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Leader (1850-1860), 12th November 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1255

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      Untitled Article

      Ea * t and West , -arid other Poems . By L . I . T . — jAtaeB ' Blackwdod-The domestic life of England is here contrasted with scenes of adventure and experience in loreign Climes . The author , who appears to have been present at Ink « rmann , and to have had a brother devoted to military pursuits , and who , perhaps , nas t > een himself a soldier both in the Crimea and India , paints nature with a free and gentle touch , and reaches the affections with a sympathetic power . His verses are musical , and his expression , always graphic , is frequently energetic , eloquent , and paslionate . He has many of the qualifications that go to make a goo 1 lyric and descriptive poet . The Tourist's Handbook for Ireland . —V ? . Smith and

      Sons . This is the seventh year ' s edition of a descriptive work , which , to travellers ; is of the utmost utility . It is embellished with one hundred illustrations by Mahony ; to which have been added useful rnaps and plans , such as the tourist is likely to stand in need of . With these accessories , the publication justifies itself as both entertaining and instructive ; and will no doubt be extensively read . A " Biographical Memoir of Constantine Simonides , Dr . Ph . With a brief defence of the Authenticity of his ¦ Manuscripts . By Charles Stewart . —J .

      Skeet . 8 vo . This is a defence of Dr . Simonides . against certain charges relative to manuscripts of a very ancient date , and very interesting matter , which he disr covered , but which some of the learned pronounced ng £ to be what it was asserted they were . It would lead any . political periodical quite out of its line , to enter into a discussion on this profoundly learned topic , and we shall therefore content ourselves with referring all interested in the subject to the pamphlet itself , which at all events we can say is clear in its narrative and temperate in its tone * and seems to liave been undertaken with the view of rectifying

      what the writer considers a wrong . Pilgrim Walks ; a Chaplct of Memories . By . Mrs . Eobert Cartwright . —Charles Westerton . Mrs . Cartwjriqht ' s "Pilgrim Walks" is a small volume of two hundred pages , containing the reflections of her visits to twenty-one towns or places of historical interest . We need hardly say that most of these " chaplets " are very short ; thus , for instance , Walraer castle is disposed of in two pages , Coventry in four , and Kew Gardens in eight . From this it will be imagined that the remarks of Mrs . Cartwright are not very profound , but they have one advantage —they are not wearying in minuteness of detail . Some of the memories are recorded in verse which sound pleasantly on the ear .

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      Italian Opera , Dkory-i-ane . ' —The section of Mr . Smith's double company , which comprises Mdlle . Tietjens and tfignor Giuglini , is taking a semi-breve rest in town en route for the Continent , and on Tuesday evening gave " II Trovatore . " The house was densely crammed , and . the great and amiable artist first named nppenrcd , notwithstanding sinister rumours that she had too longoutstayed our fugitive suuamer , in the first of force . Signor Giuglini , on the contrary , was manifestly labouring under indisposition , lie sang admirably , however , through the first act , after which his place was suppliod by Sigiior Corsi . This gentleman has an agreeable

      stylo , a sweet voice , and good style , Ho made the most of the opportunity thus unexpectedly offered to him , and was justly applauded for his efficiency under the circumstances . Signor Aldighieri , of whoso " Do Luna" we havo before spoken warmly , gives us no reason to change our opinion . On Thursday we expected the pleasure of assisting at Mdlle . Tiotjen ' s appearance in Flotow ' s Martha , but owing to incompleteness of certain stage managerial ( as we understood ) , the opera was put off . Tlio resources of tho tlioatro und the talent of tho company favour the chanco that this vory pleasing work ¦ ¦ will bo better appreciated nftcr its adoption by LaTitiens than has liithorto been the case .

      Royal English Oi > ioka , Covknt Gaiipkn . — The management of this theatre having succeeded beyond their own and the public expectation , in popularising the last great yet simple work of Meyerbeer , now proceed to fulfil tlieir progrommo by introducing further novelties , if npt in operas , at least in the way of singers . On Monday evening the Trovntoro" gnvo opportunity for the appoaranco of Mademoiselle i ^ irepa , an , Englishwoman , though sho designates herself after this Gallo-Italian fusliion , and . a very excellent vocalist as well as actress . Thifl lady , though she may fuirly be called a novelty /¦ amon g the English Opera company , has nevertholoss been for some time recognised as an artiste first of promise , thon of no mediocre distinction . Sho made

      her debut under Mr . Gye's management of the Iloyal Italian Opera at the Lyceum in 1857 , as Elvira in the " Puritani , " . « nd in the following year sang with . the same admirable troupe at this theatre , and at the Crystal Palace Concerts . Her Leonora is an excellent one . While it offers much for the critical amateur to _ admire , from the vocal point of view , it is especially admirable from the dramatic . As a lyric actress she is entitled to a place in the very first rank , a rank , as our readers must be aware , very limited in its numbers . The Trovatore , Mr . Haigh , whom we spoke of by anticipation , in former impressions , as an elegant vocalist in the small scale , fully realised all

      we expected of him in that respect , but was too nervous on Monday to allow of our noticing him as an actor at all . The handsome young mezzosoprano , Miss Pilling , whose unaffected rendering of the Goatherd ' s part in " Dinbrah , " raised her per saltum , as it were , from among the novices to a place among minor celebrities , was comparatively ineffective in the part of Azvceva , with which the public insist upon associating the dramatic power of the superb Guarducci and the energetic and sympathique Nantier Didioe . Santley ' s beautiful voice , obscured albeit from a severe cold , from which he had last night recovered , helped admirably to support the concerted pieces , and procured him a lively encore in

      "II balen . " We were pleased to observe-that within the little month of his association with this company under Mr . Harrison ' s clever management , and of his first appearance upon any stage , this gentleman has made a progress in the art of stage deportment that could hardly have been expected , and bids fair , at no distant date , to be worthy as indisputable a position among respectable actors as lie already holds among celebrated singers . As we have no scruple in candidly reporting our impressions of shortcomings as well as-excellencies in tlie vocal department , we must hot deny ourselves the pleasure of referring for the hundred and first time to the grandeur of the Govent- ^ garden band and the perfection of the choral and scenic departments . ' who

      The same musicians , ormost of them , surprised M- Meyerbeer by the . precision wherewith , after a very limited number of rehearsals , they interpreted his musical ideas in " Dinorah , " having now achieved a still more complete mastery over the intricacies of that composition , return to the more simple instrumentation of "II Trovatore" and " Satanella , " with a certainty of time and tone no less marvellous than charming . The chorus , again , has attained a degree of perfection not formerly dreamed of ; and , with regard to the misc en scene . we must name as a specimen of profuse , yet not vulgar outlay , the grand " Camp of Count de Luna , " with its strong array of mail -clad "warriorsa beautiful tableau arranged in a style not achieved , if attempted , elsewhere .

      On Tuesday a large and fashionable audience attended the revival of " Satanella , " clearly indicating the soundly-rooted popularity of . the native composer's work . Miss Pyne , Messrs . Harrison , Honey , " Com , St . Albyn , and W . H . Payne took their original pnrts . Mr . Santley was the mysterious prince of fiends , Arhnanos ( late Mr . Weiss ) ; Miss Pilling tho Stella , and Miss Fanny Cruiso an interesting Lclia . Olympic— 'Mr . Robert Brough ' s "Medea' was reproduced licre , on Monday . The wild progressions of Mr , Kobson with his author , from pathos to bathos , from sublimo to ridiculous , are too familiar to the world to need our good report ; and no labour of ours could convey a satisfactory impression to those who have not in turn laughed or trembled at the broad humour or the tragic denunciations of poor old Medea . Mr . Addison sustains his old part of CVeo / i . nnd Miss Wyndham is a fair Jason .

      Auklpii [ Thbatur . — "Dinorah Under Difficulties , " nn adaptation ( as it is called by courtesy , but , in fact , ' wo apprehend , a recination ) of a French triflo , entitled "La Chevro do Ploormel , " was produced her with great success on Monday , and in the course of a few days will figure importantly among London theatrical attractions of tho day . Without venturing more than a faint opinion that to place an audience on the wrong ' side of the footliglite is the very height of illegitimacy , and , Shakospearo and Sheridan notwithstanding , in extremely bad taste , we may proceed tp inform pur readers tlint tho tho ot

      interest of this Dinorah consists in difficulty producing the Dinorah without a prima donna , IIow to do this is a task imposed upon poor Mr . Topsawyer ( J . L . Ttjolo ) , manager at tho Mud borough TheatroKoytvl , and h , is first lieutenant , stage manager , and prompter , Snuffles ( Mr . C . J . Smith ) . Tho solution tfioy hit upon and , by dint of hard work , carry out botwoon them , is tho impersonal ion ot tho heroine by tho manager himself . Then follows a slight attempt at a travostie , without morltas for as author or mUpieris concerned , but reflecting considerable credit upon the aforesaid Messrs . loolo and Smith , and Miss It . Kelly ( whp makes a fascinating Corrcntino )) and lastly , the orchestra , who give some

      pretty music from Meyerbeer , the Christy minstrelsy , and divers other sources , with much spirit . We cannot speak too highly of Mr . Tcole ' s Dinorah . While the piece was yet young we had our misgivings as to its success , so worn-out seemed the introduction of the manager in trouble , and so little novelty could we discover in his illustration of his griefs . But when as the goat-bereft maiden he showed how mad , how passionate , nay , almost how graceful the Dinorah of the opera should be , but never was before , we heartily joined the masses it their applause of his exertions . The capital makeup and highly finished fussiness of Mr . Smith were . it is onlv fair to say , no less admirable nor admired than the clever " Shadow dance " of his fellow artist

      St . James's Theatre . —A sufficient number oi sympathising critics to make a moderate success—as times go—assisted at the first representation here , on Wednesday , of a posthumous comedietta , by the late Mr . James Kenney , called " London Pride ot Living for Appearances , " an artless story of every day life , illustrating , once more , the culpability and then remorse that wait too often upon extravagance , couched in neat language , and entrusted to such competent hands as those of Mr . Leigh Murray t of h here

      Mrs . F . Mathews , and the res te company , could hardly fail to please , though it could not startle a modern audience , to whom the lesson and the torm of its exhibition are only some fifteen years staler than they were when the " London Pride" was written . The attractions of the Misses St . Gasse and Lydia Thompson seem undiminished , and the chances are , that at the present extremely low scale of prices the littleSt . James ' s will tide it well over until Parliament and spring shall bring its legitimate clientele of the squares and clubs again into its

      neighbourhood . The Grecian Theatre . —Mr . Conquest , the highly intelligent and enterprising manager of tills theatre , on Monday made a very praiseworthy attempt to introduce the high poetical drama to his mixed audience , and selected for his experiment a play by-Mr . J H . Heraud , the well-known author of several high class poenis , and also c > f " Videna " and other high tragic dramas that have been acted with success . The piece thus chosen is entitled "Aguolo Dprico , " and reveals the fortunes of a noble-minded monk , Dorico ( Mr . Mead ) , who having a daughter , Veror nica ( Miss Conquest ) , is in continual anxiety about her in consequence of the licentiousness of a certain

      profligate , Cardinal Frivolio ( Mr . Spencer ) , and of another seducer , Count Luigi ( Mr . Liugham ) , who , both pursue with , infamous designs , and indeed lure her to the ruins of the Collosseum , where an attempt at outrage is made , but which calls down the avenging arm of the half-crazed monk , who slays them . Another young cavalier , but of a virtuous and honourable mind , and who is the suitor for Veronica ' s hand in lawful wedlock , is accused of this double murder , and is about to be executed for it , when the liiouk appears and confesses to the deed , but , at the same time , declaring he was led to it by the dictates of an inward and spiritual monitor . This relieves the cavalier , lhere

      and the young people are made happy , is much power and eloquence in this drama , and several of the situations wrought tho audience to a great pitch of interest . Mr . Mead was efficient and pathetic as the monk-father , and Miss Conquest pretty and natural as the innocent daughter ^ Ihe scenery was exceedingly good and all the appliances very carefully provided , and tlie entire performance very much to the satisfaction of the audience and highly creditable to the lessee ' s judgment and taste . The applause was loud and genuine , and the aumor was called on tho stage to receive the well-deserved thanks of the audience . As it first move "wards the higher class of tho drama , this truly literary drama deserved every encouragement .

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      Miss Augcsta Thomson . —A Paris correspondent of the Uhtsqoto Herald writes : ^ - " Mihs Augusta Thomson ^ w lfose musie . il triumphs in Paris you duly cl roniHod lust year , and who has been continuing her sSob hero under M . R 6 viul , eaves for Glasgow t week , to allow hor nativ ^ ci . y to judge of her super-eminent vocal talents . I may safely affirm that Scotland has never produced the miis «« nl ojuftl nf tliis vounc lady , whoso natural extraordinary voice ins boon cultivated by something which the hihabitnnts of Glasgow wilf soon bettor appreciate innaoicanio 01 vjiwh "" " . »~— . - * *

      '" t S— STAa ,..- . 'Tho principal topic of conversation in thoatrlcal circles , " says a Melbourne napor , "is tho contemplated departure for BnSand of Mr . G . V . Brooke . On the 18 th of last moS c took his benefit at the Theatre toya in the character of Virginim-n magnificent imporsonarion At tho conclusion of tho tragedy fce appeared before tho curtain in response to a call ftora the audience , and after expresalng his thanks tor tho patronage bestowed on him , he unnounced his intention of sailing in tho October mall ship . He stated

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      MUSIC AND THE DRAMA

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      Ko . 503 . SW . ISL'&Otfi-: THE LEAP Eft 1255

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 12, 1859, page 1255, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2320/page/19/