The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-22 00:00:00

MUSIC, DRAMA, &c.

THEATRE RovAt.—On- Monday night the inimitable;
tnished, ever-delightful Mathews came once more before
its. There are many among us who will tell of the glories
Of their Jones's, their Eljiston's, Lewis's, &c., but In their
descriptions, or in the portraits of past actors, we see
nothing that cart ho found comparable with the exquisite
finish and delicate delineation of the younger Mathews
He conceives a witty thing with such sparkling zest, he
utters a bon mot with such unerring point, he dresses,
looks, and moves in accordance with the spirit of his part,
and his auditors are constrained to believe themselves in
the presence of some mercurial spirit, gifted with every
grace, who flits before them uttering good things without
a particle of acting. There is at present no successor in
this line existent; let the public make the most of it while
they can. Mr. Mathews was in excellent vein, and made
his vivacious entry in Young Rapid, in Morton's capital
comedy of " A Cure for the Heartache." We can only
say he was in it all welcould desire; the native gentle-
man shone through the actual tailor, and his sprightly
" push on" and " keep moving" was a key to his whole
treatment of the character. If We may, hint a deficiency
it Wag where Young Rapid's position borders on the
pathetic, which Was given naturally enough ; but we are
accut,tomed to have such feelings depicted in more " lone] "
colours, and therefore perhaps the fault is ours and not
our Comedian's. Mr. Baker was an excellent Old Rapid.
Mr. Hunter—a member of the company, whose merits
have not often their opportunity—was nAtural, and at
times touching, in the very difficult part of Oatland; and
his dialect is a study. Mr. Riy was a sensible Vortex
Of the ladies, in gallantry we had better say nothing. Mr.
Mathews afterwards appeared in " Cool as a Cucumber,"
where he and his audience revelled in the brilliant
caricature of Mr. Plumper' for an hour. Mr. Mathews
will perform all the week.
VALENTINE VOMEN.—This gentlenlan, it will be
observed en reference to our advertising coltirrins, corn.
mencee his series of representations at the Queen's Hall,
field street, on Monday next. The impression which Mr.
Atottsden's clever entertainment created on a Liverpool
public; on its first representation in this town, secured
for him the continued patronage of all classes for a period
Of thfee months; and we have no doubt, that the host of
admirers; which his pleasing songs and witty sayings
secured for him then, will great him with a hearty recep-
tion on his re-appearance now.
DEATH or IV. H. REEVES.—Mr. W. H. Reeves, the
tenor singer, who came here from England some ten years
ago with Madame Anna Bishop, and has since been
attached to several English opera companies, died in this
dity, on Friday, of dropsy on-the brain. Mr. Reeves
leaves a *lfe and three children in very destitute circum.
stances. He was a bedther of the great tenor Sins Reeves.
The case of Mrs. Reeves, as we are informed, is one that
calls for the deepest sympathy and practical aid. A joint
movement on the part of musical and dramatic artistes
might give her a handsome benefit.—Netu York Herald.
AdthiENT TO A CLOWN.—dill accident occurred at the
theatre on Monday evening during the performance of
the pantomime.of the " Porta, Thieves," which caused the
temporary withdrawal of the holiday entertainment.
Several tricks and transformations had passed apptovs
ingly, when the clown (Guyton) attempted a parachute
descent from "the flies." He then abstracted an umbrella
from a " walking gent " and disappeared, and shortly
after he was seen to descend with the umbrella, at a fear-
ful speed, from the ceiiing of the stage. By a hitch in the
machinery, it seems he was jerked from his hold, and he
fell on the boards with great force. He rolled to the wings,
and was dragged behind; but in the course of five minutes
he again presented himself; in a lame condition, and
courageously went through sortie other daring feats. Mr.
Eddowes, who was afterwards sent for, disdovered that he
had broken a bone of an ankle, and was otherwise much
bruised. He was completely disabled, and will probably
remain so for many wecks.—;Siamford Mercury.
At Berlin, a few evenings since, the King of Prussia
attended the theatre to witness the production of a new
tragedy. The piece proved wretchedly dull, and his
Majesty, after the second act, determined to quit the
house. Oa entering the saloon leading to his box, he saw
a lacquey sitting on a chair, with his chin resting on his
breast, and in a profoun4 slumber. Turning to one of
his attendants, the King remarked, " I'm sure that fellow
hat been listening at the door I'

PHILHARMONIC HALL.

CONCERT LAST NIGHT.

This was tie third cancert of the subscription of 1857.
It is not often we have to announce .the production of an
original work by artists who live among us, but it is on
this occasion our pleasurable task to record the first per.
formance of a cantata, from the pen of Mr. Samuel
Percival, a gentleman long favourably known in Liverpoo,
as a musician, and, q rally esteemed for his private worth.
This work is called " The Lyre," and written for four
voices, chorus, and orchestra. It is difficult 4 immediately
after the per formance of a new work, to pronounce upon
it a definite opinion as to its details, but generally we may
felicitate the society on having made their hall the arena
of a creditable creation. Mr. Percival was the con-
ductor of his own composition, and received the marked
approbation of the auditors, who were evidently much
delighted with the production. The story of this cantata
is simple, but fraught with all that is highest in art ; it is
an adaptation of a portion of Gray's " Progress of Poesy,"
wherein the spirit of music, as figured by the
" 2Eolian Lyre ' is worked and traced throngh
its many influences. It would be too much
to expect from a young composer a complete realisation
of the ideas shadowed forth in the poem selected in this
ease for musical elucidation, but it is an harmonious
approach to it, and will rank as a composition with most
works of the musicians of our own day and nation. It is
melodious and characteristic in the vocal part, and ia the
orchestral arrangements powerfully descriptive, and
suggestive poetically. The second part of the concert
was miscellaneous, and we have but to speak of the
singers who took part in the performance. Miss Louisa
Vinning is a rare instance of one gifted with precocious
talent, evincing the same aptness and facility at a riper
age. She is a charming singer, and the secret is, that she
is a singer con amore., When she warbled joyously on a
table years ago, it was manifest in the abandon of
the child; and the same spirit now exists, chastened
by study and the severe rules of art. There is
also a charming freshness about the voice, that is of
itself priceless. She sang the soprano part of the cantata
with much grace and feeling, particularly in the duet with
the contralto; but we would suggest a little more care-
fully enunciation of the words, particularly when so
important as this well known description of the dance,
Now pursuing, now retreating,
Now in circ:ing troops they meet;
To brink notes in cadence beating,
Glance their many twinkling feet.
Miss Vinning sung an air from the "Trovatore " admirably
—giving it with facility and feeling that is only vi: ible in
the greatest artistes; also, a duet from the poor 7raviata,
with Mr. Montem Smith, which was sung with an elegance
and true musical regard that would have surprised Verdi
himself, and perhaps made him doubt the identity of his
duet. Mr. Montem Smith d d little more than the
above, but demonstrated that he still posseses a charming
tenor voice, though not of a robust order, and for chaste.
ness of style and artistic correctness, he has almost no
equal. Mr. Weiss was the basso, and in the cantata did
justice to the flue solo beginning with a recitative "In
climes," &c. ; he also sung, with energetic ease, the vendetta
from the Figaro. Miss Hiles had the contralto part
allotted to her, and despite a little timidity, sung it effec-
tively, but her pronunciation might be amended a little.
The band and chorus performed most creditably. The
house was well filled, and much interest seemed to be
excited in the new composition of what we may term
" home growth."