did to the men and wohien of the last two centuries, touch as nearly their hearts, and subject their feelings to as searching an analysis. But it is otherwise with the comedies. Objects of humour pass away, and the fashion of wit changes ; and what once made the hearer laugh till his face was like a wet cloak ill laid up, now excites often but a yawn or a reprobating frown. This might well have been supposed would have been the case with Much Ado about Nothing, the last of Mr. Kean's revivals. The " merry war of words," the thrust and fence of wit, the wonderful keeping up of the shuttlecock between the bantering conversationists, are not in accord with the present habits of Society, and run great chance of being con sidered tiresome or voted vulgar. Never, in our opinion, did Manager, Actor, and Actress run greater risks than did Mr. and Mrs. Kean when they put Much Ado about Nothing first upon the stage, and never did they in each capacity achieve a more signal triumph than both then and now. So racily, and yet so delicately, did both render the conception, out of which Benedick and Beatrice were produced, and the language in which before the public they are made to have their being and to move, that the entire audience, from the educated who went to criticize in the boxee to the crowd who went simply to be amused in the pit and gallery, were from beginning to end in continuous enjoyment and laughter. Our space will not permit us to criticize at this moment the performance in detail. We can but indicate the character of its excellence, and add to our general remarks an observation upon the remark. able skill with which the rendering of their respec tive parts by Mr. and Mrs. Kean exhibited the real strength and solidity of character which lay under the froth of both Benedick and Beatrice. In justice to the performers, we should say that the cast was excellent, and that Mr. and Mrs. Kean were, upon the whole, admirably supported. and has A new farce, in one act, entitled Thirty•three next piece, which is an whip. Birthday, was produced on Monday, pre ceded the Shakespearian performances during th e l e ' e r s e s nc e ti f , d th e e pends less on its histriouic t w a e t e io k n . froin The thestic merit than on the graceful sprightliness of Miss Murray, as the heroine, and the droll humour of 211 r. F. Matthews and Mr. Cooper. lEnt glarktt anb FRIDAY EVENING. THE return of the Bank of England for the week ending Wednesday last, the 2lth inst., shows the following changes compared with that for the week preceding : 81:t8:61:6;63:° large irn Decrease in Circulation y Increase in Public Deposits sh4s2,l Inmease in Other Deposits 2:19.31 Increase in Securities .. Increase in Bullion Increase in Rest Increase in Reserve " • • • • • • 516,0 in Bullion in both Departments Circulation, including Bank Post p T o h r e t a n yshownare p principally p this ean comparison sed 2j • amount paid on public account, and by the additio n to the aggregate of private securities. The Public Deposits now stand unusually high, amounting to no less than 7,671,0001. ; and, mainly through the additions made to them during tha week embraced by the return, a large aggregate has been added to the Reserve. There can be little doubt that these revenue payments have been one cause of the increase in the securities. The abundance of money out of doors, and the difficulty of finding profitable employment for it, has induced an addition to the Private Deposits, principally from hankers. The Bullion is again approaching towards nineteen millions, while the unemployed notes are more than twelve millions and a quarter. The Bank, there fore, is in a very strong and satisfactory position. From the character of the Money Market this week it seems not improbable that we may have to recal the opinion that rates will advance before the end of the year. That opinion was not expressed hastily or upon insufficient data, and it was held also by men of the widest financial experience; but it must now be modified so far as to say that the probability of an advance appears somewhat more remote than we anticipated. That it will be made before long there are manifest indications. Trade is extending; a number of feasible projects for profit ably employing capital are prepared or preparing, and there are altogether many signs of approaching activity. Whenever that period arrives money will be largely wanted, and capitalists will not be slow to take advantage of the increased demand. During the whole of this week we have had most abundant supplies in the open market, and the rates have seldom been higher than 2i per cent. for the best bills, fluctuating between that price and 21 per cent. To-day the general run of transactions was no more than two per cent. upon the best bills. The supplies have arisen from a remarkable ua• willingness on the part of the public to invest iti any sort of securities, and they have consequently lodged their money with the dealers at call. Indeed, there has seldom been a week when fewer invest. ments were made by purchases upon the Stack Exchange. This may be explained by the fact that the Funds are considered to have attained their full value, especially as the political horizon appears a little clouded by the state of affairs in the Italian Peninsula, and by the trial and condemnation of 31. de Montalembert. At all events, whatever mit, be the cause, the public are keeping their balances immediately available, instead of employing in securities, the present prices of which ma y net be fully maintained. The commercial inquiry has been rather active in Lombard. street; and the Bank, though three per cent. remains the m inimum, has been doing a fair, quiet business. them some With l slight regard estimate a t lice of f u t t h u e r i e r calls probableup on I t i te n t already be formed. Yesterday a Chilean loan or 1,554,500!. was announced by Messrs. Baring. Brothers, and Co., in four-and a•fialf-per-cent. bonds at at 92, with dividends from the Ist December. 1 .1 instalments are to be monthly, and their will extend to the 13th May next. The EgYPt o la u l .' market nl 2,000,000/. The only question in this Mae one " t • Government are also in negotiation foPraYamt;2l:Ett.. security. The wants of the Viceroy may be met through the Peninsular and Oriental Banat Company ; still they must produce a certain etlect to be upon the market. Other proposals a re ready ofm a t d h e e , and ne x t some e e mayprobably appear in the course fortnight. The Bullion movements of the week ha iihaebeen cotton in the United States, paid for by bills v" comparatively unimportant. Large purcs England, have diminished the Worts of si4clu MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII l . threeuTiiin g peri.ormanc(4 1164 'IIFIE PRESS NOVEMBER 27,1858. 1 ednetwhefarscieut,kinesopneeariatc,t; entitled Thirty silt: iPo urei c" Birthday, was produced on Monday, an ter. Of the Mozart symphony the people's yet published. It deserves a place in the library of French of ,depends thepi. piece, which on i its ss histrionic the chief element. lie breathed into his every student of singing.nest its the yearning tones of the human voice, _ his genius most strongly sympathized. Chappell's One Hundred Dances. Arranged for the tewaeetdleiolci; fr'orilnietisittece merit than on the graceful sprightliness of allilai: rich streams of harmony into the heart Murray, as the heroine, and the droll humour of Ale Cornet-e• Piston by Franz Nava. London : 's confided to mechanical instruments, portrayal of that peculiar depth of Chappell and Co. t---7---TE 124 ar Ctg.itt!ttEll,i,g,t:Ntat. F. Mat:htews andt It Mr. t.tCooper.ao •utional intensity, that glowing corn- THE greatest praise we can award to this little work ssioned sentiment, for the expres• is, that the various tunes are for the most part good . inmost heart supplies ample, of their kind, and effectively arranged for that new le, resources to the human and favourite instrument, the cornet. ,bilst giving free vent to the Almost any moderately endowed player could make ' his genius, by acquired. as by an effect in them, and nothing is wanting hut a THE return of the Bank of England f • lice 'passable contrapuntal skill, pianoforte accompaniment to render the publication , ending Wednesday last, the 2lth inst., shows the ss of harmony and tcnal complete in a musical point of view. for le week following changes compared with that for the week 'e orchestral instruments lty of vocal expression, 'kti. us i r. ,ss in his symphonies r....- preceding : t, and emotion with Decrease in Circulation sided advance upon DRURY-LANE THEATRE. Increase in Public Deposits 'y were, had been Tim Pyne and llarrison season of so-called English Increase in Other Deposits setsv tritteiri xpression of corn- opera is drawing to a close at the above house. Mr. Increase in Securities .. The most free Harrison takes his benefit on Monday evening, Increase in Bullion trees of instru. when Il Trovatore will be performed for the first Increase in Rest r Beethoven. time this season, and with the beneficiare and Miss Increase in Reserve "—•• • • • • 516,01 e Al language Louisa Pyne for the first time in London as M Bullion in both Departments anrico 18,780,330 Almost ex- and Leonora. The performances of the past week Circulation, including Bank Post Bill, n defini. presented no novelty whatever, unless a repetition, pTobret a nc changes n 'They yshown p r ibnye i thispal ly comparisoncaused2 ib'ly:het:re largeim - t super- or " revival," as the bills had it, of the eternal d last Bohemian Girl can be considered as such. -nake Miss Louisa Pyne saag the music of Arline amount paid on public account, and by the attain,' rte, delightfully, and Mr. Harrison exhibited his peculiar to the aggregate of private securities. The Public u- abilities to great advantage as Thaddeus. Mr. 11. Deposits now stand unusually high, amounting to • Corgi's Devilshoof was a very spirited and vigorous no less than 7,671,0004.; and, mainly through the impersonation, and Mr. St. Albyn made an efficient additions made to them during the week embraced Florestan; but the rest of the characters were but by the return, a large aggregate has been added to 'ebly supported. the Reserve. There can be little doubt that these ______ revenue payments have been one cause of the LYCEUM THEATRE. increase in the securities. The abundance of money M. JULLIEN'S CONCERTS. out of doors, and the difficulty of finding profitable LIEN is indefatigable as ever in his efforts employment for it, has induced an addition to the le tempting musical fare for the million, Private Deposits, principally from hankers. The ee happy to add, quite as successful us in Bullion is again approaching towards nineteen by. millions, while the unemployed notes are more than ues to blend the utile et dulce in his twelve millions and a quarter. The Bank, there yammes, and to win the approbation fore, is in a very strong and satisfactory position. usicians, as well as the substantial From the character of the Money Market this general public. During the past week it seems not improbable that we may have to theatre has been crowded nightly, recal the opinion that rates will advance before the 'fficiently important to require end of the year. That opinion was not expressed been produced. hastily or upon insufficient data, and it was held also by men of the widest financial experience; but it must now be modified so far as to say that the pain. probability of an advance appears somewhat more remote than we anticipated. That it will be made ..._ before long there are manifest indications. Trade is TDER I N U S 0 F extending; a number of feasible projects for profit- E A R E. ably employing capital are prepared or preparing, we imagine, than to and there are altogether many signs of approachine 'akespeare's to the activity. Whenever that period arrives money will the same in its be largely wanted, and capitalists will not be slow t.) 'e of' the world, take advantage of the increased demand. During little variation, the whole of this week we have had most abundant -he tragedies, supplies in the open market, and the rates have emselves as seldom been higher than 2i per cent. for the best they did to bills, fluctuating between that price and 21 per cent. ies, touch To-day the general run of transactions was no slings to more than two per cent. upon the best bills. 'e with The supplies have arisen from a remarkable w and willingness on the part of the public to invest at the any sort of securities, and they have consequently ill lodged their money with the dealers at call. Indeed, g there has seldom been a week when fewer invest ments were made by purchases upon the Stock Exchange. This may be explained by the fact that the Funds are considered to have attained their full Clue, especially as the political horizon appears a le clouded by the state of affairs in the Italian 'nsula, and by the trial and condemnation of 31. Intalembert. At all events, whatever mit, bo Ise, the public are keeping their balances tely available, instead of employing intained. The commercial inquiry has es, the present prices of which majt•hietelill active in Lombard. street; and the three per cent. remains the minimum, a fair, quiet business. the future calls upon the market to of their probable amount may Yesterday a Chilian loan for flounced by Messrs. Bating, '-cur-and a•fialf-per-cent. bonds in the Ist December. Vit mthly, and their paymi2nt' `n in this case is one 'iceroy may probably And Oriental Steam se a certain effect aynengeoxtit.a The Egyptian tion for about t. • are ready to be 'r in the course 'k have been 'rchases of 1 bills on I sped°