The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-09-04 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

OPENING or THE NEW PHILHARMONIC HALL.

In proceeding to the task of giving a critical notice of
the proceedings of a week, which must ever dwell in the
memory of the musical public of Liverpool, we feel almost
Overwhelmed with the profusion and varied richness of
the feast which has been spread before us for comment.
Any single performance, morning oratorio or evening
concert, would furnish ample matter for more than the
space at our disposal ; and we shall therefore be pardoned
if we restrict ourselves to a somewhat general review,
picking up, for especial admiration as we proceed, a few
of the most brilliant gems and flowers scattered by genius
so unsparingly in our path. The first subject of comment
must be the qualities, and magnificent adaptation for its
object of the Philharmonic Hall itself, with respect to
which we feel bound to add a few words to our last week's
commendation.
The most impassive person, entering this noble hall for
the first time, when in the full blaze of its clear transpa-
rent. light, and filled with a galaxy of beauty and
on,
might have been excused if he had permitted imagination
to run riot with his pen, and somewhat exceeded reality
in his description. Such, however, has not been the case on
on this occasion on our part, orthat of any of our contempo-
raries whose remarks have come before us. Opinion is uni-
versal in admiration of the ensemble of the hall, as characte-
rised in its arrangements throughout by the puresttaste, and
possessed of acoustic qualities of the most perfect descrip-
tion. There is not a point within it from which the most
delicate sound from the orchestre does not reach the ear.
Not a whisper of song, not a note even the nearest to
silence, is lost. Yet, with this exquisite acoustic quality,
the full volume of the loudest chorus does not fatigue.
And it is with the light as it is with the sound. There is
nothing to check the even distribution of both throughout
every portion of the hall ; not a shadow anywhere. We
feel as if we sate in the uninterrupted light of a full moon
overhead, rather than in the artificial light of gas, how-
ever excellently adapted. By day the effect is equally
perfect. These are not our own opinions alone. They
are those of the various London critics who have attended
the festival, and who give the palm to this building over
every other in Europe. They are those of the whole of
the performers, who have expressed their unqualified
delight with it ; and were put on record by the Queen of
Song herself, when, on being asked to affix her signature
to the society's book of autographs, she wrote, " Dans la
salle la plus belle de Chante en Europe.—Guilia Grisi."
Never, in fact, was unanimity greater upon any subject,
unless, perhaps, the feeling of indignant reprobation
which has been excited by the unworthy attempt of a
contemporary to rob its talented architect of his well-
earned fame, and to mar the success of the festival, by
insinuating doubts of its security of construction. We
doubt whether there was an individual amongst the
audiences throughout the whole week to whose mind,
during some portion of the performances, this petty effort
to revenge an imagined slight did not cause a feeling of
indignation, or a smile of pity.
Another object of general remark and eulogy has been
the excellence throughout of the chorus. The metropo-
litan critics have expressed themselves most enthusiasti-
cally upon the subject ; and an eminent London member
of the profession declared to ourselves that not only were
himself and his brother musicians surprised to meet with
so proficient a body in Liverpool, but that such a one was
never assembled together in the metropolis itself, or in
the kingdom. It is only just that, for the preeminence of
Liverpool, credit should be given where credit is justly
due ; and to do this we shall have to glance back a few
years, and recal the musical recollections of our readers.
An efficient chorus, containing such voices and precision
of execution, cannot be collected in a day, or in a year.
The time was when our town was totally unprovided with
even the nucleus, or the outlines of a chorus; and for the
treble portion of the chorus, at. our musical meetings, we
had to draw almost entirely upon the neighbouring towns.
In fact we had, some twenty-five years ago, to send to a
Mrs. Shepley, of Manchester, to lead our trebles, and
afterwards we had a treble major, a man named Emmett.
In looking through the list of parties forming the chorus,
we observe a large portion of them, whom we know to
have been trained by the Festival Choral Society, under
the direction of Mr. George Holden, whose talents in this
department are well known, and many of them members
at this moment—some quite capable of leading a chorus.
Many of the juniors have been trained under the Philhar-
monic Society. In glancing our eye over the orchestra, we
recognised some of the most proficient members of the
Choral Society leading each rank, or placed at intervals of
some half dozen singers, acting as leaders to the less pro-
ficient ; and to this circumstance we attribute much of
the success of their performances on the present occasion.
With respect to the instrumental arrangements, we feel
confident that, equally with the vocal, we possess within
ourselves ample talent, upon which we regret that the
committee did not draw much more largely. We do not
object to the introdction of the most eminent amongst the
metropolitan artistes. Such men as Sainton and Blagrove
(first violins,) Watkins and Loder(second violins,) Howell
and Bottesini (double bass,) Barrett (oboe,) Lazarus (cla-
rionet,) Prospere (orphicleide,) and others, give a charac-
ter to any meeting in which they are engaged ; but we
cannot see that any necessity exists for the vast preponder-
ance of the London over the local talent engaged. Of
first violinists, for example, we had fourteen from London,
and only six local players. Yet Liverpool possesses many
players of first-rate excellence, superior, in fact, to several
of those by whom they were on this occasion superseded.
We may suggest the names of Goodall, not unknown to
London fame, Mr. Cummins, long a leader of the Choral
Society, Mr. H. Aldridge, lately leading violin of the
Philharmonic concerts, and others. Amongst the other
instrumentalists we were sorry to see omitted many of
admitted talent. Amongst those we may mention—Flute :
Mr. Percival or Mr. Fisher ; oboe : Mr. Sorge or Mr.
Scruton ; clarionets : Mr. Leonard or Mr. P. Stubbs ;
horns : Mr. Darrie or Mr. C. H. Thompson ; trombone :
Mr. H. Roberts. All these artistes are of admitted excel-
lence on their several instruments.
The committee undoubtedly committed an error here,:to
the great annoyance and injury of many old friends, and
ungracious in a society which has for its object the creation
in our town of a higher taste for music—an object which
certainly is to be greatly advanced by givingencouragement
to native talent in every department. This error may be
attempted to be repaired by increased engagements on
future occasions. But this was the occasion with which
every musician would have been proud to have had his
name associated ; and such an occasion may not occur
again. We proceed to notice the performances of the
week seriatim.
In our last publication we were obliged to leave incom-
plete our notice of Monday evening's selection. The se-
cond part opened with the " Fest 0 werture," composed
by Benedict for the occasion, which contains passages and
movements of great beauty, and is rather elaborate in
composition. Alboni sang, in her unequalled style and
Hummell's " Tyrolienne," and this time re-
sponded to the enthusiastic encore with which it was re-
ceived, substituting, however, the " Brindisi," from
" Lucretia," which was accepted by the audience with a
burst of applause. In the well-known Scotch air, " Gin
a body," Jetty Treffz disclosed her forte as a ballad singer.
It was very archly sung, and loudly applauded. The in-
troductory chorus in " Guillaume Tell" was one of the
treats of the evening, and was faultlessly executed.
Tuesday's morning performance was the masterpiece
of Mendelssohn— " Elijah"—which was never so per-
fectly produced in Liverpool. The principal vocalists were
Madame Viardot Garcia,Miss Catherine Hayes, the Misses
Williams, Messrs. Lockey, Benson, Machin, and Herr
Carl Formes. The great feature of this performance was
the splendid singing of Viardot Garcia, who far more than
justified the opinions which we formed of her from her
singing on Monday evening. Her declamation of the
recitatives in the part of Jezebel was splendid. She
seemed to throw her whole soul into the subject, and
seized every telling point with the true instinct of genius.
Not less beautiful were her rendering of some of the airs,
and her singing in the trio, " Lift thine eyes," with Miss
Hayes and Miss M. Williams, which piece was rapturously
encored. The beautiful air, " Oh, rest in the Lord," was
delightfully sung by her, and also encored. The impression
made by Madame Viardot Garcia throughout this oratorio
was, that she is full of the fire of genius, and capable of
feeling as well as of executing the divine conceptions of
this great composer. Her voice is a very fine one, with
the exception of some of the upper notes of her compass,
and she is evidently a thorough musician. The singing of
Herr Carl Formes in " Elijah" was most meritorious,
and his declamation especially was very excellent. The
fine air, " Is not His word like fire ?" elicited hearty ap-
plause. Our first impression, however, with respect to
his capabilities as a great singer, were confirmed on this
occasion and the subsequent opportunities we have had of
hearing him. His lower notes are not fully brought out;
and in impassioned strains, delivered in his middle notes,
he is addicted to shouting a little. There is a want, too,
of flexibility in his execution. Miss Catherine Hayes made
her debut in the " Elijah," and made a most favourable
impression upon the audience. Her rendering of her part
was throughout careful and judicious. Of the perform-
ance of the choral parts we cannct add to the following
tribute paid by the London Times, which was fully de-
served :—" On the whole, the execution was all that could
be desired. The Liverpool choristers are admirably
trained, and remarkable alike for numbers, strength, and
efficiency. The alto voices are the weakest, the basses are
splendid, the sopranos and tenors very good. Some of
the choruses went better, others as well, as we have ever
heard them go. We may instance the " Behold, the Lord
God passed by," and the "He shall perish," in the
second part, and the " Thenks be to God," (which was
encored.), in the first. These were rendered to perfection;
no choir in England could have better understood or
expressed them. The band was splendid throughout."
On Tuesday evening the concert consisted of a selection,
commencing with Mendelssohn's fine opera of "
Cave." The appearance of the great basso, Lablache,
was the feature of this concert ; and, on his presenting
himself, he was received with enthusiasm. Another
attraction was the first appearance of Ernst. The first
piece given by Lablache was the " Dream of Magnifico,"
from the " Cenerentola," which was encored. The mag-
nificent voice of the veteran is still unimpaired ; and his
rich powers of comedy were never displayed to greater
effect than on this occasion. Mario's performance of
Beethoven's " Adelaide" was beautiful. His dulcet
tones fell upon the ear "like the sweet south breathing
upon a bank of violets," or a rivulet murmuring over its
gravelly bed, fringed with waving alders. He was encored
with enthusiasm, and responded by giving " L'Auge si
pure," from Donnizetti's " Favorita." Viardot was great
in the " Sonnambula" finale, which was enthusiastically
encored ; and her Spanish Songs were as delightful as the
divine Jenny's Swedish songs. The second part was not
a happy one, being attended with some mishaps. Halle
could not give the piano-forte solo put down for him,
owing to the instrument being too flat, but substituted
two other.pieces, which were finely played ; Grisi's " fatal