Punch (90.1886)

June 26, 1886.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 305

COMPARING NOTES.

The grand "Wagner Operatic Concert given last week by the
Richter Orchestra at the Albert Hall was a decided success. Such
pieces as the Overture to Tannhduser, and the Walkilrenritt, or
"Ride of the T-Fa^jrries" (sounds contradictory, though "The
Walkeries " might do for the name of anew South Kensington Exhi-
bition—say of fishing-tackle and pedestrian appliances, such as sticks,
umbrellas, alpenstocks, &c.,—and call it "The Hookey Walkeries "),
have already become old favourites. The Musical "Ride " would cer-
tainly have been ridden over again if Herr Richter had consulted
the expressed wishes of the audience instead of his watch. The
" Prize Song " from The Mastersingers would almost as surely have
been encored had it been sung; but Mr. Edward Lloyd was
attacked by what Mr. Hermann Franke termed a " sudden cold "
(a cold in a Ned is a troublesome thing), and both this number and the
prayer from Act V. of Rienzi were cut out bodily. Madame Valleria
sang the Ballad from Act II. of The Flying Dutchman. It is a sea-
song, introducing the German equivalent of the familiar " Yeo-ho."
Mr. Geoeg Hensohel (why Mr.f But I suppose that's neither
Herr nor there) gave a fine rendering of Wotan's farewell song to
Brunhilde, whom he leaves to sleep surrounded by flames. The
Funeral March at Siegfried's death was splendidly and impressively
played by the band, as was also the exciting and enthusiastic closing
scene of Tristan und Isolde.

Nadeshda, Mr. Goeing Thomas's beautiful Opera, which was
produced last year by Cael Rosa, was revived on Thursday last
before a crowded and enthusiastic audience. There is a good deal of
inherent improbability in the story, but the main plot is a romantic
and interesting one, while the music is simply magnificent. The
Second Act, which introduces a merry-making of peasants in the
hall of Voldemar, is one continuous flow of gracious and exquisitely
fanciful melody, Nadeshda's song, " As ivhen the Snoivdrift," with its
chorus by the assistants." being as good as anything in the Opera.
Mr. Baeton McGuckin (Voldemar) in thoroughly grateful music
surpassed himself, as did Madame Geoegina Buens in the title role.
Mr. Leslie Ceotty, as the wicked brother, Ivan, was realistic in his
acting besides forcible in his declamation. The Contralto, Miss
Dickeeson (Princess Natalis) was the least deserving of praise; her
voice was not agreeable,_ and her ideas of dramatic gesture were
apparently limited to a raising of the arm like a railway signal. The
applause throughout the opera was freely accorded and richly deserved.
Nothing better has been written for Cael Rosa since Esmeralda,

also by_ Goeing Thomas. The
story being a Russian one of serfs
and masters, may be described as
a regular knout-an'-knouter. I
congratulate Cael Rosa on a
splendid performance of a splendid
work.

Mr. John Thomas (Harpist to
the Queen) gave a concert of harp-
music on Saturday afternoon in
St. James's Hall, when the price
of the best seats was one guinea
each. He harped a good deal on his
own works, the programme of six-
teen items containing no less than
thirteen of his compositions or
arrangements. Perhaps it was
natural for him to be his own
trumpeter, as Mr. Haepee was not
^v\?s there to blow for him. About a
John Thomas at the "Welsh Harp dozen and a half other harpists
taking a Bar's rest. assisted Mr. Thomas in some con-

certed pieces-their performance should be noticed by the Band of
Harp Review-oni. a regular bouquet of vocal talent including the
names of Miss Maey Davies, Madame Edith Wynne, Miss Gbiswold
and Mr "Winch contributed to make the concert pass off harpily.

If importance is to be gauged by price, the Concert of Chevalier
B. Palmleei, on Monday last, at Stemway Hall where a guinea was
charged for Stalls, should not pass unnoticed. Signor Erba, a really
conscientious and capable violinist, led the string quartette, and the
Chevalier manipulated the piano. This youthful Gentleman-only
twenty-three in his stockings-is nephew pi the Italian Astronomer
who has an observatory on Mount Vesuvius. He is, besides, a very
clever pianist, and has already performed before the principal
crowned heads of Europe." -n i • ■ an

Herr Josef Ludwig (violinist) and Madame Feickenhatjs (pianist)
are the people to hear if you want a Concert of good chamber-music.
For instance, at their last recital two pieces were performed for the
first time in London-a Violin Sonata, by Oliver King—(evidently
not a Radical, or he would have changed King into Cbomwell)-and
a Septet, of exceeding interest, for the unwonted combination of
oboe, clarinet, horn, violin, viola, and piano, by Stetnbach.

NlBELUNGLET.

CATERING FOR THE COLINDIANS.

Random Pages from the Diary of any one of them extracted during the
course of the current Week.

3. a.m.—Roused by deputation from Court of Common Council to
come and see the sunrise from the top of the Blackfriars Railway
Station. Up and accompany them. Soon as it is over am hurried off
to the Borough Road to attend the early washing of the Greenwich
Tram Car Omnibuses, and then on to Rotherhithe, to see how it looks
before five o'clock in the morning. Do it, and being overpersuaded
am shipped on board a tug, and taken down the Pool, being finally
landed at Billingsgate in time to witness arrival of first consignment
of fish for the day's market. Am thinking of getting away, when I
am met at the entrance by the Alderman of Dowgate Ward, who
invites me to breakfast with the Beefeaters at the Tower. Cannot but
accept, and we sit down, six-and-thirty at table. Health proposed,
several times, and am booked by several City officials to visit in turn
the West Indian Docks, the cellars under the Bank, the Main Sewer
at Barking, the Thames Tunnel, and the Stepney Baths and Wash-
houses. Make the best excuses I can and slip away, when no one is
looking, and get back to my hotel slightly out of breath, and much
fatigued.

9. a.m.—Find correspondence awaiting me. Fifteen invitations to
City Companies' dinners, five being on the same night. Write to
accept all of them. Am also asked to Garden fetes, at nineteen
country seats, and to attend the laying of seven foundation stones,
the opening of a new break-water, and the inauguration of a popular
Palace for Inebriates. Say "Yes " to everything, and am about to
turn in to get a little rest, when the Loed Mayoe is announced with
the City Maces. Have him shown in. Wants me to lunch with him
in the Ball at the top of St. Paul's, but first show me the City from
the knife-board of a Road Car Company's Omnibus, accompanied
by the Corporation, with the stringed Band of the Royal London
Artillery Company inside. Drive up and down Cheapside several
times, ascending the steeples of all the City churches we come across,
and finally pull up in Columbia Market, stopping on the way at the
Mansion House to have the loving cup, and the statues of Gog and
Magog handed out to us. Getting very tired, manage again to creep
away and get back to my hotel unobserved and prepare once more to
turn in.

3 p.m.—Am just turning in when arrivals of Committees of several
learned Societies are announced. Am invited to attend lecture on
blasting powder and other explosives at Royal Institution ; enter the
Bengal tigers' cage, at feeding-time, at the Zoological Society's
Gardens, Regent's Park; visit dissecting-room at South London
Hospital, and be present at adjourned meeting of Recuperated Male-
factors' Association. Am about to start to do all four of these, when
I am suddenly set upon by Deputy-Chairman of Anglo-Colonial
Federation, and carried off to take part in Inaugural Centennial Fete
at Agricultural Hall. On the way there try to dodge the Deputy-
Chairman, and escape, but can't manage it. Am no sooner there
than I am spotted once more by the Loed Mayoe, who insists on my
coming to five o'clock tea at the Mansion House, and am driven back
in his State carriage, with his Chaplain, the City Remembrancer,
and a posse of Aldermen on the roof. Shows me over Newgate, the
Law Courts, Daily Telegraph Office, Metropolitan District Mansion
House Station, and the erypt of St. Clement's Danes, as we go along.
Contrive to " miss " him as we are going up the Monument stairs to
see the sun set, and once more hurry back to my hotel, and, locking
my door, prepare to turn in, this time dead beat.

9 p.m.—Have just settled down comfortably into a quiet doze
when I am stirred up by thundering knocking. A special Deputa-
tion from the Corporation has come to insist on my coming at once to
a Fancy Ball at the Guildhall. Very sleepy. Urge that I have
nothing to go in. They say, " Nonsense! " and lend me an Alder-
man's gown, and Sheriff's hat. Can't get out of it, and am obliged
to go. Loed Mayoe immensely civil—takes me out on roof and
shows me stars through an astronomical telescope. Gives me'place
of honour at supper, and makes me stand up for a Saraband with
the Lady Mayoeess, and asking me just to try a quadrille with the
Archbishop of Canterbury, introduces me to the Authorities at
the Horse Guards, the members of the Steel Institute and the
Governor of Bedlam. Says I ought to see London by night and the
way to do it is to take a through ticket all round the Metropolitan
Railway. Thank him for the hint, and say I '11 do it "Wait till
he's not looking, then bolt. He sends the City Remembrancer, and
three Liverymen after me to see that I don't get out of it. Give my
Alderman's gown suddenly to a Policeman, then double. Manage to
escape them. Get back to my hotel more dead than alive, and reach
my room at last. Lock my door, and vow, whatever happens to-
morrow, to avoid the "City." Drop off to sleep, and dream I'm
once again a free and unhampered man—in New Zealand.

Solution of the Crisis.—A Dissolution.