RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 212 26.12.1861 (Thur) Concert by Signor Robbio, violin, and some local amateurs, Programme: 4 L. VAN BEETHOVEN; Trio for strings in E-flat opus 3, V. BELLINI: “Norma”, the aria 'Casta Diva' arranged for violin, C.A. DE BERIOT: Tremolo", C. GOUNOD: **Meditation upon J.S. Bach's first prelude", i.e., the famous Ave Maria, C.M. von WEBER: "Der Freischütz”, cavatine (presumably "Und ob die Wolke sie verhülle”, act III), arranged for cello and piano. Sir Henry BISHOP: "Home sweet home" (from the opera "Clari, the maid of Milan'), Sr ROBBIO: "Grande Valse Diabolique“, In addition: some quartet and solo singing by amateurs. Th: N.N. R: Today the second concert by the violinist Signor ROBBIO came off "for a very large audience". In November he had made his debut in Shanghai but because of a gap of three November issues in the file of the Herald I have been using no details can be given. Once more, however, the paper seems to have been discontented with the selection of the pieces. Not so tonight, with the exception of one composition by Sr Robbio himself, **a work of the Paganini school” of which the critic was evidently not a lover. About the interpretations by the violinist, though, there was but praise; e.g. "he greatly charmed his audience by the power and feeling with which he executed the beautiful air from Norma, 'Casta Diva'". So all was enjoyable, the more so as "for the moribund piano used at the last concert a fine 'Broadwood' was substituted, which displayed to great advantage the admirable playing of the gentleman to whom St Robbio was so much indebted for his accompaniment". One letter writer went even so far as to exclaim that such delights in Shanghai are indeed 'like angels' visits few and far between' "' (NCH 28.12.1861). February and March 1861 Performances by "Lewis' Australian Hippodrome” Loc: Commercial House in Hongkew - ― וי N: During the months of February and March "Lewis' Equestrian Australian Troupe" gave a large number of performances, of which the first one was announced for February 15 and the last for March 17. The public was entertained with horses and artists, among whom Mr. and Mrs. COUSINS, Mr. BARLOW, Senior RAPHAEL, Jessi GARDONI, **Austin Shanghai**, and “Little Ella". For all, benefits were held in March. It was not the first time that the troupe had operated on the China Coast. In December 1859 they had visited Hong Kong (CM 15.12.1859, 22.12.1859). 13.2.1863 (Fri) J.M. MORTON: "Our Wife, or the Rose of Amiens" (1856) T: Comic drama (1 act) H A. MAYHEW & H. SUTHERLAND EDWARDS: The Goose with the Golden Eggs T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs (Local and British officers) 13.2.1863 (Fri) J.M. MORTON: "Our Wife, or the Rose of Amiens" (1856) T: Comic drama (1 act) A. MAYHEW & H. SUTHERLAND EDWARDS: "The Goose with the Golden Eggs' T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs (Local and British officers) F: Music by the band of the 67th regiment Th: Theatre Royal (G) N: First performance of the season R: Casts: ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 226 appearance. The music selected afforded great satisfaction to the audience and was really very well performed. The violin solos by a gentleman Amateur of the place were most deservedly encored. Indeed we fancy few home concerts could show anything of the same sort much better. Amateur concerts we are sure rarely could". 23.2.1865 (Thur) Concert by Signor Enrico Grossi, assisted by Messrs Desvachez and Terry, and the Rhenish Band. Th: Astor House Hotel R: All professional artists performed without any government subsidies so they had every reason to look forward to as large an audience as possible. Signor GROSSI evidently was a freemason for the Commercial Record reported that "his masonic relations produced for him a full house" (SCR 8.3.1865). Freemasonry, which had been introduced in Shanghai in 1849, was rather widespread among the (male) foreign residents and the brethren who had turned up rewarded Sr GROSSI's "efforts to please by frequent bursts of applause" (NCH 25.2.1865). No details of the programme were given. 14.3.1865 (Tue) Concert in aid of the Shanghai Volunteer Club fund. Th: Shanghai Club R: RCH 18.3.1865 21.3.1865 (Tue) J. COURTNEY: "Time Tries All" (1848) T: Drama (2 acts) J.M. MORTON: "To Paris and back for $5" (1853) T: Farce (1 act) C: Amateurs of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps Th: Lyceum Theatre (1) N: First performance of the season R: Not unexpectedly the Herald thought it "needless to descant here upon the merits and talents of the Company" (NCH 25.3.1865). The same pieces had been given on May 15, 1860. 23.3.1865 (Thur) M. BARNETT: "The Serious Family" (1849) T: Comedy (3 acts) J.R. PLANCHE: "The Invisible Prince" (1846) T: Extravaganza (1 act) C: Lewis' Australian Drama Company Th: Lyceum Theatre R: Lewis' Australian Drama Company had come back to Shanghai in early March (NCH 11.3.1865) for a second season of farce and comedy, but owing to difficulties in reaching an agreement with the Lyceum Theatre about the rent that was to be paid, the first night took place only on March 23 (NCH 18.3.1865). For the members of the Company see Survey; most of them appeared on the first night in The Serious Family. According to the Commercial Record (25.3.1865) "the acting was very equal throughout and the admirable manner in which the different actors and actresses assisted one another contributed largely to their success" - which seems to be a rather meaningless comment. The Invisible Prince, too, was put on the stage effectively and the mise en scene was very good. 27.3.1865 (Mon) W.B. GILL: "Which is Which?" T: Farce L... ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h 239 MORTON, John Maddison (1811-1891) "Attic Story" (19.5.1842). P: 6.5.1852 "Betsy Baker or too attentive by half" (13.11.1850). P: 23.3.1853 145 "Box and Cox: a Romance of Real Life" (1.11.1847). P: 15.5.1854; 18.2.1857 "A Capital Match" (4.11.1852). P: 23.4.1857; 3.12.1864 "Done on Both Sides" (24.2.1847). P: 10.2.1858 "Fitzsmythe of Fitzsmythe Hall" (26.5.1860). P: 26.3.1863 "Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw" (1.7.1851). P: 2.6.1859 "Lend me Five Shillings" (18.2.1846). P: see p. 15 "A Most Unwarrantable Intrusion" (11.6.1849). P: 22.3.1854; 1.4.1864 "Our Wife or The Rose of Amiens" (18.11.1856). P: 13.12.1863; 17.2.1863 "Poor Pillicuddy" (12.7.1848). P: 15.3.1860; 26.5.1864 "Slasher and Crasher" (13.11.1848). P: 21.2.1856 "To Paris and back for £5" (5.2.1853). P: 10.5.1860; 21.3.1865 "The Two Bonny Castles" (25.11.1851). P: 22.3.1854; 8.5.1865 "Where there's a will there's a way" (6.9.1849). P: 26.3.1863 "Whitebait at Greenwich" (14.11.1853). P: 23.1.1856; 16.2.1859; 26.5.1864 "Woodcock's Little Game" (6.10.1864). P: 14.2.1865 MORTON, Thomas, Sr (1764-1838) "A Roland for an Oliver" (29.4.1819). P: 23.2.1852 MORTON, Thomas, Jr "Sink or Swim" (2.8.1852). P: 16.2.1859 MURRAY, William Henry Wood (1790-1852) 146 "Diamond cut Diamond" (19.6.1843). P: 12.12.1850 ? "No!" (14.11.1826). P: 23.2.1852 ? "Rob Roy" (10.6.1818). P: 28.3.-5.4.1865 OXENFORD, John (1813-1877) "I couldn't help it" (19.4.1862). P: 13.4.1865 "Retained for the Defence" (23.5.1859). P: 25.4.1864 PAYNE, John Howard (1790-1852) "Charles the Second or the Merry Monarch" (27.6.1824). P: 16.3.1858 "'Twas I" (3.12.1825). P: 27.4.1865 PEAKE, Richard Brinsley (1797-1880) "The Haunted Inn" (31.1.1828). P: 6.5.1852 PLANCHE, James Robinson (1796-1880) "Faint Heart never won Fair Lady" (28.2.1839). P: 8.10.-14.10.1864; 14.2.1865 "The Invisible Prince or the Island of Tranquil Delights" (26.12.1846). P: 23.3.1865 "The Knights of the Round Table" (20.5.1854). P: 24.5.1865 REYNOLDS, Francis (1764-1841) ? "No!" (16.5.1828). P: 23.3.1852 RHODES, William Barnes (1772-1826) "Bombastes Furioso" (7.8.1810). P: 28.1.1851; 5.5.1858 ROBERTS, George ? "Lady Audley's Secret" (28.2.1863). P: 28.12.1864 ================================================================================ RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1989 https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/8336pm92h Richard III: W. Shakespeare; 26.4.1865. The Rivals: R.B. Sheridan; 28.9.1858, 23.11.1864. A Roarer: N.N.; 19.4.1865. Rob Roy; C.H. Hazlewood? W.H. Murray? 28.3.-5.4.1865. A Roland for an Oliver: T. Morton Sr; 23.2.1852. Roofscrambler: G.A.à Beckett; 12.12.1850. The Rose of Castille: A.G. Harris; 8.10.-14.10.1864. The Rough Diamond: J.B. Buckstone; 13.4.1865. The Serious Family: M. Barnett; 8.10.1857, 2.6.1859, 23.3.1865, 28.4.1865. Siamese Twins: G.A.à Beckett; 5.5.1853. A Silent Woman: T.H. Lacy; 29.6.1864. Sink or Swim: T. Morton Jr; 16.2.1857. Slasher and Crasher: J.M. Morton; 21.2.1856. Still Waters Run Deep: T. Taylor.; 23.4.1857, 15.3.1860. Sweethearts and Wives: J. Kenney; 11.4.1865. Take that girl away: L.S. Buckingham; 15.2.1860; 3.12.1864. Time tries all: J. Courtney; 5.5.1858, 10.5.1860, 21.3.1865. To Paris and back for £5: J.M. Morton; 10.5.1860, 21.3.1865. The Turned Head: G.A.à Beckett; 27.1.1853. Turn out!: J. Kenney; 10.11.1865, 20.11.1865. 'T Was I: J.H. Payne; 27.4.1865. The Two Bonny Castles: J.M. Morton; 22.3.1854, 8.5.1865. The Unfinished Gentleman: C. Selby; 17.6.1865. Urgent Private Affairs; J.S. Coyne; 5.5.1858. Used Up: D. Boucicault & C.J. Mathews; 26.1.1852, 27.1.1853, 18.2.1857. The Wandering Minstrel: H. Mayhew; 24.5.1865. Where There's a Will There's a Way: J.M. Morton; 26.3.1863. Which is which?: W.B. Gill; 27.3.1865. Whitebait at Greenwich: J.M. Morton; 23.1.1856, 16.2.1859, 26.5.1864. The White Horse of the Peppers; S. Lover; March 1863, 16.3.1863. A Wonder: H. Carey S. Centlivre?: 12.11.-18.11.1864, Woodcock's Little Game: J.M. Morton; 14.12.1865. The Young Widow: J.T.G. Rodwell; 27.4.1865, 243 Page 268 ================================================================================