The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-24 00:00:00

ROYAL SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS.

The anneal performance of The illeseiah, for the
benefit of this society, took plum lest evening at Baster- I K 1
hall. It was on %beams great male se the performances of '"'
this oratorio given by the Sacred Harmonic Society. The prin-
cipal singers were Madame Clara Novello, Miss Dolby, Mr.
sad Mrs. Lnekey, Mr. and Madame Weiss, Mr. Benson, St'
Mr. Lawler, and Signor Belletti. The orchestra and chores to
were those of the Sacred Harmonic Society, amounting to til
700 performers; and Mr. Costa was the conductor. se.
The annual performance of The Messiah has for more se
than a hundred years been one of the regular worm of ry
the income of this old and most valuable society. Those ft
performances were at one time given under the personal %.
direction of Handel himself, who was one of the founders of et.
the society, and one of its most zealous members and fwS
greatest benefactors. For many years they took place at let
the Hanover-square Rooms, in connexion with the Concert LI
of Ancient Music, but since that establishment has ceased
to exist the Royal Society of Musicians have transferred
their 'nasal concert to Ezeer. hall, and have thus been
enabled to increase the grandeur of its scale, end also to
make it taros productive. Oa the occasion of the anniver- IS
eery festival of the society, a few weeks aga, we described
its objaets, and pointed out the great *mown of good which
it effects by the remarkably judicious and economical admi ty
-
nistration of its funds; in which respect it dtserves to be u
held up as an example to other institutions of a similar K
kind. el.

DRAMA.

HAYMARKET.
Last night, Mina Cushman re-appeared in her
favourite character of Romeo, which is deservedly esteemed 10
the most succeasfal of her efforts. It is ao well known, and sat
hes been so often described, that any farther account or cri- et,
deism would be entirely superfluous. It is sntficient to Icy SO
that she performed it with her usual excellence, and received
the LitMl mud of applause. There is no doubt that blies le
Cashman is the best Romeo on the stage—indeed, we may
say the only Romeo, for nobody but herself seems ever to ),
attempt it. It is probably the most difficult of Shaker sire's so
characters ; a creation of such extreme delicacy auil.beauty,
that to realise it is neat to impossible. Male actors always 10
fail to do so; a stalwart, black-bearded gentleman can never
give an idea of the romantic, impassioned Italian bay formed
by the poet's fancy. The only satisfactory personation of se.
Romeo that we have ever seen have been by women— Lt...
Madame Pasta on the Italian stage, and Mira Cushman on gi
our own.
:1
Miss 8 wanbeirough, who was the Joliet, is a very promis- le
ieg young actress. She is uncommonly handsome—sitti a as.
light flexible, graceful figure, and fine ezpressive features. et.
lu short, she looked Juliet to the life. but her voice is very
defective, both in power and melody ;it doss not bring o. t 3
the made of Shakspeare's delicious verse. She has, boo- is
ever, iatelligeace and feu IMg, and her voice and elocution st.
may be improved by judicious practice. We doubt whether
her powers will ever reach the height of tragedy ; but uea It.
elegant comedian there can be no doubt of her success.