The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-06-20 00:00:00

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THE HANDEL FESTIVAL.

(Prost our Sperial Oorruposuleitl,)

The Handel Festival began on Friday with irebear.
sal, at which more people were present than I ever
saw before on any great day, Judging from this: from
the disinclination among all climes to break into
another week ;" and from tbe:spectuletion—a sale one,
2 to I at least—that Sims Reeves is hoarse at rehearsal
—I may safely already declare the Handel Festival of
this year the greatest success of these gatherings; aid
If the shareholders don't get an extra half-crown per
cent: with their next dividend, I shall begin to fear ,
that Crystal Palace shores will never be quite as valu-
able as "Taff Vales." lam not going to pretend to
criticise the execution of music at relmeasal. First of
all, that sort of thing will be done to death, and that
In such • variety of ways that any reader will be able
to find the exsat kind ed orltioal decision that swords
with his own (If he or she were present), and with his
desire, if absent. Then again, how can you criticise
if you don't know what is being sung, and ain't see
who the vocalist I.? And at the Crystal
Palace they push the representatives of the pro.
vincial press into a gallery, au storey hOlier thes
tAe top pipes of the organ, and charge you half-a.crown
for a programme. You amid have had • book of the
words into the bargain, but you eould'at get a pro-
gramme without. Now surely, where things are
generally dons so well and au liberally, it might be ex-
pected that • better system would prevail with regard
to programmes than that which has been lately so
loudly condemned by the press, and so well quizzed by
the " Comics ?" Mr. Novelle probably would object
, to • sizpenny programme, but I question whether he
would not be a gainer by such an institution, is many
of us who would have willingly paid 61 for a programme,
and then a florin for the music, resolutely set Our teeth
against the offer of a programme and book of the words
for half.a-crown. In thie the public are interested ;
the press gallery hi a grievance which affect. only the
'Fourth Estate." If you ever lapin see your special
correspondent in the flesh, make more of him than you
have ever done, for he has been near the dilemma of
that aspiring singer who "went up so high that he
cotild'at come down again." Following the rate of
upward progress, we may expect at the Fifth Triennial
Festival to find ourselves mewled in a gallery on the top
of the building. Hitherto we have had a moat eligible
position in • side gallery on the first storey, and I can
assure liri Grove that we all highly appreciated it. We
have been pleased with the admissions "for self and
hien'," but we haft felt the quid had been already
given for the quo. Our places, however, were received
as a real boon and a compliment to be proud of. But
to be stuck up in what would be the sixpenny gallery
at tbe Victoria—es far as possible from the orchestra,
fronting it, looking down upon ropes, which cut the
view of the orchestra and upon the uncovered frame.
work of the royal box—the canopy of which extends
many yards forward- and to 800 places where we might ,
be placed half occupied—is rather galling to those who
have attended these gatherings ever since they 111011 l
first instituted. For myself, rather than accept meth •
seat again I will return my ticket, pay for and choose
my own seat, and exercise the privilege of that hada
pendent critic, who finding the performances execrable
gave up his "complimentary" box ticket, paid for the
pit and asserted his privilege of laming the players.
Many of the features of the festival are familiar ones—
the orchestra like a bouquet of flowers (if the simile is
not quite faded)—the choruses rolling, as it were; off
the bathe of the conductor, now Si. Michael—the
announcement, unp'easantly set up in large type
ahrrtly after the meows,' had begun, that "Mr. Sims
lie ves is suffering from hoarseness, and cannot sing
to-day"—the complimentary applause on the entrance
of the leading artistes, and that Indescribable and
priceless rustle which must convey to the object of it
"a sensation worth dying for." All these we had, as
usual, with the splendid precision of thousands of voices,
and dosses of arms, the military sharpness of the con-
ductor, who, when Patey was singing, stopped the
performance by sharp raps of his bathe, and issued a
direction which was almost beard in our eagle's nest
Miens sang twice with superb effect—that of the
full-blown matron over girls of tender years Sunoco
went exquisitely through her suns and cleavers.
Trebelli-liettini sang also with great purity, and Patey
ought to have come in for a fail share of tl.ri
applause which was ,lavished on all the other ladles,
mid would have done so but for the hitch to which we
hive referred, and the rapid succession afterwards of
the oho; us on the air. Mr. Santley sang several times.,
and in his lent piece made a hit that the Chief of
Tenors might have envied ; whilst Mr. Cummings made
us ferg:t Sims Reeves, and almost forgive him. There
is such a thing, however, as exhausted patience, and
Reeves should know he is thereabouts. If be could
have heard hat of what wail said of him when the
;lewd. were put up OD Friday, he would take a little
more care of himself and his voice in future. Ti:eday
(Monday) the Mauish will be given, Wednesday is
"selection" day, and on Friday " Israel in Egypt" is
to be performed.