It is a common form to say of artistes, as is said of Miss Amy Sherwin in her ad. vertisements, that they are "the most accomplished that ever visited the East," but the difference is that in the present case there is absolutely no exaggeration in the statement. Not only is Miss Sherwin's the most beautiful voice that we have ever heard in Shanghai, but we are not likely to hear so geod a one again until Shanghai becomes the great city which we all expect it to be in time, It is therefure to be regretted that private engagements, which are so numerous in the interval between Lent and the hot weather, should have kept so many people away from the theatre on Saturday night; but those who did_ go enjoyed a really unparalleled treat, and shewed that they enjoyed it by their applause.
The performance began, as usual, with concert in which the music, while all good was all bright and attractive, frie nanaie to; ba; good isto: netomsanlly heavy. The first number was Balfe's setting "of Longfellow's Excelsior, sung by Messrs. Stockwell and Sherwin. Stockwell is a finished vocalist with a remarkable tenor voice, while Mr. Sherwin is a distinctly good baritone, and the duet went capitally. Miss Minna Fischer followed with Mattei's Dear Heart; she has too, a very fine, sweet, sympathetic voice, and she sings with excellent expression. Blumenthal's My Queen, which followed, is a just favourite with amateurs: we were about to recommend that ad should go and learn from Mr. Stockwell how it ought to be sung, but perhaps the lesson would deprive society of the pleasure of bearm; the song again for some time. The fourth number introduced the prima donna in great feeling and her Bishop's Lo! here the gentle Lark, with flute obligato by Mr Lemmone. To describe song was cue of the goma of the evening. Jespecially good, and in our opinion this adequately Miss Sherwin's rendering of This artiste's second song, the well known this charming song is almost impossible.
Twickenham Ferry, was also charmingly It is Shelley's Ode poured forth in liquid rendered, and with a freshness and grace sweetness we have seldom heard equalled. Mr. Stock-Hail to thee, blithe spirit, well as usual brought down the house in Bird thou never wert, his two songs, The White Squall by Barker, That from heaven, or near it, and Come into the Garden, Maud, the latter Pourest thy full heart. of which though so often heard was given In profuse strains of unpremeditated art a new charm by his skilled rendering, Miss Sherwin was recalled again and With regard to Miss Amy Sherwin we can in, and at last responded by singing the only say she was superb, and her singing of incannee River, one of the loveliest of the Couplets dw Mysoli was very beauti-those simple and heartfelt lays that soothe passage fully shewed how flexible her voice ful, and the rendering of the' staccato the restless spirit," and into which she throws as much pathos as_blitheness into is, Mr. John Lewnione as usual thoroughly
played the dear old Curniral de Venise on the skylark's song. Mr. Lemmone then pleased the audience with his flute solos, and his playing of the Fuiry Dance by his flute; he is an excellent player with Doppler was all that could be desired: Mr. admirable execution, and the flute—an Clutsam also on the piano was very good, instrument of torture in ordinary hands—and the Mazurka of his own composition in his a sweet fountain of music. The was exceedingly catchy and had a swing laughing trio from the Rose of Castille, one about it, which could' not fail to attract of Balfe's brightest pieces, came next, even the rudest ear, capitally sung by the two leches and Mr.
The latter part of the entertainment was Stockwell, and this gave us an opportunity filled by two scenes from Verdi's beautiful of seeing how bright and graceful an actress opera, Ji Trovatore, and this not only Miss Sherwin is. Mr. Clutsam is a pianist illustrated the power of the company as very much above the average, and his vocalists but also as histrionic artists. In playing with equal appreciation two such the first scene Miss Sherwin made contrasting pieces as Moskowski's Serenadle charming Leonora and her singi and Godard's Mazurka gave good scope for out was excellent. Mr. Sherwi his talents. Then the manager came on as Court di Luna seemed to bring his and explained that Mr. Lemmone had been voice out better than in the duet at the suddenly taken ill and could not play an-beginning of the evening. The situation other solo, but his place on the programme when Leonora kneels to the Count to be-was well filled by Mr. Stockwell, who raised seech him to spare Manrico's life was the audience to enthusiasm with Hatton's beautifully acted and the amount of despair My siceetheart when a boy, and in response thrown into it by Miss Sherwin is beyond toa demand which would not be refused iricism. The Miserere chorus was rendered gave the popular Estudiautina, whose only the scenes by the full force of the fault is that English words go clumsily company, with great feeling, and it is with Spanish music. wonderful that the few singers could pro-Balfe's operetta which concluded the perduce such a fine effect. In the dungeon formance, The Sleeping Queen, is one which scene which followed Azucena "(Miss we do not remember to have heard before Fischer) and Maurice (Mr, Stockwell), in Shanghai. The libretto is not more reacted with great truth and feeling, and markable than the story, but it serves to their duet, Home fo our Mountains, was tie together a series of very pretty songs and concerted pieces, and gives Mr. Sher-given ina style which struck home to every heart. The acting also of Miss She win the opportunity of showing that he h and Mr, Stockwell was very good and their decided talents as a comedian. The music singing together was perfect. At the end is very bright and tuneful, and one song in of all when the heroine dies, Miss Sherwi it, Donna Ayues' ribbon song, delightfully fully showed her power as an actress, and sung by Miss Fischer, captivated the fairly carried away the house. To conclude, audience. Miss Sherwin, of course, has the the whole performance was one of the most. leading role and slight as it is, it is enough enjoyable it has been our fortune to see in to show hor powers as a lyric artist as well Shanghai; we trust that the troupe will as vocalist, and the only pity was that it face on Saturday night an audience more was not longer. She accompanies her sing-commensurate with their merits. It will ing with so much grace and spirit, that we be little credit to Shanghai if such good mourn that the company is too'small at music, when its excellence is known, us it present to allow her to shew how she would must be by this time, does not meet with present in its completeness a heroine of fuller appreciation than has been so far grand opera. Mr. Stockwell was excellent shown. in his song to the sleeping queen, takin again the B flat in alt from the chest wit consummate ease. Mr. Clutsam accom-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.