Notes On Music And The Drama.

NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA .

. THE Gazette Musical mentions that a Si . gnora Lumley , neice to Mr . Lumley , late of Her Majesty's Theatre has been singing at the Tealro Re , Milan , with success . . The celebrated cantatrice , Madlle . Spezia , has left Paris for Italy . Henri AA ieniawski , the Polish violinist has just married the daughter of the pianist Osborne .

In addition to Mario , a new tenor , M . Pancani , of whom report speaks highly , is engaged for next season at the Ltaliens . Mdmes . Alboni , Pcnco , and another soprano of first-rate reputation , but whose name is not yet given , are also understood to bo engaged . Madame Viardot is about to turn her genius , experience , and science to account , by assisting- to edit a selection of the best

classical vocal music of the Italian , German , and French schools , with directions as to style , accentuation , colouring , & c . This is a promise of no common value . Millie . Finoli , an accomplished and youthful artist , well known in our concert-rooms , and a great favourite in the salons of the aristocracy , has recently made her debut at the Teatro Alfieri ,

Turin , in Rossini's Barbieri , with a success amounting to a furore . Mr . Balfe is understood to bo at work on another opera , in conjunction with Mr . J . P . Simpson . AA ' e hear from Dresden that the composer , Herr Richard AA agner , has been favoured by a conditional amnesty from the King of Saxony , Herr AA agner may return to Germany , with the

exception of Saxony . The King ' s pardon , therefore , only consists in not requiring the other German States to deliver him up , should he be found living in one of theiii . 'This news has been dispatched to Paris , where Herr AVagncr now resides . A new comedy , by Scribe , is reported as accepted attboFranoais , Paris .

Mr . and Mrs . Sims Reeves , with Mr . Santley , have left London on a pleasure trip to Switzerland for a short period ; and to have a little relaxation after the hard work and toil of the London season . Mr . Bom-cicault and Miss Agnes Robertson ( Airs . Bourcicault ) have been engaged by Mr . AVebstcr , and will appear in a new drama by Mi-. Bourcicault , at the commencement of the winter season .

Mr . Batty has engaged Mr . Fitzball to write a new original drama on the subject of Robin Hood , which is to be produced at Astley's . Promenade and assembly rooms have been erected in the pleasant watering-place of Tynemonth . These rooms , which arc part of an extensive scheme for the improvement of Tyncmouth , now being carried out by a company constituted under tho Limited Liability

Act , form an imposing range of buildings to the east of the Bath Hotel . It is proposed to give a series of concerts in these rooms by Bro . Julian Adams . A phenomenon worthy of consideration by all generous persons interested in the occupation of women—is the increasing number of female players on stringed instruments , which the chronicles of

the Conservatoire speak of This year , at the examination of students , Millie . Bonlay gained a first—Mdlle . Castellan a secondprize . The violoncello , too , bas its professional student ( and prizegainers to boot ) among the gentler sex . The journals announce the resignation of M . Laport , President of the Committee of the Choral Societies of Paris .

The Italian journals announce the death of Erasmo Pistoleri , author of several archaeological and historical works , and composer I of several musical morceaux of merit .

A committee has been formed at Florence to erect a monument to the memory of Chorubini . The President is Professor Ferdinand Morini ; the committee reckon amongst its members the Duke de San-Clemonte and the Marquis Pompee Azzelino . Professor Edouard Pantasehiotti has been selected to execute the monument .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

THE FLORAL HALL . —Mr . Alfred Mellon commenced a season of Promenade Concerts in the beautiful building attached to the Royal Italian Opera on Monday last , since which the attendance has been very good , especially in the cheaper part of the ball , and everybody appears to enjoy the light aud gay appearance of the glass-house , brilliant-Ay lighted l ) y gets of gas , tastefully and fancifully arranged . The acoustical qualities of the ball were fairltested when the Royal Italian Opera concerts of the past

y season were given ; and the favourable verdict then pronounced by competent judges has received a further confirmation in these concerts . The conductors are Prince George Galitzin and Mr . Alfred Mellon , who by turns wield the baton of command over one ofthe finest bands this country can boast ; and the singers , Madlle . Parepa and Mr . AVilbye Coopez-. On the evening we visited the hall the principal orchestral pieces were Mendelssohn's overture to " Ruy Bias , " the " Scherzo , Storm , and Finale , " from Beethoven's

"Pastoral Symphony ; " Hero-Id's overture to " Zampa , " and an " operatic selection" from Donizetti ' s "La Favorita , " in which solos were assigned to Mr . Sydney Pratten ( flute ) , Mr . H . Hill ( violin ) , Mr . Hughes ( ophieleide ) , Mr . Levy ( cornet-a-pistons ) , and Mr . ( Jr . Collins ( violoncello ) . The two overtures were played to perfection , and as much may be said for the execution of the operatic selection . The vocalists were Miss Parepa and Mr AYilbyc Cooper , of whose excellence we need not speak . Such admirable entertainments as these arc indeed a boon to the musical public at the present " dull" period of the year .

CRYSTAL PALACE . —THE FORESTERS' FETE . —The great annual excursion of the Foresters will be held at the Crystal Palace on Tuesday next , the 21 st of August . This day for several years past has been one of the greatest days of the Crystal Palace . The society first held its excursion at the Crystal Palace in 1855 , when 28 , 757 persons were present . In 1856 the numbers were 30 , 754 , in 1857 the numbers were 35 . S 55 , in 1 S 5 S , 45 , 638 . Last year the enormous number of 63 , 181 persons attended the annual festival .

Of these about 20 , 000 came by road , the remainder by rail , the greatest order being maintained throughout the day . For ther present year great exertions are being made to increase upon the attendance on the last occasion . All the railways entering the metropolis have arranged special excursions . Extending to the North , nearly reaching to Edinburgh , they embrace the entire Eastern and AVestern districts as well as the whole of the South coast . The organization of tho Foresters' local committes bein

g very perfect the members of the District Lodges are stirred up to great emulation to increase the attendance from each district and thus present a popular demonstration ofthe most extensive character . The doors of the Palace will be opened as soon after eight in the morning as visitors may arrive , and will continue open until dark . The entire series of Great Fountains will be played at half-past four , and there will be a second display later in the afternoon . To enable visitors to leave the Palace gradually , the gas standards used at the

Christmas Festivities will be lighted up in the Naves and Transepts . The issue of season tickets , at a half-a-guinea each , available from the 1 st September until 1 st May , 1861 , so successful last year , will again be adopted .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

P . O . O . ( Huddevsfiold ) . —We have received £ 1 Gs . by Post-Office Order from Hiiddcrsfield , but cannot forward a receipt , there not being the slightest intimation from whom it comes . L . S . D . —The lowest fee for initiation in any Lodge in London , is £ 4 lis . Gd . £ 5 5 s . is the more general sum charged . J . M . ( 1005 ) is thanked . AVe were in possession of it , but his

kindness is not the less appreciated . F . P . —AA e have received the Masonic Alphabets . They belong to the Mark degree . P B . —We are requested to state that there were upwards of 150 brethren present in the late procession at Todmorden . BRITISH ARCIC . EOI . OSICAT , ASSOCIATION . —Owing to a pressure

of Masonic intelligence , our report of this Association is unavoidabl y held over . "Jottings from Abroad , " and other articles of interest are also in type .