The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-16 00:00:00

IUSIC.

DRURY LANE has reopened with Maritana. Mine.
Rudersdorff, who pronounces English to perfection,
took the part of the heroine. The rest of the com-
pany consists of creditable performers, whose aim is
English opera, and may succeed in enlivening the
public at this dull season.
THE NORWICH FESTIVAL has been the great musical
attraction of the week. Benedict, to whom the
management was committed, had engaged a company
which, though wanting some of the stars of the first
magnitude which graced former festivals, yet con-
tained Mme. Bosio—whose reputation has been
greatly enhanced by her performance here--Mme.
Weiss, and Miss Dolby, with Lablache, Sims Reeves,
Belletti, and Gardoni. At Norwich there is not—as
at the festivals of the three choirs—any great cathe-
dral service on these occasions, perhaps from the
small size of the cathedral. The festival commenced
on Tuesday morning with Rossini's Stabat Mater.
The Creation and Beethoven's Mass in C were given
on Wednesday morning, the Elijah on Thursday,
and The Messiah—according to the received tradi-
tion—on Friday. The " miscellaneous concerts
which enlivened the evenings afforded more novelties,
as they had greater opportunities. The principal
of these lien, in the second concert., on Wednesday
evening—a romance from a comic opera of Mendels-
sohn; the spirited French air, "Ah quel plaisir
d'être soldat ; " and a few of the less-renowned pieces
of the modern Italian authors, selected with much
judgment. Unfortunately, so many pieces were
given, and so much trash amongst them, that this
concert gave not half the pleasure as that of the
previous evening, when Acis and Galatea and a few
stock pieces were given, with much ability, it must be
admitted. The old town was greatly animated, and
the festival pronounced a success, but the attendance
at some of the concerts was almost thin. The Elijah,
as usual, drew a capital audience. A dress ball
closed the proceedings last night. The Duke of
Wellington was amongst the visitors. The Mayor
very judiciously took the opportunity of laying the
first stone of the free public library about to he
erected, amidst the almost unanimous applause of
the citizens. The building is not to be confined to
the library, but to contain rooms for several literary
and scientific purposes.
ST. GEOROVS-HALL at Liverpool is to be opened
next week with due solemnities, amongst which is
to be prominent a series of musical performances.
These will be mostly religious, after the fashion of
the festivals. The Messiah, The Creation, and The
Last Judgment will be given in succession. There
has been P good demand for tickets.
ST. COLUEB CHOIR.—In connection with a beauti-
ful church now building at Notting-bill, at the sole
expense of the Rev. Dr. Walker, rector cf St. Columb
Major, Cornwall, a college of choristers, of the above
name, has been founded for the training of sixteen
or twenty boys for the purpose of performing daily
cathedral service. These boys are boarded, lodged,
and educated gratuitously, and a large organ is pre-
paring at the manufactory of Gray and Davison,
which will be divided and placed, partly in the
northern and partly in the southern transepts, for
the more effective accompaniment of the chanters.
Dr. James Pecb, of New College, Oxford, is the
organist and choir-master.
THE THEATRE ROYAL. DUBLIN has been taken by
Mr. Beale and opened for Italian opera with more
than usual eclat. Cruvelli is the heroine, but the
company is in other respects an excellent one. It
embraces Mlles. Marai and Albini; Signors Tamber-
lik, Tagliafico, Fortini, Polonini, Luchesi, Santa, and
Monterarisi; assisted by a numerous corps of female
and male vocalists in the choruses and minor parts.
The orchestra is large and effective. The hou.se,
opened on Monday with Norma. It was completely
occupied, and presented a cheering and brilliant
spectacle. Some thought it a hazardous speculation
on the part of Mr. Beale, as this is the dull season ;
but the house on the opening, and the well filled
box-sheets for the remainder of the engagement,
prove that it will be a thoroughly-successful one.
Tt was the first appearance of Cruvelli in the city,
where she has made an impression of the most
favourable character.

TEE DEATIi OF Mne. FizzwiLuAm has lessened
the already small band of eminent theatrical artistes.
She was taken ill on Saturday, but appeared, never-
theless, and played with her usual spirit. On Mon-
day she died. tier disease was a phase of the pre-
vailing epidemic. The following account of her career
is given by a contemporary :
" She was the daughter of Mr. Robert Copeland,
manager of the Dover and other Kentish theatres, and was
horn in 1802. At the early age of two years Miss FarIDY
Copeland may be said to have commenced her theatrical
life as one of the children in the play of 'The Stranger.
When five years old she player) in Tom Thutnb, singing all
the music ; and, at the age of twelve, she presided atfte the r
then fashionable promenade concerts at Margate. A
devoting three years to her musical studies, she returned

SEPTEMBER 16, 1854.

to the stage, and appeared at the Haymarket Theatre in
the character of Lucy in liee Review. She afterwards
played at the Surrey, under the management of Tom
Dibdin, who brought her forward in a variety of characters,
particularly F,/fie Deans, in his adaptation of The Heart of
id-Lothian, which established her success, and induced
Mr. Elliston to engage her fur Drury Lane. In December,
1812, she married Mr. Fitzwillism, the popular Irish actor,
and for several years performed at the various metropo-
litan theatres, her singing and acting always rendering her
a great attraction. She twice visited America, where she
was an immense favourite For several years she has per-
formed principally at the Adelphi and Haymarket Theatres,
and appeared at the latter for the last time on Saturday. It
is stated that Mrs. Fitzwilliam had been labouring for
some days front premonitory symptoms of cholera, but
they did not assume a serious character until Monday morn-
ing, her death ensuing after twelve hours' suffering. Her
son, Edward Fitzwllliam, is known as a rising young com-
poser, and her daughter, Miss K. I'itzwilliam, as a pleasing
and expressive singer."
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The performances at the Haymarket have changed
in consequence, and a new comedy which was to have
been produced this week has been postponed. The
weight of public amusement here rests on the Spanish
dancers and She Stoops to Conquer.