The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-02-19


Ifthis be the sum total of the defence, it is
weak indeed. Ii might answer II addressed TO
the people of Morocco or A gers in the palmy
days OF their pira,icai prosperity, but ad-
dressed to the people of a christian land-to a
people that acknowledge the obligations of
common honesty-it is little less than an in
suit.
MADAME BIsHoP's ConCERT.-We regard
this as oae of the most delightful musical fes'
rivals we have ever had in this city. We never
saw Madame Bishop in such high feather, look
ing so well, so full of life, go animated SO
beautiful, or in such admirable voice. we
have always heard that soprano voice was
one of the frailesi end most delicate oil human
possessions. 1t seems not TO have proved SO
in her case for her tones were, on Thursday
night, sweeter, more liquid. more flexible, and,
bv CONSEQUENCE. more delicious than we ever
heard them before.
We have already alluded 10 the inimitable
sweetness with which Madame Bishop sings
| the simple ballads Of her native language. To
saw that we have never heard them sung so
we'll as she sings them, were to do her but
scanty justice. We cannot bear to hear them
sung by any one else for weeks after we have
heard her. 1t is said by musicians of high
standing that the simple ballad calls forth true
genius in q vocalist more than any other mu-
may not require so much execution, and, of
course, it does not. But the soul, the spirit,
the mind, must be present and pervading, or
the effort to move is unavailing. If such be
the test of art, Madame Bishop has reached its
summit. Who can sing "the last rose Of sum
mer," that emanation from the most highly
musical mind hat ever brealhed into verse
the soul of music, as she sings it Who can
SO thoroughly comprehend the author, through
the medium, not of the understanding, but of
the hearth Who can SO apply render the very
soul of his thought, the very essence of his
conception, the very union of music and poe
try in an indissoluble bond?
We confess we are questionable enough TO
prefer-greaty prefer-Mudame BIS "Home"
10 that Of Jenny Lind. II was sung with
perfect comprehension ofall the feelings which
are reused by that little Anglo-Saxon word
feelings which we are very apt to think are not
altogether understood SO well by the msjori y
of the world as they are by those whose native
language is English. 1t was sung with the
advantage ola pure delightful Eng lsh pronun-
citation. Ii was sung by beautiful English
woman. 1t was sung with liquid melt DIV OF
tone, which if not inimilable, was certainly
also, "John Anderson my 10 John" with inilni-
table paIhos. In the several parts which she
sang, Of more artistic character, the prevail
iDg qualities OF her style, perfect knowledge OF
the meaning of her author, high cultivation,
aad full appreciation Of all The resources Of
art, were equally apparent. Bat it was her
English melodies that touched and led capti, e
the general heart.
Signor Severe Strini took the audience as
much by surprise as clap If thunder in a
clear sky. He came here, not heralded by
by fame, not struggling with puff.reputa,iou
which he found it almost impossible TO SUD.
port. He had, apparently, taken no pains to
fill the hruse, by giving cut great promises Of
what he was 10 do. He burst upon the sud
ence, in the full glory OF a superb basso-a vo.
calist of the very first class. His powerful
voice is as rl h, as full, and as soft as the ,ow
er tones OF the organ, and the same time it is
| as flexible as the NEST delicate tenor. lie il
not mere autonaton. He is, on the contrary
man OF action in his line. has tall percep-
ton OF everythng he undertakes, and enters
| into his work with heart, soul, voice, ewes and
gesture. He is, in one word, an admirable &c.
tor. His "Largo al F'acsotua" has neve,
been equalIed in this city, save, probably, by
Belletli. He seems to be very young, aud will
yet cut figure on the bsards of the Italia
Opera.
Mr. L. Bishop possesses a voice of singular
sweetness and power. In these particulars we
DO not know that he is surpassed by any tenor
we nave ever heard. He would be esteemed
great acquisition, we should think, TO any
opera troupe. He has an archness of manner.
which at once puts him on good terms with
ms audience. and betrays the fact tina, an inex-
haustible fund of humor, which he finds il i'm.
possible TO repress, turks at the bottom of a
somewhat dry manqer. He elected shouts OF
laughter by song of Lovers, "Mother. he's
going away and the house forced him to sing
il over again.
MIR. Bochsa presided at the piano, with his
accustomed skill. We have never heard sucb
an accompaniment as Bochsa plays, nor do
we believe there is such musical director m
the continent.
The House was badly filed on Thurs1sv
night. There were several meetings of d;ffsr-
ent kinds in the city, and more than one social
gathering, which took off numbers who wou,d
Otherwise have teen present. Moreover.
though many have heard Madame Bishop, we
doubt whether there was any general anlicipa-
ton OF the extraordinary .atuactiveness which
The concert presented. Let us hope that things
will be different tonight. The bin is splen.
did one-not at all inferior TO that OF THURSDAY
right.
:. DEATH OF GEN. MCNEIL General vii.
lam Gibbs Mcneil died on Wednesday. in
brooklyn lnthe SD year ofhis age. He was
formerly connected with The Uniied States
army, but for some years past had withdraw
| rom military service, ta devote himself n
Fa