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MUSIC.Reit.nt events at the Itoyal 1 Lilian Opera do not call for n detailed liotixo. A number of ftBlritiijr works “ Norma,“ Fidi lio,” and “II Baililt;ro” itmoHg tin in have 1«'lt; n |» r-formed in 11 familiar manner, to the gtsit ilit at it n, nmro or h•■■■' mi pli.at i«;i i iy i \ i ri -ail, a f t rowdi-d Ik him s. Spt :ik im: ol lt;rou . k (1 houses, lot us say that Mr. Mapleson Inis. if nppi iimners muj In 11 ustt tl, ample reason to congratulate himself upon ! he support ho is receiving. N iglit n ftcr night t lie pullilt; (jar k toCovent (emirii in rnmilxTS* vvbieli must rejoice tlio manager's lioirt; ttJ»le a limiter far more important it proves t hat. opera should lmt he regarded us tlie exclusive amusement of the tow, for wliieh there is no taste mpting the many. The campaign, we understand, ( loses in a fortnight.; hut. there is lio reason, us far as concerns audiences, why it. should not. run through the winter. “ Seniiruinido has heon added to the repertory of tire autumnal performances since we last, wrote, Mdlle. Titiens being thus enahlcd to appear in I another of her finest characters. The great Teutonic artist is the I only adeipiate representative of tin ill-fated Assyrian Queen ; I and an opportunity of hearing her snip the music, as well as of seeing her embody t he part, is not to lie liphtly wa ted. ‘She was 1 not, less prand on tho occasion under not ier than in times past,; and her delivery of Rossini's melodics, essentially inadequate to the ( situations as most of them are, proved how a real artistis superior to the materials with wliieh the work has to lie done, j Madame Trehelli-ISett.ini (Arsaee) added not a little to tlio sue,- j cess of the revival by her elm.-mhig singing; and the male eha- . meters were fairly sustained hy Signor Bettini (Idreno), Signor i Antonucei (Oroo), and Signor Foli (Assur). Mdlle. Sessi, of the 1 long and golden locks, made her appearance on Tuesday, when she played Inicia in the opera of that name She comes to iisun-altered hy tlie short time that has intervened since the regular season closed —that is to say, her voice is as good as ever,‘her management of it as artistic, and her style of acting as much de-ticient in power. Rut though Mdlle. Sessi is far from a great artist, she is eminently respectable in everything she undertakes; while, being ready to undertake anything, her value to a managermust represent a high figure. She was well received and muchapplauded on Tuesday night, particularly after the duet of act ii. and the mad scene of aetiii. hi the former case more was deserved than in the latter. Mdlle. Sessi should attempt only that which her means make her sure of effecting, because no artist can afford to run risks. The other important characters in Donizetti’s opera were sustained by Signor Cotogni (Knrico), Signor Faucelli (who admitted himself well as Edgardo), and Signor Antonucei (Rnimondo). We understand that “Medea” is to bo revived, with Mdlle. Titiens as tlio terrible sorceress, (food—very good!The Crystal Ralueo concert of last Saturday was unusually, well attended, owing to tho performance of two important and attractive works—the seventh symphony and fifth pianoforte concerto of Beethoven. No audience, let us say briefly, ever had a more superb musical treat; the symphony being played almost to perfection ; and the concerto being rendered even better, thanks to the soloist, Miulame Goddard, and to tho careful accompany-nmnts of the orchestra. Madame Goddard achieved a triumph of which she may well be proud ; for on 110 previous occasion have her artistic and executive qualities more brilliantly assorted themselves. She retired from the platform amid the unanimous applause of a critical auditory. Other works in the programme were Weber’s overture to “ Abu Hassan ” and Schubert’s overture to “Alfonso and Estrella.” The vocalists were Mdlle. Leon Duval, who made a success, and Mr. Nordblom.The Monday Popular Concerts have entered upon their thirteenth season; and two of the Beethoven programmes have already been performed, the executants, Madame Norman-Neruda, MM. Ries, Zerbini, Piatti, and Halle, doing entire justice to the music in hand. All the works selected belong to Beethoven’s earliest productions, and include the trio, op. 1, No. 1; four of the quartets, op. 18 ; the pianoforte sonatas in E flat and D major; and the violoncello and pianoforte sonata in F. To dwell upon these compositions is superfluous. They are essentially the most popular, because most easily understood, of the master's productions; and amateurs every where know nearly all that can be said about them. The vocalist at the first concert was Miss Clara Doria; at the second, Herr Stockhausen, who, it is to be hoped, will not again do injustice to Beethoven's “ Liederkreis” by adapting them to the range of a voice for which they were not written.'A new cantata, “ The Rose-Maiden,” hy Mr, F. H. Cowen, was brought out at St James’s Hall, on Wednesday evening, and obtained a favourable reception. The story (a good translation frointhe German, by Mr. Francillon) treats of the adventures of the Queen of the Flower-Fairies, who, longing to experience the joy of earthly love, is transformed into a beautiful maiden, meets with the man of her choice, becomes a widow, and dies of sorrow the moral of the whole being that Love and Grief go hand-in-band. The subject is fancifully treated by the librettist, and Mr. Cowen has entered thoroughly into its spirit His descriptive passages are throughout good, the orchestra beinlt;» handled in a very masterly way; the melodies, if not original either in rhythm or in theme, are pleasing and appropriate * while many of the choruses are capital examples of effective writing for the voice. In brief, tho cautata will be a welcome addition to the ranks of its kind; and peculiarly acceptable as indication where we are to look for yet further additious to our store ^ome-made music. Mdlle. Titiens, Madame Patev Mr. Nordblom, and Horr Stockhausen were soloists; a capital orchestra and fair chorus supported them; and tho young composer conducted in person. Mr. Cowen was much applauded at the close of his work.The Sacred Harmonic Society began a new season with a per-iormance of “ Judas Maccabipus,” respecting which we shall have somewhat to say next week.The Sehpentine. —The works in connection with the levelling and purification of the Serpentine were finished more than a mont g water cominenned Hnwim, in
Newspaper Details
Illustrated Times
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, Nov 26, 1870
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Melinda C.
USA 09 Sep 2024
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