209
1.3.1859 (Mon)
Concert by Prof. Shonbrun, piano, and some local amateurs (i.a. the Germania Singing Club) Programme:
No piano works were mentioned, with the exception of "Monastery Bells".
Vocal works: Sir Henry BISHOP: "The Pilgrim of Love", Wilhelm SPEYER (1790-1878) a bass aria, G. DONIZETTI: "The great tenor aria from 'Lucia di Lammermoor" (presumably "Tombe degli avi miei – Fra poco a me ricovero" from act III). Th: (New) Theatre Royal (E)
R Were Shanghailanders music lovers or not? One wonders for again "we were sorry to find so small an audience assembled on the occasion", but the wretchedly wet state of the weather had no doubt much to do with this". As it turned out the efforts of Mr. SHONBRUN were disappointing (at least in the ears of one critic — and how they may differ in opinion everyone knows). In this case the skill and artistic feeling which would be highly respectable in an amateur reflect no especial credit on a professional player and though Mr. SHONBRUN performed several pieces pleasingly we missed that precision, that brilliant crisp fingering and particularly that general careful finish which should characterize the true master of his instrument". The amateurs were more appreciated and the tenor singer even had to repeat his Lucia aria. For the first time the “Germania Singing Club" is mentioned, although there must have been earlier performances as the Herald says "the number of the singers on Tuesday was much smaller than on former occasions". Obviously it was in a somewhat precarious state for even a conductor was missing and the reviewer was "constrained to say, without wishing to be too critical on the performers of amateur music, that the Association has not kept up to the standard which it established for itself by former deeds" (NCH 12.3.1859).
2.6.1859 (Thur)
M. BARNETT: "The Serious Family" (1849)
T: Comedy (3 acts)
J.M. MORTON: "Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw (1851)
T: Farce (1 act)
C: Amateurs
Th: (New) Theatre Royal (E)
R: Very late in the season the last amateur night went off. And although the review was by no means scathing, the editor of the Herald thought it wise to add that "the heat at the theatre was extremely oppressive and this may have much to do with the lukewarm manner in which our critic speaks of the performances". The Serious Family was described as "an admirable satire upon that morbid and mistaken feeling of piety which regards a smile as wantonness, condemns gaiety as sin and backsliding”, nevertheless **as a scenic representation it smacks too much of dullness". The leading parts were put on the stage by Miss Minnie O'NETTE, who acted Lady Sowerly Creamly "to the life"; and Mr. TINTINNABULUM upon whom "the action of the Comedy seemed chiefly to rest. His stage bearing is admirable and his intonation excellent, but we may perhaps be permitted to take exception to his brogue which, however good as an assumption, scarcely denoted one to the manner born". Mr. PICKWICK exerted "to the utmost his undoubted talents for light comedy as Charles Torrens; on the other hand darling Mrs. NESBIT "scarcely found opportunity in the part of Mrs. Torrens for the display of that vivacity which forms her chief merit". Mr. BRUSHWOOD (00 lacked something in the role of Aminadab Sleck, viz "that racy appreciation of his part which usually characterizes him and the hat and garb of the puritan did not sit easily upon that comical little figure which has on previous occasions so often convulsed us with merriment". In contrast Miss WALTERS “looked and acted extremely well, causing us much regret that a drama more adapted to the exigencies of the Corps did not form the chief attraction of the evening. About the second piece, Grimshaw,
209
1.3.1859 (Mon)
Concert by Prof. Shonbrun, piano, and sonte local amateurs (i.a. the Germania Singing Club) Programme:
No piano works were mentioned, with the exception of "Monastery Bells".
Vocal works: Sir Henry BISHOP: "The Pilgrim of Love“, Wilhelm SPEYER ((790-1878) a bass aria, G. DONIZETTI: "The great tenor aria from 'Lucia di Lammermoor" (presumably "Tombe degli avi mici – Fra poco a me ricovero' from act III). 'Th: (New) Theatre Royal (E)
L
R Were Shanghailanders music lovers or not? One wonders for again "we were sorry to find so small an audience assembled on the occasion", but the wretchedly wet state of the weather had no doubt much to do with this". As it turned out the efforts of Mr. SHONBRUN were disappointing (at least in the ears of one critic — and how they may differ in opinion everyone knows). In this case the skill and artistic feeling which would be hightly respectable in an amateur reflect no especial credit on a professional player and though Mr. SHONBRUN performed several pieces pleasingly we missed that precision, that brilliant crisp fingering and particularly that general careful finish which should characterize the true master of his instrument". The amateurs were more appreciated and the tenor singer even had to repeat his Lucia aria. For the first time the “Germania Singing Club" is mentioned, although there must have been earlier performances as the Herald says "the number of the singers on Tuesday was much smaller than on former occasions". Obviously it was in a somewhat precarious state for even a conductor was missing and the reviewer was "constrained to say, without wishing to be too critical on the performers of amateur music, that the Association has not kept up to the standard which it established for itself by former deeds" (NCH 12.3.1859).
2.6.1859 (Thur)
M. BARNETT: "The Serious Family" (1849)
T: Comedy (3 acts)
J.M. MORTON: "Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw (1851)
T: Farce (1 act)
C: Amateurs
Th: (New) Theatre Royal (E)
R: Very late in the season the last amateur night went off. And although the review was by no means scathing, the editor of the Herald thought it wise to add that "the heal at the theatre was extremely oppressive and this may have much to do with the lukewarm manner in which our critic speaks of the performances". The Serious Family was described as "an admirable satire upon that morbid and mistaken feeling of piety which regards a smile as wantonness, condemns gaiety as sin and backsliding”, nevertheless **as a scenic representation it smacks too much of dullness". The leading parts were put on the stage by Miss Minnie O'NETTE, who acted Lady Sowerly Creamly "to the life"; and Mr. TINTINNABULUM upon whom "the action of the Comedy seemed chiefly to rest. His stage bearing is admirable and his intonation excellent, but we may perhaps be permitted to take exception to his brogue which, however good as an assumption, scarcely denoted one to the manner born". Mr. PICKWICK exerted "to the utmost his undoubted talents for light comedy as Charles Torrrens; on the other hand darling Mrs. NESBIT "scarcely found opportunity in the part of Mrs. Torrens for the display of that vivacity which forms her chief merit". Mr. BRUSHWOOD (00 lacked something in the role of Aminadab Sleck, viz "that racy appreciation of his part which usually characterizes him and the hat and garb of the puritan did not sit easily upon that comical little figure which has on previous occasions so often convulsed us with merriment". In contrast Miss WALTERS “looked and acted extremely well, causing us much regret that a drama more adapted to the exigencies of the Corps did not form the chief attraction of the evening. About the second piece, Grimshaw,
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