Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-30 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

The benefit of Mdlle. Piccolomini is fixed for Monday
evening, July 6. The performance for the evening will
consist of the second act of the Figlia, the last act of the
Trovatore, the last act of the Traviata, and the last act of
I Martini, in three of which operas Mdlle. Piccolomini will

perform.
Mr. Buckstone announces his annual benefit at the
Haymarket Theatre on Wednesday, July Bth, the 1,124 th
night of the season. Mr. Buckstone is too old a favourite
with the public to require any special attraction for his
benefit, but he announces the production of a new and
original three-act comedy, by Mr. Tam Taylor, and a new
farce. Both pieces bear promdsing names. Victims is the
title of the comedy i Thy First and Second Floor that of
the farce.

A propectua has been issued of a subscription Comic

Italian Opera, projected to be given at the St. James's
Theatre, to enliven "persons of quality" who may pass
the winter in London. This is to commence on the 16th of
November :—to give six performances a week, with a
double company of artists during three months. The
company announced as already engaged consists of Mes-
dames Fumagalli, Vaschetti, Luigia Tamburini; MM.
Daniele, Serazzi, Bartolacci, Fumagalli, Casaciello,
Ciampi, Castelli. In addition to these we are promised
in print, a " comprimaries, a second tenor comprimario, a
second bass, a seconda donna of distinguished merit."

An amateur concert will take place this evening at the
Public Library, Great Smith•street, Westminster. The
object of the ladies and gentlemen who volunteer their
services on the occasion is to aid the funds for the sup_
port of the church and school of St. Mary, Vincent_
square.

Mr. Barry (son to Sir Charles) has recently paid a visit
to Stratford-upon-Avon, in order to aid the trustees of the
house in which Shakepeare was born with his advice as to
the best mode of upholding and preserving it.
M. Meyerbeer, the composer, is at present at Spa.

Letters from Switzerland announce that the great
Annual Musical Festival of the Confederation is to take
place next year in Zurich, and that preparations are
already being made for the accommodation of 3,000
singers.

The second great Rhenish musical festival, which took
place at Mannheim on the 14th and 15th of June, was
thoroughly successful, and attended by a vast number of
visitors from the neighbouring towns. There was 700
vocal and 160 instrumental performers. The nieces per-
formed were Mendelssohn's Elias, Beethoven's Ninth Sym-
phony with chorus, Durante's Magnificat, besides several
minor compositions. Capelmeister Lachner, who was to
have conducted, was prevented unfortunately by illness,
but his place was most ably filled by Hiller, of Cologne.
CONCERTS FOR TEE PRESENT WEES.—This eveving
(Tuesday), the London Harmonic Union gives a grand
concert at Sussex Hall.--On Wednesday, the Vocal Union
gives its second morning concert at the Hanover-square
Rooms ; and on the same morning, at Willis's Rooms, the
directors of the Musical Union give their grand matinee.—
On Thursday, Mr. Ellis Roberts (harpist to his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales), has his annual concert at
the Music Hall, Store-street.—Mrs. Ellen Day announces
her matinee musicale for Saturday, at Willis's Rooms.
CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERTS.—The seventh Royal
Italian Opera concert took place yesterday morning,
The principal performers were Mesdames Grisi, Bosio.
Didiee, Parepa, and Rosa Devries ; Messrs. Mario, Neri-
Baraldi, Tagliafico, Zelger, Polonini, Graziana, Ronconi,
and Herr Formes. The band was conducted by M. SAin-
ton. Notwithstanding the enormous attraction of the
recent Handel festival, Mr. Gye's magnificent array of
musical celebrities again brought together a vast assem-
blage. We believe, indeed, that not one of the numerous
Royal Italian Opera concerts here has been more fully
attended. '_;The programme, as on previous occasions,
was made up almost', of extracts from the most familiar
and popular operas belonging to the Lyceum repertoire.
THE LATE Ma. JERROLD.—Mr. J. W. Anderson, lessee
of the Standard Theatre, writes to a cotemporary ;
" The captains of the pen are exerting themselves on the
stage and in the lecture-room to honour the memory of
their friend. But the stage itself has not come forward
in the same cause to a like extent. Yet the stage owes
more to Jerrold than does the library. His dramas have
kept many a house' open, filled many a treasury,' and
fed many an actor.72Their author dies, and his widow is
unprovided for. ,What should .the :stage: do ? I would
suggest that every theatrical manager; throughout the
country should give a benefit, and every actor contribute
his services to aid her whose husband wrote Black Eyed
Susan: If it could be carried out. I would have the
benefit take place at every theatre, broad England
through, on the same night ; and, on the Jerrold night,'
let none but Jerrold's dramas be played. Let each man-
ager charitably cast aside all remembrance of what he
has paid to the Dramatic Authors' Society, and address
himself to a work of charity with good feeling and with
energy. The result would unfailingly be an annuity for
Mrs. Jerrold. My own services, if practicable, I would
most cordially give."