The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

•
COMPLIMENTARY CONCERT TO MR. SIIDLOW.—Th,
valuable services rendered by Mr. William Sudlow, in
connexion with the concerts given under the auspices of
the Philharmonic Society,
i induced the ladies and gentle-
men connected with the institution to give a testimonial
or complimentary concert in favour of that gentleman..
The performance took place in the magnificent hall of the
society on the evening of Tuesday last ; the attendance
was large, and embraced an extensive portion of the elite
of Liverpool society. The chief vocalists on the occasion
were Misses Birch and Eyles, and Madame Weiss; Mr_
Benson and Mr. W. H. Weiss : the choruses were given
by an extensive and efficient choir, supported by a full
orchestra, numbering 300 performers, and the powerful
and skilfully applied aid of the fine organ. The piece
selected for performance was Handel's magnificent oratorio,
" The Messiah," which was given in a style and with a
success worthy of the character of the society. The
choruses and orchestral effects, upon the majestic grandeur
and sublimity of which the character of the oratorio mainly
depends, were managed with much steadiness and precision„
the parts being generally well taken up, and the charac-
teristics and light and shade of the music being happily-
displayed. In some points, no doubt, the fastidious ear
might detect an overforce of individual sound, detractive
from the harmony and combined beauty of the composi-
tion. This was particularly observable in the grand
chorus " For unto us," where, in a misdirected effort to
produce an effect upon the word "wonderful," instruments
and voices seemed to go in opposite directions, resulting in
a series' of percussive sounds, which grated upon without
filling the ear. Notwithstanding which blemish, so com—
plete and effective was the general rendering of this
chorus, and also of the "Hallelujah," that, in defiance of

etiquette and regardless of convenience,' the audience
called loudly and enthusiastically for their repetition,
which, after some hesitation, was complied with in both
instances. The " Pastoral symphony," so sweetly sug—
gestive of sylvan scenery and pastoral del:
with warbling - Ts. melody—was givt

fights—so imbues

sounds an( _love,
Taceful delicacy and telling expression. The vocat
ere generally good, the most brilliantly effective-
hat of " Rejoice greatly," by Miss Birch; the
y's rendering of the fine recitative, "And he was
and of the beautiful air " But thou didst not
-,cl pathos of its
the rap—

with b.
solos were b
being that of

same- lad

le---et :or"

avishing in the sweetness
d almost justified the audi

turous burst of.applau

Ind in t

by which it

I was ,
accompaniments in this piece were very ae,,,
combining with, and heightening, as well as adorning
and bell-like clearness of Miss Birch's fine
" And the eyes of the blind," met

rather than honoured. The flu

'sly managed.

the silver
The recitati

with expressive and del
Miss Eyles, and t

execution in the hands of
shall feed hiw

following a]

WaS Sli

with-purity

Of Slad

Air. Weiss,' it is but fair to say t

1-fonned with

the perf

nanees were exc

have retired highly satisfied from t
numbers had to leave before the cone:
a proceeding as little comnlimentar

But NO