The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-09-16 00:00:00

TUESDAY'S CONCERT.

The first concert took place this evening ; when the theatre,
which had been fitted up for the occasion, though not crowded,
was tolerably well filled ; and the appearance of the platform
and boxes, occupied as they were by great numbers of ladies
most elegantly attired, was very attractive.
The performance commenced with Haydn's Symphony,
usually called the " Drum Symphony," from its opening with
a roll of the drums. The piece went off with great spirit. The
effect of the horns, in the last movement, was particularly beau-
tiful.

The next piece in order, the Recitative and Romanza from
Morlaccbi's opera of 7'heobaldo ed Ivolina, was very sweetly and
chastely sung by Mademoiselle Assandri. This young lady
has a remarkably fine and pure quality of voice, very correct
intonation and a refined taste; but, roost probably from want
of sufficient experience, she rather lacks spirit and variety in
her singing.
Mrs. Knvvett sung very sweetly Sir John Stevenson's simple,
and indeed; rather insignificant ballad, Give that wreath to me;
and she was encored.
The next piece was, what is called in the programme, a
dialog° brillante on the flute and clarionet by Nicholson and
Willman. Of course the names of the performers are a suffici-
ent guarantee for the skill and taste with which the music was
performed; and nothing could be more perfect than the execu-
tion, throughout a piece made up of difficulties.
When Madame Malibran presented herself to sing Mozart's
Recitative and Air, she.was greeted with plaudits which clearly
showed the estimation in which this queen of song is held by
a Manchester audience. Notwithstanding the indisposition
under which she had recently been labouring, her singing both
of the recitative and the air was truly exquisite, and removed
all doubt as to the improvement which has taken place in her
voice and style of singing within the last few years. The union
of surpassing delicacy and grace, with the most faultless into-
nation, and a distinctness of articulation, both musical and
verbal, which falls to the lot of few singers,—made this piece a
perfect gem. The obligato accompaniment on the corm. di
bassetto by Willman, was very effective ; and the piece received
a most unanimous encore.
Bellini's duet, bp Madame Caradori Allan and Mademoiselle
Assandri was very delightfully sung, and afforded a very rich
treat to the scientific portion of the audience.
'!'he second act commenced with Beethoven's overture to
Fidelio, the Opening movement of which was, perhaps, a little
deficient in precision ; but the band speedily recovered them-
selves, and the remainder of the overture was given with great
spirit and effect.
Donizetti's recitative and aria gave very fine scope for the
display of Madame C trradori's brilliant style of singing, and
she availed herself of it

The recitative and air, from Balfe's opera of The Maid of
Artois, is a composition of no very striking merit, and of rather
doubtful originality, but it is sweet and pretty, was sung by Mr.
Phillips with such exquisite delicacy and feeling as to command
a vociferous encore; and there can be no doubt that in his