LITERATURE, MUSIC, AND THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6787, 18 August 1883, Page 11 (Supplement)

LITERATURE, MUSIC, AND THE DRAMA.

-' iritwßS.' Blackwood intend publishing a " large-paper. _ edition of , Mr. Stormonths ' Peterßayne is engaged tapon a life of Luther, which will be published ; ' in two large octave volumes. It is stated that "Prince Krapotkine, despite imprisonment and weak health, has begun on elaborate work on Finland. Mr. Fred. Gebhardt has lately farther distinguished himself by presenting the " Jersey Lily" with ai diamond worth £5000. Messrs. Macmillan will shortly publish the ftratthree bookß.of an elaborate edition of Herodotus.. ; Professor Sayce is ; the editor. At a concert recently given in the Albert : ■ pall, London, the programme included a composition for sixteen players, performing on eight pianos. _ The drama on which Messrs. G. R. Sims and:H. Pettitt are engaged together, and with which the autumn season at the Adelphi -will commence, is described as "a new romantic play of modern English life in town and country." , , . . It is a singular fact that not one theatre in 2few York is managed by a lady, and only two are in the hands of actors. This contrasts forcibly with the state of things at present found in London and Pans, w ere V many of the most successful houses ' managed by either ladies or actors. , , i- The Academy hearß that an elaborate folio : history of the Douglas family is now m preparation, and nearly ready for the press. The editor is a member of the family, and ib " ransacking all the best public and private collections for new material, so as to make the ■work as exhaustive and accurate as possible. According to Le Livre, Richard Wagner Wnfratpd his memoirs to his wife during the tot three years of his life. The work filled four volumes, and was printed at Basle in an edition of three copies, the original MS., the proofs, and the revises being all scrupulously destroyed. Of these three copies, Wagner kept one for himself, gave the second to his bod, and the third to Frank Liszt. Jildmo. Sarah Bernhardt, by the way, has her hands just at present as full as she can possibly wish them. Not content with her jeputation as a tragedienne, painter, sculptor, aeronaut, and authoress, fihe is manageress of -jjo less than three Parisian theatres. Her new house—the Porte St. Martin, has been inaugurated by the production of AJolphe Belot's "Pave de Paris," a sensation play in . twelve tableaux. A long run seems to be in ! store forjthis piece. At the Handel festival in London, 4000 performers, instrumental and vocal, took part. In the orchestra were about 450 , performers, of which nearly one-half fell to , the first and second violins. Of the principal ■ "vocalists, the solo soprano was Madame Albani, who Bang with her accustomed fervour and taste. Her parts " How Beauti- ; jful are the Feet," "I Know That my Redeemer Livcth," and "Come unto Him," being among the brightest parts of the performance. The contralto parts were shared by Madame Trebelli and Madame Patey. The former's singing in "He Shall Feed His Flock," and the latter's in "He was Despised" . made -it difficult to decide who appeared to greater advantage. Mr. Maas sang with much expression and taste; "Comfort Ye," "Every Valley shall be Exalted," "Behold and See," were perfectly - rendered. Signor Foli and Mr. Santley divided the bass music. Madame Adelina Patti made her first

appearance in London this season in Rossini's opera II Barbiere. The part of Kosina is one which the gifted artist has made so _ much r hor own that very few others attempt it. It is certainly one of her best parts. It is also so frequently played by her" that every feature in the representation is quite ; familiar. The only variation introduced on this occasion was in the lesson scene, when, taking advantage of the license allowed by custom, she sang Ernami in volami from Verdi's opera, and a 8 a response to the -enthusiastic demands for encore, "Home, Sweet Home," each with a charm that condoned for the anachronism and the violation

of the unities -of speech. The exci teraent " created by her beautiful vocalisation did not cease until she had returned to the.stage and had-repeated'the final verse of Bishop's ballad. The house presented a moat ■ brilliant appearance, the Prince and Princess —•of Wales, Prince Albert Victor, the Duke of H Cambridge,and the Princess Mary Adelaide being among . ;the distinguished visitors present. -