The twenty-ninth subscription concert on Wednesday of the Shanghai Philharmonic Society was very well attended, and the audience had the satisfaction of listening to one of the pleasantest concerts the Society has over given. All the numbers were new, as far at least as these concerts are concerned, and the vocal music, which is too often' the weak clement, was refreshingly good on this occasion." The programme was as follows Part L
1.—Le Roman de Pierrot et, de Pierrette... Burgemein.
a) Serensdo.
2aSovg—"Whon the Heart is Young" Dudley Buck.
Mrs. Valentine, 3.—Le Roman de Pierrot et dePierrette—(continued.)
6G) ope Nope ridge Nuptiale.
6.—Violin Concerto Ops Max Brucis.
sang ip syd Michiels.
The first and third. numbers were rendered by the whole orchestra; the Romance of Pierrot and Pierrette," as it is 2 called, is a most charming composition by "Burgemein," who is otherwise Giulio Ricordi, the great Italian music publisher. The four parts represent a serenade of his Indy-love by Pierrot, a duet between the the happy lovers, the wedding hall, and the wedding march, and they are full of the most delightful melody, admirably interpreted by Comdr. Vela's orchestra. The music is so bright, so full of variety, and so expressive, that it was almost a pity that it was thought advisable to cut the composition in half. The other orchestral numbers were the 8th, Salomé's Berceuse, a very pretty composition for the strings only, and the concluding March by Michiels,
ire and spirit, which would have been still A V'Avant-Porte," played with plenty, of better heard if the audience had not been in such a hurry to get to its carriages.
The other instrumental numbers were Nos. 5 and 6, Max Bruch's Violin Concerto—Op. 26, by Miss Jansen. To say that Miss Jansen played it like an artist seems inadequate, for Miss Jansen, though an amateur, is emphatically an artist, and her playing of the famous Concerto, which is splendidly orchestrated, was one of the finest and most completely satisfying efforts that has ever been heard in Shanghai. Miss Jansen is naturally a very great favourite with Shanghai audiences, and she more than justified the admiration that we all feel for her and her art. Both the adagio and allegro were listened to with the deepest attention and the most complete enjoyment, and the conclusion was followed by enthusiastic applause.
There were four vocal numbers. Mrs. Valentine came first with Dudley Buck's "When the Heart is Young," which she sang with much taste and expression, her fine voice doing justice to both words and music. The pathetic verses were sung very touchingly. She gave as an encore Mise Lisa Lehmann's Titania's Flowers," otherwise 'I know a Bank." In this she was not so successful, but this was the fault of the composer, not of the singer. In No. 4, Mr. Hagberg, who gave us some of his favourite Norwegian has a really magnificent voice well trained,
music, and was most heartily applauded.
encore he gave an extremely pretty song by Grieg, Jeg alskir dig," "TI love thee," which was also very rently enjoyed.
Miss Jamieson sang No. 7, Benjamin Godard's "Angelo Guard Thee." Miss Jamieson has been heard before more than once in Shanghai, but never go well. Her voice is full, sweet and true, with all the bright freshness of youth, and she sang with admirable express sion and enunciation. Her audience were enraptured, and had another treat when she returned and bg Good Night, Beloved," with violin obligato by Miss Bao. Teo." Number 9 was Lohr's " Margarita," sung by Mr. E.-W. Maitland. He was not in his best voice on Wodnesday, but his singing was: still very good, and the ease with which he produces his effects was again very noticeable. This alone, even if his voice had less music in it that it has, would make it a pleasure to hear him. We congratulate the Society and Commander Vals, the conductor, on the excellence of the programme as well of its execution.
Notwithstang the incessant rain, the Theatre was crowded last night in every part, Admiral Seymour and Tsai Taotai being present, and the performance went without a hitch.
In an article by Mr. Clement K. Shorter in the last issue of The Sketch, headed "Why Vulgarise the Pantomime?" it is well suggested that the providers of pan-tom ime at the great London theatres should make these performances less like music-hall shows and more like fairy tale "The fact is," Mr. Shorter says, the man in womans clothing and other aspects of the Christmas pantomime are quite dead to those who have eyes to see, The theatre manager. who has the judgment to provide his "Ghristmas fairy-tale on more wsthetic lines is going to make a large fortune." In the pantomime which was represented here for the first time last night by the A: D.C. at the Lyceum, being'
one hundred and twelfth performance, Mr. Wynne, under whose direction it was produced, has carried out this idea. It is true that' local exigencies have compelled the representation of Cinderella's sisters by mon; but throughout there is nothing which children will not enjoy, while the most cultivated and fastidious taste could but revel in the beauty—tho " msthetic lines""—of the scenery, the dresses, the groupings, the choruses, and the billets, As to the personnel-of the Indies! choruses and ihe ballets, they were not only greeted with an admiration which expressed itself in reiterated thunders of applause, but were welcomed with positive wonder that the A. D. ©., could find in Shanghai and present on its stage such o constellation, or rather series of constellagrace.
time to give the cast of this hitherto unpsrallelled performance of "Cinderella," which with an amusing allusion to the recent operatic performance, was given the sub-title of "The Daughter. of the Kitchen King Gallopade Ge eral Horatio Ra ats cay dog ringe Charmin Margaret Layfin,
Baron Fillotovlle "Mr. Vestibule.
Sharpwritz mald Bevant.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.