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    Vo.495. Sept. 17,.JB59.] THE LEADER/ 105...

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    « The English Opera Season At Covent Gar...

    Tw the delightful , air , "II mio tesoro , " by Signer ftmo-lini , in which his brilliant upper nptes told with astonishing effect , although in . the lighter-and more florid passages he lacked power and purity of intonation . This is his first appearance at Gloucester for some years , and perhaps he hardly sustained the favourable impression which he created here in the first instance . Nevertheless he was encored . The tria "Ah taci" introduced to the Gloucester people the Drima donna of the evening concerts , Mdlle . Titiens and the primo basso , Belletti . The sensation created by the lady among the dilettanti was great , though perhaps hardly equal to the merits of an artiste who bids fair to be a worthy successor to

    Grisi The " Batti , batti , " by Madame Novello , was perfect , and was enthusiastically encored , but the lady declined to repeat it . Signor Badiali s artistic delivery of the rattling , air " Finchee dal vino" took the audience by storm , and drew down an unanimous encore . In the air , " Non mi dir , Mdlle . Titjens ravished her audience , who appeared now more fully to appreciate the talent and wonderful gifts of the fair cantatrice . The concluding sestett of the Mozart selection , " Sola sola , ?' brought together " all the talents" of the Italian Opera , besides Madame Novello and Miss Dolby . Beethoven ' s choral fantasia followed the selection , and introduced to notice a youthful pianist , Miss

    Cecilia Summerhayes , who played with considerable skill , and , here and there , with feeling ; but she has notyet acquired sufficient mastery over the difficulties of the instrument to be able to interpret Beethoven as she very probably understands him . It must be remembered that Miss Summerhayes is very young , and that the choral fantasia is neither very easy nor very short . In the opening passages the pianist played with a certain amount of vigour and distinctness ; but , it seemed to us , that before the end , she was somewhat fatigued ; at all events , her execution became rather confused . But Miss Summerhayes has sufficient talent to- make it incumbent upon her to study , and to make us anticipatevthat she will in time attain a very high rank in the profession she has chosen . The reception of the piece was very favourable ..

    Miss Dolby sang her ballad , in the second part , charmingly ; Mr , Thomas was very successful in "I am a Roaraer ; " and . Mrs , Clare Hepworth made a marked impression in Mr . Henry Smart ' s beautiful song , " The Merry Bells . " The quartette from " Martha" and the duet from " Rigoletto" were omitted . The audience numbered upwards of 400 . The performance of " Elijah" on the following morning waa thoroughly satisfactory . A" little mistake occurred in one of the quartets , which went on for some bars as a trio , owing to the absence of Signor Belletti , who divided the bass music with Mr . Thomas , and Avho , we are informed , was not aware he had to sing in " Cast thy Burden . " Mr .

    Sims Reeves had completely recovered , and sang the whole of his music magnificently , Mr . Reeves ' indisposition was accounted for by his exposure to the night air , and to his alarm for the safety of his wife and family , at the recent fire at the Oatl . ands Hotel , whero he was residing . The attendance at the oratorio was not so numerous as could have been desired . There were 1 , 414 persons present , and the collection at the doors amounted to the large and curious sum of £ i 57 11 s . lid . Among the audience were the Earl of EUenborough , Countess Dunraven , Lord Wrottealoy , Lord and Lady De Mauley , Lady Isabella St . John , Lady Isabella and Mary Howard , Lady Mary Berkeley , Lady Charlotte Carnegie ,

    Lady Augusta Wyndham Quin , & c . Mr . Sterndale Bennett ' s May Queen formed the first part of the concert on Wednesday evening , and was charmingly given by Mrs . Clare Hepworth , Mias Lascolles , Mr . Sims Reeves , and Mr . Thomas . The second portion of the concert consisted of a miscellaneous selection . Mr . Sims Reeves was set down to * open with a ballad , but one of the stewards * said that Mr . Sims Reeves had quietly walked way . Mr . Parry added that Madame Novello would sing a song . Accordingly Clara Novello sang the ' Prende per me" from JEliaird' Amove magniflcontly . She was followed by Madame Titons , in " Tacea la notte" and Giuglini in "La donna o mobile" after which the

    n » ayor announced that Madame Novello would sing a ballad in the place of that omitted through the absence of Mr . Sims Roeves , who , he added with emphasis , had gone homo very unwell . Madame Novello then appeared in the orchestra , and was warmly welcomed . She , too , made a speech . She said tliftt Mr . Sims Reovcs was very ill , and did not leave the hall before he had obtained the permission of the conductor , to whom as an artist he waa alone accountable . She could not allow a brother professor to' sufler in the opinion of the publib iron * the "fttement of a pertfbn who 'had made Jit , of course without any intention to misrepresent , but without Knowing , the circumstances .

    r ** * Thursday morning were givfcn—1 . Bngadi { Mount of Olives ) f 2 . Rossini ' s Stabat Mater } 3 ° ponr s Zast Judgment . Much regret wan expressed

    at the inability of Mr . Sims Reeves to appear public ; but it was stated that he is confined to his bed by indisposition . The whole of the music allotted to him this morning was therefore , at the request of the committee , undertaken by Mr . Montem Smith , who- most ably discharged the double duty which thus devolved upon him , he having , in fact , to sing the tenor soli in all the three pieces of the morning . Madame Novello surpassed herself in all these pieces . It was the universal

    remark that never was her magnificent voice heard to such perfection as this morning . The chief " points" made in the Stabat Mater were the the delicious execution of the duet " Quis est homo ? " ( English version ) by Madame Novello and Miss Dolby , and the magnificent vocalisation of Signor Belletti in the trying air " Pro pecatis , " omitting to mention especially the " Cujus anirnam , " taken by Mr . Montem Smith in the absence of Sims Reeves .

    The second part of the programme was devoted to the Last Judgment , which was a most successful performance throughout . The collection this morning amounted to . £ 211 4 s . 'Id . The engagement of Mr . Charles Matthews at the Haymarket Theatre terminates this evening , and we trust that his benefit will be a satisfactory one . On Monday Miss Amy Sedgwick makes her reentree upon these boards as Rosalind in " As You Like It . " Touchstone is cast for Mr . Compton . A new farce by Mr . John Bridguian is announced for Thursday . Next Saturday the Olympic will be re-opened , and Messrs . Robson and Emden have novelty in store for their patrons — a comedietta , by Mr . Charles Dance , entitled " Morning Calls , " with parts for Mrs . Stirling and Mr . G . Vining .

    . The St . James ' s Theatre , under the auspices of Mr . Chatterton , begins its season on Saturday , the 1 st proximo . Mr . Leigh Murray will appear in a new comedy , and a burlesque by Mr . Leicester Buckingham is also announced . Princess ' s Theatre . —Mr . Augustus Harris ci devant right-hand man . to Mr . Gye at Covent Garden , opens this theatre on the 24 th inst . Rumour speaks of a riew comedy ( translated , of course , ) by Mr . John Oxenford ; and so far , if the tale be true , the . new management would seem to be treading in the footsteps of the old one . Mrs . and Miss Louise Keeley , and a Mr . George Melville as first stock actor , are to form part of the company . If the latter justify the fame that has been his advanced guard , he will be found a first-rate artist in tragedy , comedy , and melodrama .

    Crystal Palace . —About 7 , 000 visitors assisted on this day week at the operatic concert given at the Crystal Palace , by the members of Mr . E . T . Smith's prury-lane company . The list of singers included excellent names—those of Mdlle . Titiens , Mdlle Piccolomirii , Signor Giuglini , and Signor Badiali besides Mesdames Borchardt and Vaneri , and Signori Aldighieri and Vialetti . Mdlle . Titiens , whe appears to be neglecting the grand music of Mozart Beethoven , and Meyerbeer , in which she is pre-eminently successful , for that of the modern Italiau masters , gave the cayatina from " Ernani" witl much spirit . She afterwards sang , with great feeling , the soprano part in the " Quis est homo , " from Mater thcontralto being

    Rossini's " Stabat " ( e Mdme . Borchardt ) . Mademoiselle Piccolomini sang twice , without counting the finale to the second pan of the concert , and was twice encored ; first in the duet from the " Traviata , " " Parigi o cara " ( with Signor Giuglini ) , and secondly , in Balfe ' s " I dreamt that I dwelt . " Signor Giuglini was heard in the air from " Martha , " for the first time , we believe . and sang the only expressive vocal piece ( of M . Flotow ' s writing ) that the work contains with much dramatic feeling . He also sang , " Ah si ben mio , " from the " Trovatore , " which suits him better than any thing else in that opera . In " Largo al Eactetum" Signor Badiali delighted the audience , and was encored ; but Signor Vialetti cannot be andrai

    said to have donejustice to the air " Non piu , " which fell flatly , and went without a hand . Verdi ' s hackneyed "II balen" was sung by Signor Aldighieri with more taste than it deserves . Mdlle . Vaneri ' s song was " Annie Laurie ; " Madame Borchardt ' s " Nobil Signor" and the rather barbarous trio from Verdi ' s " Attila" wrs given ( to a pianforte accompaniment ) by Vaneri , Belart , and Aldighieri . The concert concluded with the " Preghiera" from " Mose in Egitto , " which was very weakly executed , being conspicuous for the absence of a chorus though essentially a choral piece . The audience however seemed highly gratified , and we believe that no other " operatic concert" of the season has been better attended .

    On Wednesday the juvenile festival of the Tonic Sol-Fa Association was held in the Crystal Palace , when four thousand children and about one thousand tenors and basses sang a series of musical compositions . with an amount of precision and harmony that elicited loud and repeated plaudits from the immense audience , who thronged every available foot of space in and around the centre transept . The children who formed the choir were selected from eighty metropolitan schools where the system which is called the " new notation" is taught . The children were ranged in three parts—first treble , second treble , and alto—and above them , at the top of the orchestra , were the tenors and basses ,

    Sadler ' s Wells Theatre . —On Saturday the winter season commenced at this house with the tragedy of " Romeo and Juliet , " introducing Miss Caroline Heath , late of the Princess ' s Theatre , to an Islington audience ; the character of Mercutio being sustained by Mr . Phelps . The house was crowded to the ceiling by an appreciating and demonstrative audience , who greeted every one of their established favourites in the enthusiastic manner special to the place ; the manager in particular was unable to proceed with his first speech for some minutes , owing to the applauditory hurricane . The play was judiciously cast , and acted throughout with good taste and artistic feeling . Miss Heath , known to

    who added strength and volume to the weaker voices of the former , the whole producing a grand and enlivening effect . The music and songs were chosen from the best composers , and the manner in which they were executed detracted in nowise from their merits . The first parb of the performance was opene d with an overture on the grand organ by Miss Stirling ; and a Russian air with variations . Then the choral throng rose in obedience to the conductor ' s wand , and poured forth a volume of song that quickened every pulse in the immense of the sol

    audience . One of the great peculiarities - fa system is the distinctness with which the words are declaimed . The effect of this was strikingly produced in ttic song , " Wo waited for an ommbus an which there was no room for us . " The words were uttered with such distinctness , and , at the same time , there was such unity in the sounds , that it was somewhat puzzling to think how it could bo produced . The audience called for an encore , wluch was responded to with a hearty good-will . Rule , Britannia" was sung with great power and effect . The choristers seemed to reserve their full power for serveda

    who has for some time been favourably the London playgoers as a pleasing actress in light comedy , surpassed the expectations of her best wishers by the ability she displayed in the part of Juliet—so different to anything she has hitherto done upon the metropolitan stage . Jfi the earlier scenes her grace and the modest expression of her deep love were fully appreciated and admired by an audience which carefully noted every word and gesture ; but the fire and energy she put forth in the last two acts fairly took the house by storm 5 and a more completely successful deb & t we have rarely witnessed , In the part of Mercutio Mr . Pholps as usual strikes out a path for himself , and gives a personification of this Shakosperian character quite different to that of any other living actor . The witty Italian nobleman , as delineated by liim ,

    betho « ' National Anthem / ' which a n ~ to the performances of the day . When the laSt words of the antliem had died upon the oar , the united choir , as if stirred by one spontaneous impulse , raised a cheer which made tho crys al roof Sound ? and waved , at the same time , paper ilagsol orange and green . The immense audionce caught uptlfocS ^^ ^ Olie total visitors daring the day amounted to 81 , 487 , Mr . E . T . Smith and his operatic company have returned to London , and . the former has deflni . #

    comes a merciless satirist , who launches hia pungent sayings at friend and foe for the pleasure of Watching tho effect of his shot . There is , however , no want of vivacity in his representation -, on the contrary , it is a most agreeable specimen of light comedy , free from conventionalism , Tho scene of \ ho duel of course gave full scope to Mr . Phelps ' s sterner powers , ana the death of Mercutio was an exquisite piece of acting . The Romeo of Mr . Frederic Robinson is most creditable—it is gentlemanlike without being ' too sentimental , and energetic without any approach to rant . The whole of the lesser characters were well filled . Wo may particularly , notice the Nurse of Mrs . Marstoaand tho Bcnvolio of Mr . Belford . Mr . Lewis Bail , whoso poouliar humour is greatly appreciated at this theatre sustained tho character of rotor .

    Hvelv scoured Druxy J-. ane xneawo *«*• «• ««« *»»*•• S Sdoi of Woo rent , instead of £ 4 , 000 , ho has now tho liberty to open tho house every night in tho year , without . the extra payment of five pounds , to which , under tho old agreement , he was subject for each and everyone after the two ^ MlsfAnna Whitty , whose excellent voice and / rood stylo we took occasion to notice on the occft * alon of her successful dabU at one of Mr . BenedlcVa lato concerts , has left thin « country for a leading engagement at Florence .

    Vo.495. Sept. 17,.Jb59.] The Leader/ 105...

    Vo . 495 . Sept . 17 ,. JB 59 . ] THE LEADER / 1055

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 17, 1859, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17091859/page/11/