The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-01-11 00:00:00

MONS. JULLIEN'S CONCERTS

Whenever this distinguished professor and his unri-
valled band pay us a visit, we may always make ourselves

certain of a
treat, combining all that musical genius, in-
strumental proficiency, and perfect training, can produce.
Unlike most other bands, the artists composing Jullien's
appear as if they were animated with only one soul—one
will; and these are centred in the conductor, whose ma-
gical baton controls every instrument, every finger, every
breath, as completely as if the living performers were a
machine played upon, not playing. On this occasion,
however, Mons. Jullien has afforded to our musical public
the additional attraction of one of the first, and most
chaste in style, of English vocalists, Miss Dolby, who
has succeeded, by her exquisite singing at these concerts,
in winning for herself the same high appreciation amongst
the classes to whom the Concert Hall is approachable,
which she had already won amongst the more exclusive
audiences of the Philharmonic Concerts.

WEDNESDAY'S CONCERT

The first part opened with the overture to Zampa,
which was most effectively played. This was followed by
a quadrille, " The Standard Bearer," composed by Jul-
lien on Herr Pischek's celebrated melody. This was one
of the finest pieces of the evening. Miss Dolby then
gave a recitative and aria from Mercandante, " Grazie
Clementi Dei," and " A to Reide," with great expression
and taste, displaying in its execution the full resources of
her fine contralto organ. With the mass of the audience,
however, she was more rapturously admired in a very
beautiful little English ballad by F. Mori, " Oh, tell me,
pretty river," which she sung with exquisite taste and
feeling, and commanded a unanimous encore. In the
second part, also, a Swiss melody, by Linley, set to
beautiful words, was allotted to her, sung very charm-
ingly, and heartily encored.
A flute solo by Richardson, very splendidly executed,
narrowly escaped an encore; as did a new polka, " The
Eclipse," composed by Koenig, and the obligato parts
played by himself for the 'first time here, and which we
are certain must become a favourite.

The first part concluded with a new " Swiss Quadrille,"
composed by Jullien during his late tour in Switzerland,
which is certainly one of the most wonderful pieces, whe-
ther as regards instrumentation or the inventiveness dis-
played by the composer, which we ever remember hearing.
The music of the fifth figure is especially wonderful, pour-
traying the sounds which attend the approach of an ava-
lanche in a Swiss valley, its course and its final fall, with
the rejoicings in the village over the escape of the inhabi-
tants from the threatened danger. The imitations given
of the pelting storm, the rustling sound of the sliding
snow, the screams of the eagles and other birds, are most
perfect ; and to the hearer it appears wonderful how they
can be executed.

The second part commences with a selection from " La
Figlia del Reggimento," with solos for Herr Kcenig (cor-
net-a-piston), Herr Sonnenberg (clarionet), and Mons.
Baumann (bassoon), which was finely played, especially
the clarionet solo by Sonnenberg. Jullien's Olga Valse
followed ; and the allegretto from the symphony in F
(Beethoven) came next, and was very finely executed.
The gem of this part was a solo from " La Sonnambula,"
performed by Signor Piatti on the violoncello. This was
a first appearance here ; and certainly we hope it will not
be a last appearance. We had been prepared to expect
much from Signor Piatti ; and our expectations were
much more than realised. A more perfect mastery over a
difficult and unwieldy instrument was never exhibited,
combined with finer taste and judgment ; and the audience,
and even the orchestra, listened throughout with wonder
and delight. The concert concluded with a comic polka,
" The Three Blind Mice," founded upon the well-known
glee of that name.
The attendance was very good, the reserved seats and
body being well filled. We were sorry, however to ob-
serve some vacant room in the side galleries. This, how-
ever, was not the case with respect to

FRIDAY'S CONCERT

which was a bumper, every available seat being occupied
though not inconveniently. The overture this evening
was by Herold, " Le Pre aux Clercs," and was followed
by a quadrille by Jullien, " Belisario," from Donizetti's
opera. Miss Dolby next gave an aria, " Elena! oh tu,
ch'io chiamo," from Rossini's " Lady of the Lake," very

beautifully. 'A
polka from " La Figlia del Reggiaiento,f'
played for the first time, and a very effective composition,
was followed by a solo, in which Mons. Baumann shewed
what music can be drawn, by the aid of vast practice no
doubt, from the bassoon. Miss Dolby again selected a
beautiful English ballad, " Smile, Mary, my Darling,"
which was one of her triumphs. The Swiss Quadrille, of
which we have spoken above, concluded the first part.
The second part commenced with a selection from
" Sonnambula,' with solos for the flute, clarionet, and
cornet-a-piston, which were beautifully executed by
Richardson, Sonnenberg, and Koenig. A beautiful valse
a deux temps, by Koenig, followed ; after which, Miss
Dolby again delighted the audience with " the Swiss
Girl," which, as on the former night, was encorced.
The andante Haydnn's " Surprise Symphony" was next
performed ; and, after a solo on the contra basso, by
Mons. Anglois, the concert concluded with Koenig's new
polka, " the Eclipse."
In remarking upon these most successful concerts, we
ought not to omit paying a tribute of praise to the mem-
bers of the band generally for their efficiency throughout.