The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-28 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

THE ORATORIO AT THE PHILHARNIONIC.-011 Tues-
day night the sublime oratorio of "Elijah" was performed
at the Philharmonic-hall in a style of excellence of which
the musical public of Liverpool has great reason to be
proud. To aver that the performance was of superlative
excellence is unnecessary, and to say that it was in all
respects worthy of the composition and its author, would
be to assert what the merits of the case v;culd not justify ;
but it is perfectly consistent with truth to declare that,
taken as a whole, the performance was highly creditable
to all concerned in it. The artistes were all native or
resident in Liverpool, and they acquitted themselves in
their respective parts in such a manner as to elicit and
deserve warm commendation. The orchestral and choral
departments wore very complete, numbering in all about
200 performers. The principal vocalists were Miss Stott
and Mrs. Scarisbriek, Mr. 31illar and Mr. Armstrong.
Mr. J. Z. Herrmann was conductor, and Mr. G. Hirst
presided at the organ, and Mr. C. J. Toms at the piano-
forte. Of the efficiency and excellence of the orchestral
and choral performances of the same oratorio we recently
had occasion to speak in complimentary terms ; in the
instance now referred to their execution was entitled to
equal praise. It was steady, ready, and, by a happy com-
bination of executive power, the composer's meaning was
rendered with delicacy and truthful excellence. The
splendid chorus, " Blessed are the men who fear him," was
given in admirable style ; and, generally speaking, the
choruses were sung with regulated skill and no small
amount of judgment. Of the solo singers it affords us
much pleasure to speak in very favourable terms. Their
hearts were obviously in their work, and if they did net
occasionally electrify their auditors, they did what to a
great extent was equally deserving of praise ; they sung
in a style of sustained excellence and purity the words
and the music set down for them, many of the recitatives
and airs being managed with great artistic skill. To come
to particulars, the magnificent air, " 0 rest in the Lord,"
was sung with admirable intonation and effect by Mrs.
Scarisbrick. The singing of Miss Stott was also in many
respects deserving of high encomium; as was likewise that
of Messrs. Millar and Armstrong. Before quitting this
pleasing theme, we must not omit paying a tribute to the
capability and readiness displayed by a young, indeed a
very young lady, who, besides singing in the cho-
ruses, took part in two quartets and a trio. For
one so young, she sung well, and in a manner such
as to give promise of higher attainments.—We ob-
serve the same artistes are to give the " Messiah"
of Handel on Tuesday next, the performance, of which
we make no doubt, will be as praiseworthy and interest-
ing as the one on which we have just been commenting ;
and in recommending it to the special patronage of the
musical amateurs of Liverpool, we trust we shall not be
set down as unnecessarily presuming, if we remind them
that the best way of securing the creditable performance
of high class musical compositions, is by the encourage-
ment of native and resident talent. It may be desirable,
on numerous occasions, to secure the services of the high-
est genius among the sons and daughters of song; but to
possess indigenous musical, or any other talent, we must
patronise the genius we have resident among us. The
claims of these artists to our patronage are somewhat
akin to family ties. They have a nearer and more intri-
cately woven connexion with our sympathies, than can be
recompensed by mere pecuniary largesse, or estimated by
market value; they are, as it were, of our own household;
to them, in a great degree, we owe what little cultivation
in the art we possess ; and to them we are indebted for
many of our best social enjoyments.
AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, the English Opera Com-
pany, concerning whose performances at this house we
spoke last week in favourable terms, continued a round of
the same pieces during the week, which closed on Satur-
day ; adding to the previous' list the English versions of
" La Sonnambula" and " The Barber of Seville." In both
these last-named pieces, their respective talents found
ample .scope, and their exertions were rewarded by the
plaudits of discerning and highly respectable audiences.
With the performances of the English Operatic Company,-
the season, at this theatre, has been brought to a close.
We understand Miss Cushman will reappear at this house
for two nights only, when she will repeat her favourite
characters of Meg Merrilies, in the drama of " Guy Man-
nering," and 111 re. Haller, in " The Stranger," on the
evenings of Monday, the 17th, and Tuesday, the 18th of
April next.
AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE good' audiences have
been nightly collected to witness the performances of Miss
Auderton, whose personation of Evadne, in the play of
that name, has met with 'such success as to have caused
its repetition three times during the week. On Tuesday
evening, the same young lady made her first appearance
as Bianca, in Milman's play of " Fazio." which character
she repeated on Saturday evening. She is evidently
making her way in popular favour; and promises to be-
come au actress of popularity. At this house, the favourite
pantomime of "'The Butterfly's Ball, and the Grashop-
per's Feast," has established its attractions, and has been
performed every evening during the past week. The beauty
of its scenery, and its splendour as a spectacle, continue
their influence in attracting numerous
.spectators.
ADELPIII TnEITRE.—The performances this evening
will be for the benefit of Mr. M. Hill, whose favour with
the frequenters of this theatre Will, no doubt, ensure him
a full attendance.

TUE ClLOrEßA..—During the week eleven cases of
cholera and two deaths occurred at Leeds-.

THE BODY of Colonel C.E. Gordon, R.E., who died sud-
denly from disease of the heart, in a railway carriage, on
the 16th, was, on Saturday, exhumed from the mausoleum
of Greenwich Hospital, to undergo a second inquest at
Crewe, in consequence of it having been ascertained that
the deceased officer experienced 'some strange- treatment
from drunken' man, who was in the carriage with him ;
and blame being alleged to be attributable to the railway
officers for permitting such a character to ride in the train.
PROTESTANTISM AT WINDSOR.,--MP. Darvill, the Mayor
of Windsor, convinced that he committed a grave error in
suffering himself to be influenced by the misrepresenta-
tions of a Romi.sh priest, has granted the use of the Town-
hall for two meetings, of the Protestant Reformation So-
ciety which are to be held to-day and to-morrow. We
understand that the matter was brought under the Celli-
dertition of Lord Palmerston, who disapproved of the
conduct of the Mayor.
office/1
SEIZURE OF COMBUSTIBLES.—On Saturday, the
~,
of Customs seized a vessel in the Thames,laandepu:r Vist.
petre and sulphur, consigned to a Bus%
p el,understood
.ag that the governmenti intenifdl,t._TioiLfeoerleeecttiohne
REPRESENTATION OF WESTMO ''
The Fiarl of Bective, who
will take place next Tuesday.
Ili
field at present. He
date, and there is no one else
i his address that " the po-
is a conservative, and states in
married Mr. Alderman Thompson
'all advocate will be the same
liticill principles which he
lented relative." Lord Bective
's only child, is a candi-
es those upheld by 1..!:
on Konlis.
illarMarquis of lfeadfordt, who sits in
ed -on the Midland Railway, at
way,
A STRIKE- has occurred _ _
part of the guards, foreman, and porters
Sheffield, on the
tishethHe
' • and goods department, which caused con-
of the coaching .
eeusldeesetfsLonorodfstiasihi le
accompanying her
con-
siderable inconvenience. The men were afterwards induced
to resume work.
thitiieTs
iv)uaEunldlc:aonaucaNwepht;?nutohNferiseosußnogirflw!sin,feßthoofL,a
Malta, was on board
private was disco-
iireerevtuisnlytLe
sailed
darbin otfh:eallsimaiaoldiery,a.heHr
ehrusladbanyshdip tehianyingr
-
' ceded, " A fellow-feeling makes us wondrous kind," and
was allowed to take charge of the girl.

WHEN THE PURSE IS FULL.

OH ! happy are tl,e hours when the purse is full;
Time passes over flowers when the purse is full ;
Where'er our fancy wends,

...._._ _
We are sure to meet with friends,
And they e's nothing that offends—when the purse is full
But weary are the boors when the purse is low;
And few and far the flowers when the purse is low;

Where'er our footsteps range,
Comes the thrilling breath of change,
And the best of friends look strange when the purse is low !
Morn cotneth with a dance when the purse is full ;
There is music in her glance when the purse is full ;

Life the is something worth,—
There is pleasure upon earth,—
l'here is beauty, song, and mirth—when the purse is full!

Yet man, we're often told, though his purse be low,
Is himself the truer gold, though his purse be low;
But the saying is not true,
For the blindest yet may view,
Man's friends are of the few—when his purse is low.
CHARLES SWAIN.