The Press. — London, England, 1857-06-13 00:00:00

JUNE 13,1857. tedttced under the dominion of some foreign potentate, the sooner he leaves the sinking ship the better. If, on the other hand, he does not go so far as this, he had better give us some practical advice, and, if possible, in prose. The collection of poetry edited by Mr. Shirley Brooks (6) is well adapted for its purpose—that, we suppose, of introducing a certain class of parsons to the pleasures of literature. He has chosen a pleasant variety of subjects, and, we presume, has been actuated by the motive of gathering together as much as possible that was simple and easily under- stood. " The Statue Shrine, a Greek Legend " (7), is very crude, and very indistinct; the xersification is imper fect, and the story opaque. At the same time we think it contains more evidence of originality, how ever slight, than any of those above noticed. The language is occasionally vigorous ; and the thoughts occasionally, if not new, not offensively trite. We could not assert that the author of the " Statue Shrine " was destitute of poetic genius. " Job Morbid's Pilgrimage " (8) is a farrago of stale stupidity and clumsy coarseness, which ought never to have been published at all. Mr. Mac Carthy's two volumes (9) are a great deal too good to be ranked with the class of works we are now noticing. They breathe a true poetic spirit, and evince great command of language and rhythm. The inexorable " want of space " must be our excuse on this occasion for not noticing him at greater length. Blur Books for the People. No. I.—Army Education. Edited by Edward Walfurd, M.A. London : Hardwicke. WE are surprised that so good an idea as this was not adopted long ago. It is impossible for persons to arrive at a fair conclusion on the public questions of the day without a knowledge of facts which can only be gleaned from those heretofore ponderous tomes, the study of which was usually almost suffi cient of itself to stamp a man as a red-tapist. Mr. Walford has entered on the task of abbreviating and condensing these volumes of official evidence, and presenting them to the public in a readable shape. His undertaking deserves success from its usefulness, and is likely to obtain it from its able execution. To judge from the present number, we shall not be wrong in recommending all our prmtical readers this valuable series. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED—JusE 11. _ .Fides. Newby. The Buccaneer. By Mrs. S. C. Hall. Hodgson. The Forfeit Eland; and OlheriTales. By Thomas C. Grattan. Hodgson. History of Civilisation in England. By Henry Thomas Buckle. J. NV. Parker and Son. Life of John Kato, D.D., F.S.A. By John Eadie, D.D., I.L.U. Hamilton, Adams, and Co. Memoirs and Adventures of Felice Orsini. By George Carbonel. Hamilton, Adams, and Co. The Life of George Stephenson, Railway Engineer. By Samuel Smiles. J. Murray. The Merchant Abroad, in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Sampson Low and Co. The Common Objects of the Sea Shore. Routledge. Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors. Vol. VI. J. Murray. Anne Sherwood; or, the Social Institutions of England. Three vols. R. Bentley. Geology and Genesis; or, the Two Teachings Contrasted. Whittaker and Co. rriE ARTS. Herbert Fry's National 0 - ailery -- 4 . Photographic Portraits. PAMPHLETS. The Thespian. Part I.—Routledge's Shakespeare; King .Inhn, and Midsummer Night's Dream. Routledge—The British Expedition to the Crimea. Part IV. By W. H. Russell. Routiedge. THE PRESS. Ilusir. THE HANDEL FESTIVAL. ns excitement for the demonstration of the ensuing week is at fever heat. The arrival of the provincial choralists alone would form no inconsiderable item to the metropolitan returns of the floating popula tion, but visitors are pouring in from all parts of the United Kingdom, the Continent, and even the most remote places Lin our colonies. America has sent her representatives of the press to report the proceedings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday next; and the Crystal Palace will exhibit the cos mopolite aggregate of musical amateurs to an extent to rival the opening of the original Exhibition. The final rehearsal will take place this day Saturday) at the Palace, to which admittance may be obtained by half-a-guinea tickets. Last Saturday Costa had a rehearsal at Exeter-hall, in the lower room, of the additional accompaniments he has written for Judas Maceabeus. There was a select circle of con noisseurs and critics present on the occasion, and unanimity prevailed as to the masterly manner in which Costa has acquitted himself. There was no concert yesterday at the Crystal Palace, in conse quence of the great preparations for the festival. The temporary stage for the Royal Italian Opera concerts having been removed, the entire extent of the gigantic platform that has been erected was fully displayed. Without exception, this is the largest music-hall which has ever been erected; the semicircular backs rise nearly to the roof, with the monster organ of Gray and Davison crowning the whole orchestra. Nothing less than military or ganisation can have accomplished the arrangement of the numbered seats and the approaches thereto, both for executants and listeners. It has been judiciously decided to admit the company only by tickets. The commissariat for the week must be on the scale of a Crimean campaign. Last night at Exeter-hall was the rehearsal of the complete body of choralists, town and provincial. The muster of voices filled not only the ordinary orchestra, but the grand area of the hall and the western gallery. The accompaniment was confined to the organ, but to cement the choral working some serpents and ophicleides, with Chipp at the great drums, and Horton at the monster drum, were employed. The effect was beyond all calculation; great as the antici pations had been of hearing 2,000 voices thus blended in the gorgeous harmonies of Handel, the result was overwhelming. In the "Glory to God," " Unto us," and " Hallelujah " choruses from The Messiah, in the martial and inspiring choruses from Judas Maccabeus, in the picturesque and descriptive combinations from the Israel in Egypt, the choralists, under the directing influence of Costa's bAton, were were as but one voice. The ease with which the conductor held his forces immediately under his control was perfectly wonderful. The time was re tarded and accelerated with consummate skill, the gradations of sound were marvellously mastered, and the delicate observance of a pianissimo was even attained. What was still more astounding was the quickness with which Costa detected amidst the throng the slightest deviation from the right notes. The principal choruses from the three oratorios occupied about three hours, the gigantic meeting separating with a round of applause for their chief. Invitations had been extended to some of the prin• cipal amateurs, and amongst these was the Duchess of Sutherland, with a large party. The problem as to the artistic success of the festival, we consider as solved by last night's rehearsal. There will be same sublime moments in the ensuing week's per formances. 687 action. If Mendelssohn had lived to have heard it on the stage, or at a trial, we feel quite convinced he would have " cut" it, for it is evident that no soprano's powers can be taxed to such an unmerciful extent, nearly the whole time, be it recollected, dwelling on the high notes of the register. Loreley was composed for Dille. Lind,.and the scene, it will therefore be at once guessed, was beyond the means of Dille. Spezia. Clara Novello sang it once to per fection st Birmingham; but, Grisi excepted, there is no other artiste who could do justice to it on the stage. The grouping of the personages, who are of the " earth, earthy," and of the nymphs, who are of the Rhine, aquareous, was not effectively contrived, and it was a mistake to have such a crowd around Loreley during the invocation. Mr. Benedict's clever overture to the Crusaders—an admirable opera we regret to state lost to us because there is no English Opera—and a song from the Bride of Venice, sung by Reichardt, were the only contribu tions in the scheme by the composer, who played, as some consolation, with Signor Andreoli, a spirited duo for two pianofortes by Halkbrenner, whose works are now rarely heard. Alboni carried off the vocal honours completely. Her " Pensa alla patria," by Rossini, was superbly sung ; and her " Brindisi," with the prolonged shake, as buoyant as ever. She was encored in everything, but firmly and properly resisted the demands. Giuglini's failure in the " Adelaide " of Beethoven was a surprise to those who had given him the credit of being a musician. A singer may be out of voice, hut to miss some bars, and to betray a total want of comprehension of the composer's intentions, are inexcusable faults. Mme. Schumann's poetic and brilliant rendering of Weber's "Concert Stuck" excited a prodigious sensation. Ernst played Mendelssohn's violin concerto, but was labouring under severe indisposition. At Mr. Benedict's second concert, on the 24th, Alboni is to sing the music of Orpheus, from Gluck's opera of that name. Mr. Hullah conducted Mendelssohn's Lauda Sion and Rossini's Stabat Mater, at St. Martin's-hall, on Wednesday night. Misses Banks and Palmer, Messrs. Sims Reeves and Thomas, were the chief vocalists. In the Stabat, Mlle. Maria de Villar, hem Hohenzollern, made her first appearance in this country with success as a soprano, and was much ap plauded in the " Inflammatus." Miss Palmer also won the sympathies of her auditory in the contralto portion. _ _ Herr Molique, the violinist and composer, gave his annual concert last Monday night at the Hanover square Rooms. This musician, who occupies such high ground both here and in his native country for his distinguished artistic acquirements, is as much famed as an executant as he is honoured as a writer. His playing of Bach's " Chaconne," in which nearly all the modern difficulties are eclipsed in intricacy, is perfect of its kind. His daughter, Mlle. Anna Molique, fully confirmed the highly favourable im pressions formed of her at her debut at the Musical Union. Garroting, Goffrie, and Lidel Herr Charles Oberth t., the accomplished harpist, had a morning concert on Thursday at Willis's rooms, assi+ted by Andreoli, the pianist, Signor Regondi, the concertinaist, Herr Ries, violin, M. Paque, violoncello, Herr Engel, piano harmonium, and Mile. C.Wagner, Mile. Sedlatzek, Mme. Willpert, and Miss Stabbach, vocalists. On Monday last Mme. Puzzi assembled her patrons at the Hanover-square Rooms, M. Charles Halle commenced his pianoforte recitals, Messrs. Harold Thomas and R. Blagrove had a matinee at rooms, and in the evening Miss Macirone, a very clever composer, had a gathering of her supporters. On Tuesday the Duke of Devonshire enabled his pianist, Mr. C. Coote, to convene his friends at DevonshirA•house. In the evening Regondi had a congress of concertinaism, of which he is the chief. MADAME Puzzr, the celebrated teacher of singing, who has been for many years past well known and generally respected in fashionable circles, received 'two very flattering testimonials to her talent on the occasion of her annual concert. A very splendid bracelet was presented to her by Signor Giuglini ; whilst from Mlle. Piccolomini she received a gorgeous silver vase, bearing the inscription, " Melia Piccolo mini a Giacinta Puzzi," accompanied by the following note from the great little artiste : Cara Madame Puzzi,—Non potendo io stessa easerle utile al di lei concerto col debole mio talent°, la prego accettare (peat° vaso in ricordo dell' affezione the sempre .avro per lei.—La sincere. arnica, MARIA PICCOLOMINT. "As OLD COLLEGER " writes to the Times this week to know why the Eton and Winchester cricket matches have been forbidden and abolished by Drs. Goodford and Moherley. Dr. Vaughan, of Harrow, 'has had no part in " the ungracious work." (6). Anturing Poetry. Edited by Shirley Brooks. London : Lambert and Co. (7). The Statue Shrine. A Greek Legend. London: Hall and Virtue. (M). Job Morbid's Pilgrimage. By D. B. M. London: Longman.. (0). The Bell: founder, and Other Poem. Undergffiapan, and Viho• Now. By D. gloms* Mao Canby. 1.98444 1 too. CONCERTS OF THE WEEK. Suca a week as the present for musical entertain ments has rarely taken place, even in the recollec tion of the "oldest musical critic." The quantity, however, will not altogether stand for quality, and the very multiplicity of concerts, soirees, and matinees, must ba a proof of very inadequate preparation. We fear that the system of improvising operas or musical programmes is gaining ground. It is impossible, with the pressure from without, to find time for proper rehearsals at this period of the year. The high pressure is on for June, and there is no help for it. Let us endeavour to open our budget. Benedict's " Musical Festival" at Her Majesty's Theatre, last Wednesday morning, first claims attention on the ground of its magnitude as a private concert—festival is a misplaced term, which ought not to be used. Without asserting that the production of the fragmentary finale of an opera left by Mendelssohn, under the title of Loreley, based on the legend of the Rhine, can be pronounced a success, every credit is due to Mr. Benedict for having made the experiment of putting the scene in On Wednesday the Royal Society of Female Mus'. cians, the remarkable feature of which institution is that it has no recipients for the funds, had their annual benefit concert at the Hanover-square Rooms. On the same evening the Reunion des Arts had a complimentary assemblage to Rubinstein, the Russian pianist, who was honoured on Tuesday at an extra matinee of the Musical Union by the pre sence of an aristocratic audience. He made a decided impression in his MS. trio op. 52, and in his other compositions, a nocturne and study. In respect to his mechanism there is unanimity of opinion ; he is a marvel amongst musical marvels. Sivori, Goffrie, H. Blagrove, and Piatti were the quartet party, and Mlle. Stubbe, from Saxe Meiningen, the vocalist. The Verdi epidemic has reached the Transpontine regions. After the Trovatore on horseback at Astley's, La Traviata at the Surrey might reasonably be expected. Miss Lucy Escott, the American prima donna, is the heroine. She is a brilliant singer, and not a bad actress. Mr. H. Haigh was the tender tenor, Mr. Charles Durand the baritone papa, and Mr. Tully officiated as an able conductor. [We are reluctantly compelled to postpone our notice of '‘ The Two Don Giovanni," till ext week.]