The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-23 00:00:00

MUSIC.

MR. BENEDICT'S CONCERT.—Mr. Benedict's an-
nual concert, at the Hanover-square Roams yesterday
morning, was a most ample banquet of music. The pro-
gramme contained a great number of vocal and instru-
mental pieces, in almost every variety of style, and in the
performance of which a host of eminent artists were em-
ployed. Among them were Madame Clara Novelle), Miss
Goddard, Madame Marchesi, M. Ferdinand Hiller, Made-
moiselle Bury, Madame F. Lablache, Madame Viardut,
Mr. and Mrs. Sims Reeves, Signor Gardoni, M. Sainron
M. Vieuxtemps, Signor Piatti, Signor Bottesini, &c. We
cannot enumerate the pieces performed ; it is sufficient to
say that they were selected with taste and judgment, many
of them being Mr. Benedict's own compositions, and ad-
mirable specimens of his genius. The room was literally
crowded to overflowing, many persons being unable to get
within the doors.

MUSIC-HALT., STORE-STREET. Miss Itainforth
gave the third of her series of illustrations of the lyrical
and romantic poetry of Scotland last night, when she read
portions of Scott's Lady of the Lake, and sang the inciden-
tal songs with her accustomed taste and czpre•sion.

Mas. WILLMOItIes CONCERT.—Last evening Mrs
Arthur Willmore gave a concert at the Music-hall, Stores
street, Bedford-square, on which occasion she ri ceivedtht
assistance of Miss Pyne, Mrs. T. H. Severn, Mr. R-senthal,
Mr. Donald King, Mr. and Mrs. Janus K. roWels Pyne, Mrs.
Galion, Herr JIMA, Signor Piutti, Signor Buttesini,
&c. The music was well selected, and amongst
ON compositions were some of the must popular
airs, which have been handed down to us, not only by con-
tinental musicians, but by those of our owu country.
Although the programme did not boast so many great
names as are sometimes met with at elltrrainments of this
kind, the audience had every reason t.• be gratified with
what they heard and saw. Amongst the instrumental per-
formers, Mrs. Mllltnore herself occupied a di,tinguishel
place, and the various artists by whom she was assisted in
this part of her concert contributed very largely towards
the succeu of the performances, which, it may be stated in
one word, gave general satisfaction to the audience.

DRAMA.

FRENCH PLAYS-ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

Mademoiselle Rachel had her benefit last night,
when M. Legouvsni play, Louis de Lignerolles, was per-
formed for the first time in this country. This piece was
produced at the Ti.eistre Francais fif•een years ago, and,
with the Sue performance of Iddlle. Mars in the part of the
heroine (though that great actress was then near the end
of her long and splendid career), had a great run.
Its revival by Madile. Rachel again rendered it popular,
and it has for some years belonged to her regular
repertoire. The drama itself is by no means of distiuguisled
merit, but it is a good acting play, and some of the situa-
tions afford scope for Rachel's powers of expressing intense
passion.
. . .

The piece is constructed out of materials very common
on the French stage ; conjugal infidelity being the busis of
the plot and the source of the interest. Henri de Ligne-
rolles, and Louise his wife, are a young couple, living in
the country, apparently happy in mutual attachment. But
the husband has au intrigue wi.h Cecile de Givry, a ci-
devant actress, married to Colonel de Givry, a gentle-
man of the neighbourhood. The liaison is discovered
by the very ordinary iucidcnt of a letter from Henri de
Lignerolles to Cecile falling into the hands of the injured
wife. Louise intorms her rival of the discovery, and insists
en her promising to keep an assignation she had made with
Henri. The pair meet accordingly in a retired spot in the
park, and while Henri is astonished at the paleness and tre-
pidation of hie paramour, Louise, dressed in white, stands
before them. An agitated scene ensues ; the better feelings
of the guilty couple are awakened ; the repentant Cecile
departs, taking an eternal adieu of her lover, Louise yields
to her husband's entreaties for pardon ; and a
joyful reconciliation closes the scene. But the repentance
and good resolutions of Henri and Madame de Givry are
shortlived. Their intercourse is resumed, and is at length
discovered by the lady's husband. She flies from her
home, and in despair takes refuge in the house of I.er lover.
He conceals her ; but she has been followed by her hus-
band, who has seen her enter the house, and now makes his
appearance, demanding that she shall be given up. Henri
blusters, attempts to brazen it out, and talks of giviag
geatlemanly satisfaction, which the husband refuses with cut-
ting contempt, telling him that he will have satisfaction in a
less poetical way, by recourse to the law. An officer of justice
enters with a search-warrant ; but the unfortunate Louise,
now made acquainted with her husband's fresh infamy,
enables the guilty woman to escape. Henri again endea-
vours to obtain his wife's forgiveness, but it is now too
late—she renounces him for ever. In the last scene, M. de
Givry has consented to take no measures against him, on
condition of bis quitting France; but news arrives that
Cecile has become a maniac. Her husband, on this, forgets
his resolution not to fight. He rushes out with Henri ; •
pistol shot is heard, and De Givry appears alone. Louise
exclaims, "Il est mort !" and as she sinks senseless to the
grow A, the curtain falls.
All this is abundantly commonplace, and its triteness is
not relieved by anything striking in the literary composi-
tion of the play. There are some vigorous passages is the
dialogue ; especially in the scene (the beet in the piece) in
which the injured husband refuses to tight the seducer of
his wife. "Jene me bats pas," says De (Liu, " avec les
gent queje pubs mettre en prison."
" Henri—Comment! vous antics la bassesse—
" De Givry—Oui, certes, j'aurais la basses'e de me vengte.
II y a asses long-temps que les maris sont ridicules ;
votre tour, Messieurs lea &masts! II taut enfin qu'un
homme demur cons chatie et vous fletrisse. Un peaces I
enteudez-vous, tan proves qui di,poetise von amours ne
emit que d'attacher le rein ; eh Bien! je rattatherri,
mot ; les mitres me suivront."
I Hut there are not many passages like this; and in the
most impassioned scenes the larmusge is exaggerated and
ampouk. The play will not for a moment bear a com-
parison with the other madam pieces, A strienne Le
Courreser and Lady Tartuffe, in which Mdlle. Rachel has
appeared; but it enables nor, nevertheless, to show some
of her finest qualities as an actress—her grace, her dignity,
and the unrivalled truth and force with which the ex-
prewes every variety of emotion.
'the house was crowded to excess. The play went off
well, but without any great warmth of applause. At the
conclusion, however, when Rachel came forward, abe was
greeted with the enthusitem due to so illustrious tu artiste.