The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-07 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY MORNING'S PERFORMANCE.

The weather this morning continued equally favourable and
beautiful; and the gay and exciting scene was, if possible, more
bisstlingi The whole breadth of Church street, opposite St.
Peter's; where the oratorio was to be performed, was one dense-
lyihronged parade. ; The church was crowded to excess, and
presented a brilliant' display of rank, fashion, and beauty.
Owing to the judicious arrangement of, the. police force, every
thing like ConfuSiutt was- avoided. Amongst the company as-
sembledWe observ'edeur esteemed representative, Lord Saudon,
and '.futnily; Lord Skehnersdale 'and family, Lord Charles
Thynne, Ireland ftlackburne, Esq., 111:1)., Mr. Leigh, &c.,
&c., and several members of the corporation. Whilst, iu our
public capacity, speaking of_ the oratorios,, we should.be guilty
'of a dereliction of duty to:the public, for the great mass of whom,
en far as our cireulation-efferißS;'e cater, if we refrained from
noticing the mode in-which the committee hove thought right
to treat that public whom various causes may have prevented
attending these and the other festival: performances, through
their representatiVes,lhe public press.- the mere fact of refus-,
admissiOnii4O the- press, and those courtesies which are
usually extended to them,' would be beneath notice; both are
purchasable but it is of the animus we speak. We hardly
think that that portion of the public who base tint been able to
attend; but Who hove Willingly contributed their means towards
the charities which the proceeds of the festival are to forward, or
that part who have gone to aportion' only of the festival perform-
ances, need, be very' grateful to the committee for this attempt
to shia them out from all which they do not pay for andTerson-
ally attend. Had the festival not been for the promotion of a
charity which we should be aorry to injure, (and we believe the
same feeling influences most of our contemporaries,) we should
sometime ago have noticed this carere.isuess of. the, public.
Without the 'assistance which the press has afforded' the com-
mittee, in publishing their arrangements and aiding them with
their talents in their labours, what would have availed the coin-
mittee's exertions, or .hat would 'have beeu the result Of the
festival ? It would 'need no Prephet to :predict its failure.
But this is not out only charge against the committee—we
have to charge them with a species of back-stairs favour-
itism, which, to say the least of it, is verY:sonteruptible.
If they choose to act illiberally towards the min-attending pub-
lic, well and good; let them stick to it. But this has not been
the case entirely;- there has been a kind of small-beer allotment
portioned out to them. The Morning Herald, the Morning Poet,
and the Liverpool Mail have been picked out, and have had .
seats appropriated to them. We would ask what claim have
either of the two former papers over the local press ? And we
would ask why the Doe? pool Mail, par excellence, should be.
picked out from the whole of the Liverpool newspapers—a
paper not twO months old, comparatively unknown, and certain-
ly-having no csmnceivable distinction above its fellows. But this
underhand work 'is in perfect keeping. We, however, in spite
ofihe committee's veto present our readers with a full and, we
trust, accurate critique of the whole of the festival proceedings
since our last, and fur which they, at least, are not indebted to
the committee.

The following is a programme of the morning's perform-
ances.

PART I.
Coronation anthem, "0 Lord grant the King a long life"—
Attwood,-
Air, Mr. Bennett, "Lord! remember David." (Redemption)
—Handel.
Funeral anthem, " Have mercy Lord"—Beethoven. Four
Tromboni Obligati, arranged by the Rev. R. F. Elwin.
Air, Madame Carrador(Allan, "Gratias,agimus," Clariunet
Obligato, Mr. Wilman--Grigleihni.
Air, Mr. H. Phillips, " Redeniptor Mundi"—Mozart.
Recit. and air, Mrs: Wood, "It guiltless blood," (Susannah)
—Handel.
A SELECTION'FROM HANDEL'S ORATORIO, SOLOMON.
Chorus; " Your harps and cymbals sound."
Recit. and air, Mrs. W. Knyvett, " What tho' I trace."
Chorus, " From the Censer."
Recit. Mr. Bennett, "My Soy'reign. Liege."
• Recit. Braham, "Admit them."
Recit. Mrs. A. Shaw, "Thou Son of David."
Reeit. Mr. Braham, " What says the:other."
Recit. Miss Birch, " I cannot varnish o'er my tongue."
Recit. Mr. Braham, " Hear me, ye women
Recit. and air, Mrs. A. Shaw, " Can I see my infant
gored."
Recit. (accompanied) Mr. Braham, "Israel attend."
Chords and quartet, Miss Birch, Mr. H. Ball, Mr. Bennett.
and Mr. I: Taylor, "Swell, swell the full chorus."
Recit. and air, Mr. E. Taylor, " Thrice blest that wise dis-
cerning, King."
Chorus. " Praise the Lord with harp and tongue."
PART 11. .
Chorus, " Quod, quml ihorbe"—klummel.
Recit. Mr. Braham, "Deeper and deeper still," and Air,
Waft her angels," (Jeplithah)—Handel.
Recitative de Airs, Madame Caradoii Allan, " Deh! Parlate,"
(II Sacrificio d'Abranio)—Cimarosa. •
Chorus, "Jehovah to thee"—Pfeffel.
Trio, Mrs. A. Shaw, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. E. Taylor, "Bow
down thine ear"—Clierubini.
Air, Mrs. Wood, " In sweetest harmony."
Chorus, "O fatal day," (Saul)—Handel.
Air, Mrs. W. Knyvett, "Let the bright seraphim." Trumpet
oblitrato, W.
Harper, (salmons_
Samson) —Handel.
"THE CHRISTIAN'S PRAYER."
A Sacred Cantata, by L. Sphorr; (Translated by Mr. E.
Taylor.)
Chorus, "In heaven, 0 Jehovah !" The Solo parts by Miss
Birch,.Mrs..A. Shaw, Messrs. Bennett and E. Taylor.
Chorus. "For ever hallowed be thy name."
Quartet, Miss Birch, Mrs. A.. Shaw, Messrs. Bennett E.
Taylor, and
Chorus,
‘. Thy tove is every morning
,
Chorus and Quartet, "Th y boundless grace."
Solo,. Mrs. W. Knyvett,. "All gracious Father," and
Chous, " 0 wisdom eternal.
Chorus, "O may thy will be done on earth."
Duet, Mrs. A. Shaw, and Mr. Braham, " 0 clothe our val-
leys," and
Chorus, "Give us we pray our da!ly Messrs. Bennett Shaw,, E. Tay -
lo r, and
Chorus, 0 Lord !by heaVen's brigh,t, armies surrounded."
Solis, MT. 11. Phillips, and Chorus, Lord, thy crea-
tures,owii."
Chorus, "For thou art Lord."
PART 111.
Chorus, " 0 clap your hands.."—Ne9itomm.
Recit. and
air, Mr. H. Phillips, "how Heaven in fullest
glory shone," (Creation)—Haydn.
Martin Luther's h!, inn, Solo, Mr. Braham.. Trumpe
fora
tobliga)rto,
Mr. Harper. Accompanied on the organ, (and arranged
full orchestra) by Sir George Smart, and
Chorus "Great God ! what do 1 see."
Duetto; Madame Caradori Allan and Mrs. W. KniCett,
Qua! airelante."---Marcelto

/f/`7

SELECT[ON FROM HANDEL'S OR.llOlilO IS!:ALL IN EGYPT.
Recit. Mr. Bennett, ‘• Vet Pharaoh still exalted."
Coorni:, He.,t4ave them traikton'es.e.2),
Chorus, " lie:-sent a thicli. darkm)ss."
Recit. (accompanied) Aft is Biret, " Hail holy light."
Chore., " He rebukethAhe. Red Sea'."
Chorus, "He ted thew through tytidggp,,7.=
Cho: " overwhelmed the caters their enetni,s.". •
Duet, Air. H. ”Phillips'and-Mr...E..Taylor, "The Lord is a
man of war.".

Chorus, "t he Lord shall reign."
.111r,Brah-Jtu, ".For the host or Phii•a-oh:"
Chorus, "The Lord shut! reign."
MrS..WhOd, " Sing ve to the Lord."
Chorus, '' The Horse and his Rider." •

The first part opened with the Coronation Anthem, which
was performed with that striking precision and effect that are
to tie expected' from performers who are sir continually in the
habit .of practising: together. Griglielmis' air "Gratiaa agi-
mils," was splendidly given by Maname Caradmi, the clarionet
obligato by Willman, The tine bass voice of Mr. Phillips was
heard to great ndvantag,e in Mozart's." Redemtor maudi Deus,"
which was followed by Mrs. Wood's performance of the re'cita-
'five, "'Alas! I find the fatal toils are set," and the succeeding
air from Handel's Oratorio of Susanna. This was decidedly
the gem of the morning. In the air, "If guiltless blood be your
intent," Mrs. 'Wood displayed a power and pathos which was
'productive of the most thrilling effect. Some comparisons have
lately been made, between the singing of Mrs. Wood and that
of Miss Clara Novello. The public voice will soon decide that
between the cold, unimpassioned tuning of the one, however
correct, and the splendidly effective execution. correct articula-
tion, and above all, deep and overflowing expression of the
other,sthere cannot be a comparison We would not, however.
express a harsh opinion respecting this talented young singer.
We should not be unmindful of her youth, and that her voice is
yet barely arrived at,perfection ; and we believe the fair canta-
trice studiously avoids putting its power to the full test, lest it
should be followed by an injurious result, and in this we think
she acts wisely.. To haVe attained,- however, at the early age
of eighteen, the eminence, as a first-rate and standard vocalist,
which she possesses, is in itself a high encomium. In the esti-
mation of the Liverpool public Mrs. Wood has, since the com-
mencement ,of this festival, risen higher than ever. Mr. H.
Phillips has also become deservedly popular. His execution of
the solo, in the Christian's Prayer, was particularly fine, and in
Haydn's highly descriptive recitative 'and air, from the Crea-
tion, he gave the fullest effect to the beautiful conceptions of the
author. Mr. Brahma was not in good voice, which may be ac-
counted for by his late indisposition, from which, indeed, he is
not yet fully recovered. As he went on in the perfmniance,
however, the huskiness of his tones became less Perceptible, and
he gave Handel's: sublime' recitative-from Jephtha, " Deeper
anu deeper still." in magnificent style. Of Madame Caradori
we may also speak as one who has made a highly favourable
impression. Her great talents have wen her golden opinions
throughout the country, and we can say from experience that
the more she is knowni the more will her brilliant exe-
cution and the high tone, of feeling which accompanies
her performances be appreciated. Mrs. Knyvett is an old
favourite. She sung the music allotted to her in that pure
sweet style for which she is distinguished. Mrs. A. Shaw, with
her enchanting voice, a soft contra alto, is the subject of praise
wherever she appeari. She . executed her part in the extract
frourSolomon in a manner that wcin universal admiration.' We
must not omit to mention Miss Birch arid Mr.,:Bennett, who
both acquitted themselves well.
The choruSes were, without exception, given with a precision
that has left nothing to be desired; and we have
,heard more
than one individual of undoubted taste and judgment, remark
that our county has reason to he"proud of her choristers.