Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-08-10 00:00:00

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Tbis;:extraordinary.. musical treat at. S. Georgs::ll4ii,
laitnight, -must haie fully realised. the fondest an ticipa'amts
With which it had-been looked forward- to. .The grateful
and talented Piccolomiiii is a universal faiourite. Tier
charming personal appearance, 'no *less than her, exquisite
vocal powers, cannot fail to win all hearts.; .and her very
entrance,—the firstglance of her joyous countenance, as she
comes before the audience in all her "bright array,"—is
quite enough to prodnee- one common feeling of delight.
There is an,expresSion in that countenance which forcibly

reciprocates the glad welcome, reneiv.o, and giveS assuranc
of mutual happiness and pleasure. It would be out of plac,

at this time of day to criticise

lec,olomini, more especir

here in tho provinces. But this we mast say, that her at
tractions appear to nothing like the same advantage in the con

ccrt-room as they do in the Opera House. Her right
evidently the, lyric stage, and she loses much of her, powe
when she is transferred from such a sphere. It is true tha
the music she had to sing last 'night was, nearly all operatic
Still it lost much of the effect which she is in the habit o

giving to it, in its more legitimate placc,., and 'With thos
dranfatic accompaniments which belong to it there.
lomini, it cannot be 'denied, .is a true 'artiste anywhere

she, like all artistes, cannot dispense; in the highest exercise
of her art, with those "means and appliances to boot,"
which are intended to illustrate as well as to develois9
Madame Borchardt, her able and appropriatwassociate on
this occasion, was. not, any more than Piccolbmini herself,
altogether unknown to a Liverpool audience; and her full
clear voice, and the evidence she afforded of a careful an .1
accoMplished training in_ her art, confirmed very sensibly

that favourable impression she had on a former occasion
prodnced. She has a purity of vocalization, and a distinct
utterance of the words of her songs, which make her execu-
Von. exceedingly effective And delightful.
The companions of those gifted ladies,' on this occa-
sion; were Signor 13elart and Signor Aldighievi,-7both
vocalists high reputation.; , the former ,singing
- t
with extra Ordinary fluency and great force of .eXpression—
two qualities not always combined in the mane persba ;
and the'latter possessing • great power of execution—
althougy he is apt to indulge, perhaps too much, occasion-
ally, An certain forced'. contrasts. which : are not always
in character with his' song. This quaternion of accom-
plished vocalists was accompanied by Signor Biletta, as
conductor,..dn t4:6lgrinit piano-forte:; and it is but seldom
that so talenteditii- apebnipanist is met with in a provincial
Concert-room---01W(Whii has gained: so high a reputation,
not only.for his eitectitive' powers, but for his talents as a
composer.

The concert last night was -opened with a trio, by 'Ma-
dame Borchardt, Signor Belart, and Signor Aldighieri,
the execution .of which at once threw the . audience
into a : state of the most pleasing exeitement ; which
was enhanced in no small degroe. by ,Donizetti's .duetto,
" Don Pasquale' Mad'lle Piccolomini's first display
was in the aria of Verdi's ," La Traviata," which
quite took the auclierice,, by storm ; she revelled in its
animated- expression, and put forth all those powers through-
out its exeCution in which, in the opera itselt; she stands un-
rivalled: This Was followed by a quartette, the Notturno
in "Maria" The second part was opened by Rossini's
duAto,- '‘‘L'ltaliani in Algieri,". lay.Signor.Belart and Signor
which was Very ably done. Madame Borchardt
thieti Olighted thepompany with Bishop's touching, song of.
411Orrie,:Sweet 'Mule,' which, of oourBo, called forth !very!
rapturous plaudits. Rossim's cavatialt,i ‘,‘ S'o,lla mi 6 cignor'
fedcle," was given by Signor Iletart With,o4 effect; which.
hoWever, was, quite eclipsed by the piece that followed
--Moart's duetto, " Nozze di Fjgare," by Mad'lle. Pic-
coli ini and Madame Borchardt, which was rendered
in the most spirited manner. After another of Ras-.
sini's duettos, "La .oenerentola," by Mada.ane, Borchardt,
and Signor Belart,. which . was also received . with great
applause, Piccolomini gave , Balfe's popular'
ballad I dreamt that I dwelt in :marble halls,'," with
extraordinary sweetness and. effect, calling forth the most
vOciferous applause.from all parts of the hall. She imparted!
to it a peculiar foreign character, however, which, from her
lips, made it apparently none the less charming; and upon
its being encored she gave ‘f The • Young-,May , Moon' •
in a similarly fascinating style. The, concert, con-
chided. with . Martini's " Vadasi via di qua." by, Mad'llc
Piccolomini, Madame Borchardt, Signor Belart, and,Signor
Aldighieri, which gave a joyous finish to tho omost- not omit to mention .that a pleasing variety was irn-
parted to this concert by two exquisite perfornaances.on the
grand organ by Mr.. Best, which •were .highly applauded.
The encores on this occasion were .rather unreasonable.
Almost every song was called for again, and most of them
were repeated with great good nature. There was a very
crowded and fashionable audience. Tho hall, indeed, could
scarcely have contained a larger,_ and it has rarely had a'
more brilliant company-

•
ANNUAL EXCURSION OF THE DOCK BOAR]-)

Yeatcrdar thli members of this board, . together with' a
number of their friends, left the north landing-stage, at
nine o'clock, in the steamer Iron Duke, for the /inrpose (Ai
making the annual ,eicUrsion, and inspection of the light-1
The day was iither dull'in the moaning ; but as it
were on, the weather began to appear more favourable, and,'
eventurdlyr proved to be all that could be wished., A band!
was on board, 'Which played naatiy,beautiful pieces Of Inusici
during the day. Shortly after the starting, breakfa4 Was
partaken of by most of the people on boll. The
th'en proceeded to the, Crosby lightship, thence to the
Formby lightship, and thence to the northwest lightship.
These were all visited by most of the oplo bn board, and
ye' wreatiiatiafactiOn from the'Manner in which they Were:

kept. On leaving the 'Landing-stage, several of the pilot
vessels started with the steamer, and these shoWed thei
sailing powers to, be . inferior le none of their class in the
kingdom:, No; 1 boat took the lead, and kept.it up to the
time of arrival 'at the north:west. lightship.''' FO: 5 boat
was cloed up, and IsTO. 2 arrived third: Their comparative
sailing powers were not sufficiently tested, however, as there
was not enough of wind fer the purpose.. After the visit to
the lightship, .a race teole,'place between five life-boats;
named resoectively the Point of Ayr; the Liverpool,- the
rr Maazitie, the Hoylake, and the Formby. Each boat was
pulled. by twelve - men and the diatance te) tie gone
,over
was two. miles. The, iron Duke apoompankd ,the bOati
while the race was ',being. pulled, giving the spectators a
.splendid view of the tented :c Ferfaintie time it was doubtful
whether the Point of Ayror tfie Liiietiool would bath e:wi nne r ;
but,,when tlik race WAS about half .over, the'Point o Ayr
got-the length of herself a-head, and inereini.dher distance
at !almost every stroke: c, The boats arkivdatihelightship;
witich '‘iat the' winnineplace, in the followingr,:ottiot
Point of Ayr' firsti Liverpool, second.;,Forinby, third ;'
fourth; arld.Niagazine, fast. Mr. ,Charles Turner;
chatirman'of tbe'board, distributed the lollowing
_prizes
,Fintboat g&, Seeorid IC2 10s.„ third 42, foartla 110 s„ and fifth
In handing, tb &prises .to.the ileveral :beats/ crews, he
xemarked that ikwas the first. time 'Awing :the last 'eight
years ,that he:had to 'complain of want of discipline; but,
on the *hole, lie was glaito•testifyzto gOneralefficietioy,
During the time these things were going on, the Pilot-ves-:
,sels were 'stalling itinutAthe isteameri,and loud . cheers • were
given each time tthey,',passed. -under the stern. .The-Iron:
'Duke the preceded- to the very: fashionable watering-,
far the purpose. very. large,
place, Llandudnicoong,vaneyde,(i. othhoerro,arriby. vtahletlihefer-eb,
life-boats,.
pwehlopolhel
emetiniterswntient. to. the Telegraph. Station on
and the variations of • scenery. pre-,
'3li'snbrnumad'teb:betdbea;Tat43d'rfwg'al"tt°heeetaerneost cvcity'step up 'the bill. commanded the
odmitaticrn of all. .! Unfortunately the • weather was rather
preventasuch.an extensive view seawardlrom.
being Obtatinehl had from that plaid-
AfdintenreerpwenDadipurog abouttided
nent floweVeri.honireaelting the summit, a fair view
ent
this luxury, they
conwat Cdstle.and. Puffin Island was obtained,- and the
k amid cheers
panureho4tartinanosdphtetr:oi.sw•i
nht:t
114:lee
.nliviogxy
enjoyment
-by-L;onnn,b&aoftlirde Waterloo Hotel; This being partaken of,
ert• and .the Royal, Family,"
• e-. The Amy. flifmtl," • • The BishOp..and Clergy of the
toasts ,per proposed and drunk -
n:The itierr dud theCorporatiOn," .1‘ Tbe Mersey
" The Solicitt*, Rugineet, and
Bpt,,h,Toicochfeekoellsawi,d7eHnitrhoimiristrriloittd,nee::„A:chberielsp
±:rhe
toyf
anumeis:
'other Officers of the Trust' ." The Audit Coin thissioners,"l
the
The Pilot Cominittee;'!'
Company." ...Maio toasts 'weror each SaPe'adadi to ja, It:very
abc.atrived
_:elineealiqursitinate,:niwasann.onex:l- 4cry
wageyntbalesithene
h,•a..pbourreserit,.m.--11.-er,
ipe
f'aly at. nine o'clock, without the.' slightest 'accident oecor-
aimgda-rial'onii)/ As a• whole the day wa'me
..tlaak toil& hwitt-lieen. wished, and oerta inlY Liverlm°l,Yag
• reslot on belprciad et the, manner in Whie. h her. maritime
affairs are conducted,