The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-16 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

COLOGNE CHORAL UNlON.—Among the musical treats
promised at the commencement of the ensuing month,
two performances, by the Cologne Choral Union, offer
unusual attractions. They are the last these distin-
guished artists will give in this country, and the character
of the music is admittedly excellent. They deserve pa-
tronage, and we doubt not the Philharmonie-hall will be
filled on both occasions.

THE AZTECS.—These singularly curious little creatures
continue to draw crowds of visitors, who evince great in-
terest in their tiny appearance and lively demeanour.
Not the least singular portion of the exhibition will be
found' in the unique and interesting account given of them
by Mr. Morris, who enters with enthusiasm into the
history of their race and probable lineage. It will be
seen that this is the last week of their exhibition.
TirE ROYAL AMPHITHEATE.—The performances have
been generally of a lively characterduring the past week,
and were chiefly such as to bring into prominent play the
histrionic powers of Mr. G. Honey, who has appeared in
several of his favourite characters. He continues his pre-
sent engagement, and the company has been further rein-
forced by the talents of Mr. M`Kean Buchanan, an Ame-
rican tragedian of celebrity, who makes his appearance
this evening as Hamlet ; and Miss Wright, the celebrated;
danseuse, has also been added to the regular company.
THE THEATRE ROYAL will, we are glad to learn, be
re-opened. far a short season, next Monday, when Mr.
Wright will commence an engagement for six nights. It
cannot be otherwise than gratifying to the patrons of the
drama in Liverpool to learn that the talented company of
French comedians from St. James's Theatre (M. Lafont's)
will commence an engagement at this theatre in the course
of the ensuing month. During this engagement, which
will extend over a month, there will be twelve represen-
tations. The engagement will commence on the 7th June.
LIVERPOOL, ECCLESIASTICAL MUSIC SOCIETY. —On
Thursday a paper was read by HarrnoodW. Banner, Esq.,
the president, on the subject of " Anthems" in general, and
also with especial reference to the wort sof several English
church composers. Illustrations from the works of Men-
delssohn, Orlando Gibbons, Wise, Purcell, Weldon, Kent,
Nares, Boyce, Walmisley, and Spohr; were given with
commendable excellence. If the object of the society be
the more general diffusion of sound views and a correct
taete with reference to the musical services of the church,
they are taking the proper steps to so good an end, by thus
affording to numerous audiences, like that of Thursday
last, the opportunity of becoming familiarly acquainted
with the works of our great church composers.

AT MR. Ji ROBINSON'S ANNUAL. CONCERT, on the
Bth instant, a select and fashionable audience assembled
to testify the esteem in which that gentleman's profes-
sional abilities-are held. The concert took place in Hime's
new Music-hall, Bold-street, and one-of the attractions of
the evening was the appearance of Miss Reeves, sister of
Mr. Sims Reeves, for the first time before a Liverpool
audience. She was well received, and gave indication of
carefugmusical tuition, added to natural talent of a highly
respectable- order. The other vocalists, besides Mr.
Robinson himself, were Mr. J. Robinson, of Dublin, and
one or two others, of good capacity. The instrumentalists
were Signor G. Regondi, and Messrs. Lidel, Percival and
Toms. The concert gave general satisfaction, and the
performances elicited frequent applause..
READINGS PROM SHAKESPEARE.—Mrs. Marryatt, the
distinguished Shakesperian reader, intends giving a series
of readings at the Assembly-rooms, Great George-street,
during the present week. Prom the different newspaper
notices which we have seen, referring to her recent visits
to Dublin, Bath, Chester, &e., we have no hesitation in
saying that a rich intellectual treat may be expected. Mrs_
Marryatt is a highly gifted lady,. and respectably con—
nected ; and has attracted- crowded and select audiences,
who have evinced much gratification at the manner in
which some of the most arduous and trying scenes from
"'Macbeth" and the " Merchant of Venice" have been
rendered.

SHILLING CONCERTS. AT THE PHILHARMONIC HALL.—
On Tuesday evening this society gave one of its cheap con-
certs, which we are gleAl to perceive are now advertised
under the name of "Shilling Oratorios," a designation to
which they are entitled, and one not calculated to deceive
any one. The performances, on the occasion referred to,
were Handel's celebrated " Te Deum" composed in celebra-
tion of the victory of. Dettingen ; and Mozart's admired
" Twelfth Service," both established favourites with the
musical world, and both involving great difficulty of execu-
tion. As on the preceding occasion, the music was confined
entirely to the vocal parts, aided only by an organ accom-
paniment. The principal vocalists were, Miss. Stott, Mrs.
Scarisbrick, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Armstrong; the organ
was played by' Mr. G. Hirst, and Mr. Sudlow conducted,
while an efficient chorus, two hundred in number, lent
their powerful assistance in completing the musical effect..
Most of the choruses throughout the evening were given
with much precision, and in a highly creditable manner,
although in some few instances a slight shakiness might
be noticed in the contralto voices. In the grand chorus
"Make them be numbered with thy saints," all parties
acquitted themselves ably. The sustained and symmetrical
beauty of this composition was delightfully brought out,
and the performance was loudly, as well as deservedly ap-
plauded. The trio " Thou that sittest at the right hand of
God," by Mrs. Scarisbrick, Mr. Millar, and Mr. Armstrong,
was well and expressively sung, the devotional feeling
conveyed by both the music and the words being well
given. Mozart's magnificent "Twelfth Service," formed
the second part of the concert, and, so far as a combination
of unaccompanied voices could effect its performance, it
was very creditably executed ; but, as every amateur
knows, all the higher class order of musical compositions
depend to so great an extent on the value of instrumental
aid, that, shorn of that assistance, they become meagre and
comparatively uninteresting. In a particular degree
such a remark applicable to this beautiful composition by
Mozart, a great portion of the character of which is made
to rest on the peculiar combination of instrumental with
vocal effects. In so far as these were concerned, of course
the performance was defective; yet, on the whole, the
entertainment was one of a very interesting and gratifying
kind, and afforded much pleasure to a numerous and in,
telligent audience, the fine hall being completely filled.
We perceive the Philharmonic Society is to give its fourth
subscription concert for the season on Tuesday next, when
Madame Sedlatzek, of the Royal Italian Opera, will make
her first appearance before a Liverpool audience. Signor
Belletti will also appear ; and Mr. Streather will perform
on the harp. The next of the " shilling oratorios" is fixed
for Tuesday the 13th proximo. It is to consist of Attwood's
Grand Coronation Anthem, and Haydn's oratorio " The
Creation."

LAI:MM.—An iron screw-steamer, the Black Prince,
intended for the General Iron Screw Collier Company,
London, was launched on Saturday, from the building-
yard of Messrs. Thomas Vernon and Son, Brunswick
Dock. She is 160 feet long, 26 feet 6 inches beam, and
16 feet 6 inches depth of hold, 540 tons 0.3 d., and will
carry about 600 tons of coal. Her engines, which are of
70 horse power, are made by Messrs. James Watt and Co.,
of Birmingham. The vessel is built from the designs of
Messrs. Grantham and Croom, who are the engineers to
the company. She is for the trade from Newcastle to
London, in which the same company have many similar
vessels already engaged. She has a " water bottom," by
which she can be ballasted with water for her return voy-
age, when she will be always without cargo. Another,
and sister to this vessel, is now in a very forward state in
Messrs. Vernon's yard, for the same company, and it is
expected she w ill be launched in a few weeks.

LAUNCH OF AN IRON SHIP AT WARRINGTON.—On
Saturday, an iron ship of large dimensions, being 203
feet in length, was launched in the building yard of the
Bank Quay Foundry Company, at Warrington, in the
presence of a numerous assemblage of the leading clergy,
gentry, and others of the town and neighbourhood, and
several of the merchants and shipowners of Liverpool.
The vessel was originally designed and built by Messrs.
Chas. Moore and Co., of Liverpool, and was intended to
have been named the Golden Vale. She was, however,
purchased from them a short time ago by Hamilton and
Adams, of Greenock, and her name has been changed to
that of the Lady Octavia. Her model is a fine one, cal-
culated to combine great speed with capacity for carrying
cargo. She has two decks, and has in addition a spacious
poop cabin, a house on deck also very spacious, and a
forecastle dock for the accommodation of her crew,