The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-11-28 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA

AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, the grand opera, after
dragging on a tedious, lifeless, and profitless existence, for
some time, came to a premature and untimely end last
week, since which time the house has been closed.
Mu. ISAAC'S CONCERT.-Our talented townsman, Mr.
B. R. Isaac, will give a classical concerl to-morrow even-
ing, in Rime's Music-hall, Bold-street, on which occasion he
will be assisted by Madame Rudersdorff, and Herr Molique
and Signor Piatti. He will further have the aid of Mr.
IT.N. Lewis. The programme includes selections from the
compositions of Mozart, Beethoven, Spoilt., &c., &c.

•
MR. HENRY RUSSELL'S CONCERT.—From an adver-
tisement, it will be seen that this popular vocalist is to
give a series of entertainments in the Concert-hall, Lord
Nelson-street, commencing on Monday evening next. His
programme is, as usual, attractive, and he will no doubt
be welcomed by numerous auditories.
AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, the house, during the
past week, has been nightly crowded, chiefly attracted by
the fascinations of Senora Perea Nena and the celebrated
troupe of Spanish dancers. The performances of these
artistes, particularly those of the Senora, are characterised
by great spirit and agility, some delicacy, and no small
amount of graceful action. Their style is lively and
striking, and affords much gratification to the multitudes
who assemble to enjoy it. Besides the attractions offered
by the Spanish corps de ballet, the members of the
regular company have also been performing favourite
dramas, with the usual talent and success.
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY—ORATORIO OP THE " MES-
SIA.II."—On Tuesday evening, Handel's sublime oratorio,
the " Messiah," was given in the Philharmonic-hall, in a
style of completeness, beauty, and grandeur, seldom wit-
nessed in the provinces. The chief vocalists were Madame
Clara Novello, and Mesdames Enderssohn and Lockey ;
together with Messrs. Sims Reeves, Lockey, and Henry
Phillips, aided by the full band and chorus of the society,
numbering fully 250 executants. The performance was
open to the public at the usual rates of admission ; and
owing, no doubt, to the inclemency of the night, the hall
was not so well filled as the attractions offered would have
fully warranted expectation of; nevertheless, it was well
attended by a highly-intelligent and fashionable audience,
who, by their judiciously-thned plaudits, testified their
approbation more energetically than was quite consistent
with the sacred nature of the entertainment. The ora-
torio has been so frequently performed, and so lately, in
Liverpool, by nearly the same artistes, that minute criti-
cism on its qualities, or on the style in which it was
executed, is superfluous. The ladies, generally, acquitted
themselves in admirable style; Madame Novello, as usual,
gave her recitatives with touching eloquence, and sang the
airs incidental to her portion of the oratorio with much
grace and beauty. In the charming recitative and air,
, He was cut off," Mrs. Enderssohn displayed the fine feel-
ing and artistic taste for which her style of vocalisation,
in the higher departments of classic music, is so pre-
eminently distinguished. Her rendering of the expres-
sive music " How beautiful," was likewise delightful. In
the hands of Mrs. Lockey, the wonderfully pathetic and
exquisitely charming air, " He was despised," was indeed
a gem of musical tenderness and beauty : she also did very
great, if not full justice, to the mellifluous beauties of
"He shall feed his flock." Mr. Sims Reeves was, as usual,
sweet, tasteful, and expressive in his singing, although, to
some extent, defective in his articulation ; still, he dis-
played the compass and quality of his fine voice with great
and telling effect. In giving the air "O death, where is
thy sting ?" Mr. Lockey was.chaste, powerful, and artistic,
and in general executed the music allotted him with
distinguished ability. Our old favourite, Phillips, was in
excellent trim, and delivered his portion admirably. The
steady and self-possessed execution of the music by this
artistic veteran was charming. The choruses, on the
whole, went well, and indicated care as well as culture.
The instrumental portion of the oratorio was also excellent,
and the performance, as a whole, constituted a treat of the
highest order.

THE GREAT COMET.—The very splendid and remark-
able comet observed in the years 104, 392, 682, 975
"n in 1264, and in 1550, was announced for re-appear-
ance in 1848; but it has hitnerto failed to appear. We
are now informed that a celebrated and accurate computer,
31. 13omme, of Middleburgh, has gone over all the pre-
vious calculations, and made a newestimate of the separate
and combined action of all:the planets upon this comet, of
three hundred years ; and the result of this severe labour
gives the arrival of this rare 2,nd renowned visitor in
August 1858, with an uncertainty.of two years, more or
less. Between 1856. and 1860, therefore, we may hope to
see the great lumma7 which caused Charles V. to
abdicate.