The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-11-16 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—The production of ther Son
and Stranger," last week, invested the recent operatic
engagement with peculiar interest. It was the work of
Mendelssohn, and the only perfect liederspiel which he
completed ; and even it was not written for the public,
being composed for a family festival. It is, however, a
work perfect of its kind—an operatic gem; classically
simple in the plot, fanciful and graceful in the music. It
is an opera of but one act, and the scene is the same
throughout ; the time occupied is less than a day, night
intervening. The original words were written by Herr
C. Klingemann, the intimate friend of Mendelssohn, and
it comes to us translated by Mr. Chorley. The incidents
are natural, simple, and droll ; and the whole is so skil-
fully arranged that we regret the more the loss the world
sustained in the too-early death of this great composer.
The overture is an exceedingly beautiful one, and embo-
dies some charming music, which subsequently plays an
important part in the operetta. The Curtain rises, disco-
covering Ursula at her sp►nning-wheel, singing one of the
prettiest romances which we remember to have heard,—
"There sat in the grey, grey times of old,"—and the action
immediately becomes highly animated. There is another
lovely ballad in the early scenes, " When the evening bells
are chiming," which was well sung by Mr. Harrison ; and
several highly dramatic pieces besides,—in fact, the work
is highly dramatic. The greatest novelty in the operetta
is the cessation of action upon the stage, at the close of
day, and the sweet music which heralds the advent of the
festive morning. We were unable to witness Mr. Edward
Fitzwilliam's new opera, " Queen of a Day," the inci-
dents of which are taken literally from M. Adolphe Adam's
" La Reine d'un Tour," but the London press speaks
highly of its merits. On Friday night this operatic engage-
ment, which has proved so very successful, was brought
to a close, and the charming Miss L. Pynetook her benefit.
The house was crowded to excess, and to the " Crown
Jewels" (not the best of the operas produced by far) she
added to the programme the old and celebrated " Beggar's
Opera." MissLouisaPyne is certainly the best prima donna
we have had here for long. To a rich soprano voice of
great compass she adds much precision and delicate into.
nation ; her execution is perfect, and she can throw
strong feeling into that which is strictly dramatic. We
sincerely hope she will re-visit us at the earliest opportu-
nity, for the public have enjoyed a great treat, and shown
their appreciation of good operas. This week and the
next another treat of the highest order has been provided,
and we trust the houses will be equally well filled. We
have before spoken in the highest terms of Miss Glyn as a
tragic actress. She appeared last night in the character of
Lady Macbeth. To-night she is announced to appear as
the Duchess of Malfi—a role which she has made her own ;
for though this tragedy is a revival, she had no stage tra-
dition for her guidance. Miss Glyn is also announced to
appear as Isabella, in " Measure for Measure ;" also as
Bianca, in " Fazio ; " and as Lady C

onstance, in