The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

PHILITABAIONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT.—On the evening
of Tuesday last, a grand concert, chiefly instrumental, was
given by the Orchestral Union of London, under the
auspices of the Philharmonic Society. The programme
was a promising one, including " The Mendelssohn Festi-
val," a selection of the most admired pieces from the works ,
of that great composer, besides a collection from the com-
positions of the first masters, foreign and English. In-
viting as the promised musical banquet was, the per-
formance fell nothing short of the high expectations held
out. The Orchestral Union, though not a very numerous
body, contains a sufficiency of members to enable it to do
justice to most kinds of classical music, apart from the
full grandeur of the " Oratorio ;" while the individual
1 talent and careful• study, and the combined excellence
of the " Union" as a whole, confer on it the ability of
performing those pieces to which its members adapt it
with a degree of excellence rarely to be met. Such a
combination of attractions, therefore, justified the expecta-
tion of a numerous audience the only just expectation of
the evening which we regret to say was unfulfilled. The
hall was scarcely a third part occupied, and it presented a
lamentable blank, so far as the stalls and boxes were con-
cerned. If the members of the Orchestral Una could
content themselves with a realization of the poet's wish,
" Fit audience let me find, though few," they had ample
reason to be satisfied ; the auditory consisting of a fashion-
able as well as a .discriminating assemblage of ladies and
gentlemen. The concert commenced with the overture to
Oberon," which was executed with a delicacy, a precision
and an expression which did ample justice to the composi-
tion, and vindicated the title of the performers to the high
encomiums bestowed on them by metropolitan critics. Of
Mrs. Alexander Newton, the vocalist of the evening, who
had previously appeared before a Liverpool audience, it is
unnecessary to say more than that she is a highly accom-
plished singer, combining with her musical powers a
pleasingness of demeanour which renders her a general
favourite; this was shown by the spontaniety of applause,
and the warmth of the encores she elicited, tributes ren-
dered scarcely less to her winning manner than to her
powers of vocal execution. Her voice is possessed of great
flexibility, and, particularly in the upper notes, it is singu-
larly clear and pleasing. The first instrumental solo, Arne's
stirring aria, " The soldier tired," was given by Mr. T.
Harper on the trumpet, in a style which proclaimed his
entire mastery over the instrument as regards expression
and execution. He made his audience feel that, in his
hands, the trumpet is indeed an instrument capable of
" Repeating

- -
The song whose breath
May lead to death,
But never to retreating."
His tones, thrilling and mellow, took the house by surprise,
and the performance was rapturously encored. In Weber's
"Concert Stuck," as a piano-forte solo, Mr. Cusins proved
himself to be a finished artist, his performance combining
prompt and powerful fingering with fineness of tone and
brilliant execution. The second part of the concert was a
gem of choice, and admirably displayed. Its opening
symphony was marked by exquisite tenderness and ap-
propriateness of expression, the sentiment of the music
being brought out in charming relief. A prominent and
delightful feature of the part, and indeed of the evening's
performance, was the " Solo Concerto" on the violin, by
Mr. H. C. Cooper, a native artist of rare excellence. His
bowing and fingering are of the most finished delicacy, his
tone and expression charming, and his execution of even
the most difficult passages is distinct and marked by fine
taste, and a certainty of delivery ; this latter quality was
beautifully evinced in his transitions from silver-toned
harmonics of ravishing sweetness to the lowest notes of
his instrument. The flute fantasia, by Mr. R. S. Pratten,
gave pleasing evidence of his studied skill in stopping, and
of his fine embouchure—why, however, should we particu-
larize where all was excellent? The combined instrumenta-
tion was as perfect in its unity of effect, as if it had been
but the sound of one instrument, while the richness and
variety of its harmony were full and flowing. As a con-
ductor, Mr. Alfred Mellon displayed much talent and
musical science ; and the whole concert was a treat of such
sweetness and beauty, that we hope at no distant day the
members of the London Orchestral Union will be induced
again to visit Liverpool, to meet with, we trust, a larger
audience and a more gratifying welcome than has been
accorded to them on this their first appearance among us.
THEATRE ROYAL.—During the past week the boards
of this theatre have been graced by the performances of
Mr. G. V. Brooke, a gentleman, who, as a tragedian, hav-
ing acquired a respectable status in this country, made a
professional trip to America, where he met with a most
favourable recognition of his talents ; and whence he has
returned, with a reputation which, like the " tide in the
affairs of men," by him " taken at the flood," has led " on
to fortune," or at all events, to the means of achieving it.
Since his re-appearance in London, his performances have
been greeted with a manifestation of favour rarely
accorded to even the highest merit, and, till his time,
hardly even realized by brilliant genius. In the course of
the past week he has appeared as Master Walter in the
" Hunchback"; as Virginius, in the tragedy of that name ;
as Claude Melnotte, in the " Lady of Lyons;" as Hamlet ;
and as Sir Giles Overreach. It is but fair to admit we
have not seen his performance of all those characters;'
still we have seen enough of him in several of them, to
justify us in adhering to the judgment formed prior to his
transatlantic journey—that'while he is an actor with many
excellencies, he is deficient in many qualities, indispensable
to a tragedian of the first rank. He is an extreme actor—
one who seems resolved to play a conspicuous part in every
situation—unable, or unwilling, to lose the slightest oppor-
tunity of creating a sensation—hence his acting is defec-
tive in that light and shade, in those contrasted effects,
which give truthfulness of character, while they stamp the
impress of intellectual excellence upon dramatic represen-
tation. As a practical illustration, we may instance his
delineation of the character of Claude Melnotte : when
first introduced, the hero of the play, has achieved, what
after all, is but an ordinary affair—the attainment of a
trivial prize, in some rural competition. This common-
place success, in the estimation of Mr. Brooke, seems to
warrant the simple-minded though aspiring peasant to
swagger into his mother's cottage with all the ostentation
and parade of a thorough-paced melo-dramatic hero. This,
it may be averred, is but a trifling fault, and we admit
that taken per se it is so; but remembering the adage ex
uno disce omnes, it assumes a more imposing aspect.
Yet in many other points of the character he manifested
very considerable discrimination, and an amount of pas-
sionate earnestness and expression not lightly to be esti-
mated. In the scenes where he figures as a prince he was
peculiarly happy—easy, composed, and gentlemanly—qua-
lities he must be admitted to possess—and frequently dis-
plays in very fair degree ; the drawback to his complete
success being a perpetual and restless straining after effect.
Could he cure himself of this habit, think less of his
own appearance, and more of the character he is enacting,
his impersonations would be more pleasing as well as
more generally interesting. His elocution is effective,
and although marred to some extent by the habit to which
we have referred, it is on the whole good. In all the cha-
racters we have seen him act, he has displayed numerous
excellences, yet none of them have been free from the
faults alluded to. The performances of Miss Cathcart,
along with Mr. Brooke, have been generally pleasing and
natural ; her Ophelia was in all respects a highly credit-
able performance. Similar commendation is also due to
Mr. Lorraine ; his represention of the Ghost in " Hamlet,"
although a little whining in the elocution, was neverthe-
less a piece of good acting. We perceive that Mr. Brooke
is engaged to appear at the Royal Amphitheatre, and will
perform there every evening this week. An operatic com-
pany, concerning whom fame speaks favourably, com-
menced an engagement at the Theatre Royal last night,
and during their stay will perform a series of the leading
Italian and German operas.
THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE has been enjoying a sort
of saturnalia during the benefits. As those performances
are not unfrequently addressed more to the private friends
of the benefit recipients than to the general public, remark
on them is little called for, unless, indeed, we were to wit-
ness an attempt at trangressing the bounds which are
understood to circumscribe a place of public amusement
and resort.

Tim MAIL STEAMER AMERICA, Captain Shannon,
sailed from the Mersey, on Saturday, for Halifax and Bos-
ton, with the usual mails and 150 passengers. The steamer
Baltic, Captain Comstock, will sail from Liverpool for New
York to-morrow (Wednesday), with the mails, &c.
THE PACKET-SIIIP EtrDOCIA, from Liverpool, arrived
at St. John's, N. 8., on the 10th ult., all well, except three
out of eight entire horses, shipped by the New Brunswick
Agricultural Society, which killed themselves during a
tremendous hurricane on the 12th September, the gale
continuing several days. The Eudocia afterwards passed
several disabled vessels.

ST. PAUL'S SCHOOLS, PRESTON.—On Sunday last, the
annual sermons were preached in St. Paul's Church,
Preston, by the Rev. Joseph Bardsley, M.A., of Liverpool,
in aid of the funds for supportino. the Sunday, Night, In-
fant, and Deaf and Dumb Schools belonging to the Church,
in which about 1200 scholars are in course of instruction.
The amount collected after the two sermons was upwards
of £32.—Preston Pilot.
WASTE LANDS.—The commissioners for the district of
West Derby held their annual meeting on Monday last
week, at the office of the county Magistrates, in Clayton-
square. The chair was occupied by Mr. T. Littledale.
From the report it appeared that there was an amount of
£490 in the hands of the commissioners. Grants were
made in aid of the public schools within the district, and
also for the improvement of roads.
SOUTH AMERICAN AND GENERAL STEAM COMPANY.—
The Lusitania, the third vessel built for this company by
Mr. Laird, is now ready for sea, having had steam up and
the engines at work in dock. It is expected that she will
make a trial trip in the course of this week. The Lusi-
tania is a sister ship in model to the Brazileira, that has,
on her first trip, made the quickest passage on record to
the Brazils ; and there is reason to expect that the Lusi-
tania will equal, if not surpass,
s ahteurr cdoanysnoirtghitntshpeeildre.mises
SINGULAR ROBBERY.—
of Messrs. A. Tabrum and Co., tobacco-manufacturers,
sTilattheesboaffrnt-hsetrrtt,tweThre
eetnitiferf,cels, bayfterremgooinvinggthsroomuegh eight
fthhet
floors, decamped with only Os. in coppers, leaving a valu-
able stock of tobacco, snuff, and cigars untouched. The
ago,prem vs es were entered in a similar manner a few months
n only 3s. in coppers were taken, the stock being
when
again allowed to remain as before. No attempt was made
OVERLAYING.—fanYtes, tseixrdma
sr noilnd ,
naabnoi
eudt
upon the safen.
Yonmtho
rhalaEl ife-Enp st
iTntßes e2FvYelood,
son of Peter Flood, residing in Belle-
court, Belle-street, Toxteth-park, was found dead in bed
by his mother's side. It appears that the father, about
five, rose to go to his work, ,leaving the deceased and
another child, two years old, in bed with their mother, who
took deceased close to her side and fell asleep. On waking
about half-past seven she found deceased still quite close
to her, but very cold, On further examination the child
was found to be dead, the appearances leaving no room for
doubt that it had been suffocated.
COURT OF PASSAGE.—At the conclusion of the business
on Saturday, as the Assessor was about to retire, the little
monomaniac, the Miss Flite of the Liverpool law courts,
entered the witness-box, and, addressing his Hononr in a
shrill, cracked voice, said : "I hope you will go to York
assizes, and tell all the other gentlemen to get done with
their business. It's now twenty-seven years since I began
to fight for my rights. I think it is a long, long time. It
is twenty-three years, come midsummer, since possession
was to be delivered up to me by the law of the land, and I
should like every man to clear his conscience." Having
delivered herself of her customary address, she bowed to
the Assessor, and bustled out of court.