The Press.
London, England, 1854-04-01 00:00:00

STRAND.

ON Tuesday Miss Rebecca Isaacs made her re-
appearance here in one or two of the series of
amusing little pieces with which the lessee of the
Strand nightly regales his visitors. Miss Isaacs was
cordially received, as usual, in a succession of musi-
cal parts. Miss Fanny Beaumont exhibited consi-
derable talents as a soubrette in a piece called The
Blue Jackets of Old England.
SOHO.
•

Mu. HENRY Nicnoms appeared at this quiet little
theatre on Tuesday last in the character of Othello.
His powerful voice is excellently modulated, his
acting good, and his success with the audience was
complete. Occasionally, but very rarely, his tones
were rather loud ; but, in such a character and in a
small theatre, this is a trivial blemish, which no one
could avoid without long practice. Mr. Nicholls has
only appeared six times on the stage. lago was per-
formed as well as it could be, considering that the
gentleman who took the part has a comic and plea-
sant expression of countenance, is fat, and was en-
cased in strong garments, much too tight, resembling
those of a postillion. The result was, that when he
should have knelt down with Othello to join in the
vow of vengeance he failed in the first sudden at-
tempt, rose with a rebound, and was obliged to try
again and exert skill to effect his object. But the
audience seemed to like him all the better for this
mishap; and, after the play was over, and Mr.
Nicholls had received and acknowledged his meed of
applause, when lago appeared with E►nilia, their
efforts were properly recognised by the audience.
On Tuesday next Mr. Nicholls will perform in
the character of Macbeth. We hope lago wont
appear as Banquo's ghost!

Vusir.

NEW PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

THE following is the programme of the first concert :
PART I.—Overture (Medea), Cherubini—Paasions•Musik. tie
solo parts by Madame Caradori and Herr Reichert, J. Seb. Bach
—Concerto in D minor, Pianoforte, Miss Arabella Goddard,
Mozart—Aria, " Softly sighs " (Der Freyschiaz), Madame Cara.
dori, Weber—Concerto in D, Violin, Mr. H. C. Cooper, De Harlot
—Overture (Ruy Blas), Mendelssohn.
PART ll.—Symphony (Eroica), Beethoven—Aria, "Von Jugend
auf in dem Kampfgetild" (Oberon), Herr Reichert, Weber—
Overture (Abon Hassan), Weber.
The removal of the scene of action from Exeter-hall
to St. Martin's hall is a step in the right direction ;
but we question whether the promoters will ever make
these concerts answer as a commercial speculation,
though it seems that two unsuccessful seasons have
failed to bring them to this opinion. We have always felt
that this project was set on foot upon false principles
and without due consideration. The jealousy of a
conductor, the exclusion of a candidate from the old
society, or the ambition of young musicians, may
of themselves be motives for endeavouring to accom-
plish a difficult undertaking ; but they can never
render music popular which by its very nature

307

and incidents is not so, and inspire the general pub-
lic with the power to admire works of art the beauties
of which can only be appreciated by those who are
specially educated. Classical music, judiciously se-
lected, may be introduced into a general concert with
great success as well as effect; but it is impossible
in this country, or indeed in any other, to induce
the million to attend, patiently and regularly, concerts
of considerable length, where neither speech nor mo-
tion are permitted. Even if in theory the New
Philharmonic Society could have succeeded, in prac-
tice they have done their best to bring about a
failure. The chief defects of the old Philharmonic
system, instead of being avoided, have been stu-
diously imitated. For example, the vocal music at
the old Philharmonic has ever been a source of
perpetual annoyance to the subscribers. Has the
new society effected any improvement in this par-
ticular? None whatever. The selections have in-
variably been badly made; and of a surety such solo
singers as Messrs. Reichert and Gregono can give
no satisfaction to an educated audience. Again, the
concerts are far too long—perfect monsters in mag-
nitude. Last Wednesday week, to wit, we were
treated to three overtures, two concertos, and one
symphony (three quarters of an hour in length),
besides other pieces. This immense mass of enter-
tainment oppressed the senses of the hearers, and
the feelings of pleasure which the earlier portion of
the programme excited were, before its conclusion,
positively dispelled by intense weariness. The instru-
mental portion of the concert was, on the whole, well
executed. The band is very fine ; but, as regards
stringed instruments, it is inferior to that of the old
Philharmonic, and at times the braying of the
"brass" concealed many of the beauties of the
various scores. The selection from Bach's " Passions-
Musik" was creditably gone through. We shall de-
fer our observations upon this work until after the
forthcoming performance by the Bach Society at the
Hanover-square Rooms. De Beriot's concerto was
admirably played by Mr. Cooper ; and Miss Goddard,
though exhibiting her usual defects of want of style
and expression, executed Mozart's concerto—one of
the most beautiful and interesting works ever written
for the pianoforte—to the apparent satisfaction of
the audience. M. Lindpaintner is a clever conductor,
but there seems no chance of his igniting any of the
waters of the British isles, either current or stagnant.

Ifortign Cf, Xittraturt, ttr.

MADAME Amu. BISHOP was attracting brilliant
audiences at San Francisoo at the date of the last
letters from California.
BENEDETTO NEGRI, once a distinguished professor
of singing, expired on the 24th ultimo, in his
71st year, being born at Turin on the sth of January,
1784. He was the favourite pupil of Bomfazio
Asioli, and at the early age of twenty-two was ap-
pointed professor of the Conservatoire of Milan, on
its foundation by Napoleon.
A VERY IMPORTANT WORK, in which the welfare of
Madrid is concerned, is the canal under construction
for bringing water there from the Lozoya ltiver,
twelve leagues off. Official persons who have lately
inspected all the works in progress from their com -
mencement at Ponton de Oliva to the great reservoir
now constructing close to the Campo de Guardia/4 in
the immediate neighbourhood of Madrid, state that,
unless prevented by want of money, the whole may
be concluded by August next year, and Madrid be
plentifully supplied with water, of which there is
now always a great scarcity in the summer months.
There are 9,000 workmen employed at present along
the whole line. The reservoir forming a little be-
yond the Campo de Guardias, which is the highest
ground in the neighbourhood of the capital, will im-
pel the stream as high as the third story of every
house, will contain water enough to supply all Madrid
for twelve days, reckoning on a daily consumption of
130,000 teals of water—reals, i.e., not in value, but so
many continuous streams, each equal in size to a
silver real.
A BOUQUET to be offered by the Horticultural So-
ciety of Toulouse to the Empress was exhibited there
on Sunday at the Capitol in the Salle du Trone,
where a vast crowd went to see it. Not less than
10,000 violets and 300 camelias have been employed
in this gigantic bouquet, which is two and a half feet
in diameter by three feet high. It is composed of a
dome of violets surrounded by a circle of camelias,
garlands of these last. running down the dome, on
which are so be seen the initials of her Majesty in
orange flower'.
Tule Lombardi was given at the Athens Opera on
the 4th ult., and the national hymn sung, under the
plea of a benefit for the poor. The produce, how-
ever, went to those who were leaving to fight the
Turks. The theatre was brilliantly illuminated, and
very crowded ; the receipts were 8,000 drachmas. A
committee, at the head of which were six of the prin-
cipal persons of the city, were stationed at the en-
trances. Invitations had been sent two days before-
hand to all the town. The King was received with

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