The New York herald., 1862-02-10
THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.

Cnsiderine that February is one d the worst months
sthe year for theatrical business and that the hnsnces
II the country are In unsettled and ticklish con-
dnon the different places Of public amusement continue
20 be wonderfully well attended II has often been said
that period great public anxiety proptous to the
interests managers and the experience of the present
season would go establish the truth Of the assertion
We do not recoect time when there have been moro
theatres open or when all have been doing so wen The
apprshensions with which the entered upon
not only TO have been entirely disspated but
have produced reaction in the opposite extreme. Peo.
pie never appeared disposed to amuse themselves
to ind in present enjoyment compensation for the f
ture which the tax gaherers visits may bring This
% all right. Whatever alarmsts may say 10 the
ary there is really nothing in the prospect before US TO
deter community blessed with such resources as we
possess from indugng the rational pleasures TO which
accustomed The political Puritanism which would
own down liberal patronage of the theatres just ss II
seeks to condemn the hospalites Of the Presidential
mansion i'll timed and ndecorogs, is akin to the roll
gious fanatcism which taboos theatrical ainusements
of every kind. We therefore regard II as satisiac-
tory evidence only Of he confidence which pervades
all classes as the prompt solution of our domestic
and foreign difficulties, but Of tho triumph OF common
sense views humbug and can't, that people do
not suffer themselves TO be depressed because
visited by rebellion because foreign governments
"
The present brief of opera drawing clo~c
the scnnambula winding it up to- night at the New
York Academy. kellogg has been playing during the
week in her best characters-yoletta Lady Henretta
and Linda Thistaented young artist gaining rapidly
in public estimation Each performance Of hers extibts
evidences Of unremttpg study and of desire to perfect
herself to the highest point Of which her gifts are sus
ceptibe. OF course, when such praiseworthy dispo
sition exists, the result must manifest itself continued
Improvement.
Madame de lussan has accepted Mr.. Grans offers and
will make her debut the first night the next season.
some three weeks hence, in either the Iavcr.sa or
" ErnanL" She is acquiring, under Soda, whose
raining Miss Kellogg much Of her dramatic sue
cess the stage knowledge without which the NEST natu
rally graceful tyro would appear awkward We under
stand that he is favoraby impressed with her histronc
capabilities; and If these oay mp TO the level of
her fresh and beautiful voice, in the highly dramatic
parts In which her forte appears lie, brilliant sue
cess may be anticipated for her. Madame de Lnssan
belongs to family of musicians, she derived the
early portion of her own musical education from such
masters as Ponchard Carafa and Romagnesi the exqu
site Italian ballad composer. She pupil Of what is
called Che Rossnian school, and her voice "a soprano
giusto) rs well adapted to its flowing melodies.
At Wailack three of the old standard comedies The
Poor Gentleman " "Town and Country" and "Spced the
Plough, were revived week the houses being excel
lent on each occasion. On Wednesday aud Thursday
Bourcicasits comedy of The Irish Heress, and Mrs.
Centivre's comedy Of 1.-The Wonder win be PLAYED for
the first time. Tonight "speed the Plough"
Niblos has been doing capital business during the
week, the Hacket nights being especially productive
This evening Mr.. Davenport plays Hamlet, of the
most artistic and finished impersonaons OF this gifted
actor. On Tuesday Mr. Hacket will appear 10 three of
his most popular characters and Friday Mr. Daven-
will att cti,,eu
gramme. "Ihe Colleen Bawu'' is active preparation,
but the night OF its production as yet fixed New
scenery Is being painted for it, and great efforts
are being made 70 insure for it long and prosperous
run.
The ness of Miss Laura Keene has n,crfered with the
substitution Of her prom isod piece for Our Anne
rcan Cousin, The latter will be played few nights
longer to afford time for the fair manageress regain
strength
The joint attractions Of Mr. j. g Clakes droleries and
the Terpschcean feats f the beautiful Cubas crowd
Winter Garden nightly. This evening Mr.. Clarke plays
Aminadab Sleek, in the Serious Family" to be follow
cd by the Spanish dancers ballet advertisement and
shree of the {" Naiad Queen"
The first Of the Gotschalk concerts takes place OH
tuesday next at Niblos Saloon To say that this even,
Is looked forward TO with than ordinary
20 underrate the curiosity and eagerness which exist
the subject. The number OF those who devote them
selves 20 the study Of the piano great and Of those
who acquire distinction it small that il is un
interesting, at moment when American claimant is
about to demand fresh recognition hands TO take
= broad, comprehensive glance at tho qualities which
constitute eminence in pianist. And to begin should
not be forgotten that pansts divided into two dis
tinct classes-namey those who compose. and those
who lacking the creative facult merely executan
Whist Is almost superuous add that in this category
The latter S inferior to the former it should be for
gotten that the executants, being by far the
ous, are also by all odds the more camorous and difficult
10 silence. 1t may be added too that composer the
piano not he who devises few variations opera
theme, with borrowed material manufactures fanta
sa for the salon. To the title he genius,
and that Instrumental sdsptabil!ty which enables him
put his ideas INTO FORMS peculiarly If exclusive
~ applicable 10 the piano. and finding their best
pretaton hcrc If turn to the voluminous catalogues
Of modern music, shall find that this higher sense
there are but three four panss who by the original
~ and charm Of their ideas and the novelty Of the
forms Of their compositions, deserve to be regarded
composers Thalberg, who fruitful in ingenious
bnations and the sklfu production Of sorority iszt,
who has attempted and occasionally with marked sue
to transfer to the piano OF tho strong coors Of
tho orchestra; Chopin who by his genius prorundity
and originality Of ideas the superior Of both,
and has left impcrishable models for ell who succeed
Aim-tssese are fecoehzeu ndsters Aiter tbem VIC
find immense family Of writer's with ideas more or
less crude and tendencies less pronounced to
initiate one or other Of the model triad. Thai
berg in particular has had his pinons pucke Of aoet
every feather which he scared fame Art rofcshes
itself at unstirred fountains in the New World II s
hardly surprising that Mr.. Gotscbak who has JUS, re-
turned TO is the only Of The really prolific for
The piano who possesses distinct individuality and who
has given TO the world something besides hash Of opera
tunes At the age Of twelve years he had composed tho
greater part OF those which subsequently gave
him European reputation. dozen years have passed
since we read for the rt time in the French journals
analysis Of his talent pianist and Of his genius
composer. Great meu like Berlioz Adam and Halcvy
spoke for the obscure American and their do nol
quickly die on the national Thoy directed the atten
lion Of the musical world 10 the attractive novelty Of his
forms, the poetic beauty Of his ideas aud the crysaza
lion of the whole in harmonies that we're piqtl,.,s
xrit hon hail