The Press.
London, England, 1855-05-05 00:00:00

SATURDAY,

-7-
soon gained strength and courage ; and the duet,
"My song shall always be Thy mercy," between
Clara Novello and Sims Reeves, in which both per-
formers fascinated and satisfied their hearers. Both
these effects are not often attained. In the Requiem
the two qnartetts and the "Sanctus" (full chorus)
were by tar the most successfully performed. All
the rest were either drowned by the orchestra, or so
imperfectly sung as to be highly unsatisfactory.
The audience were throughout strictly aueutive,
though the length of the Requiem made many open
their mouths wide enough, but not in praise.

HANOYEIt•BQUARE RoollB.—Mr. Sterndale Bennett
gave the third and last of his annual series of con-
certs upon Tuesday evening. The programme was
arranged as follows :

Trio, E flat, pianoforte, violin, and violoncello, Hummel—
Recit. and Ana, " Nou so donde," Mum t—soloa, piautituite,
Mozart and Duseek —Sonata, C unuor, piatudorte and violin,
Lietnnoveii—Snug, " Mairaton and Yrratflda," A uwood—Souata
Duo, pianoforte and violoncello, W. S. lieutied—loud, "Dawn,
gentle flower," W. S. Bataan—and Lieder rime W One, Men•
odlaaohn.
unDuel's well-known trio was ably performed, the
andante quasi allegretto, a melodious and flowing
movement, being especially successiul; but Mr. Bla-
grove displayed Ins most refined phase of talent in
Beethoven's exquisite sonata (C minor). It is un-
necessary for us to speak iu detail of this work,
every note of it is well known to both prulesaiunal
and amateur, but we cannot resist expressing our
unqualified admiration of the performance of the
work on Tuesday night. Signor Piatti's often• taxed
patience must have been sorely tried by Mr. Bennen's
long uninteresting sonata duo. Still, he played with
his accustomed vigour and intelligence, and in one
movement., the allegro guisto, executed such diffi-
culties as would have terrified a less accomplished
artist. This movement was, besides, very pleasing,
and proved quite a relief to the monotony of the tour
others. As regards the vocal part of this concert we
do not hesitate to condemn both selection and per-
formance unequivocally. Mozart's went aria, and
Auwood's beet sung, a choice of evils, were the prin-
cipal features. T►re former was a lung, dull trial
both to singer and audieuce, whilst Mite/ Stabuach's
unrestrained " efierey " of style, with, unhappily,
little corresponding attention to true intonation, wade
the Euglibil song positively detestable. There was
also a ballad of Mr. Bennett's, which, whether iuten-
tionally or not we cannot say, imitated must success-
fully the dull strain of a village psalm-tulle, without
retawing its devotional character. Really it is
hardly possible to censure such comptenuous too
severely, and to protest too strongly against their
producuon. We must, however, at a cis-sewed con-
teat, in justice to Ali. Benuete, praise his rendering
of L)ussek's brilliant rondo, which, admirably adapted
to his style, and requiring a pertection of execuuen
rarely to be met with, was played by him with a
ciearness, rapidity, and timen twit can scarcely be
rivalled. Before concluding our brief notice, we will
venture a few remarks upon Mr. Beuuett'e general
style of playing. To our ears his rigid and conscien-
tious accuracy can never compensate fur the utter
want of soul betrayed in his pertoinaanees. Eveu in
his own long work, which it was to be supposed be
would wish to have rendered most effective, he showed
not a touch of inspiration; and although under the
circumstances this was perhaps excusable, yet we
are reluctantly compelled to record our conviction
that his style is far too formal, and Lis want of feel-
ing too inanimate to enable him to do justice to the
highest works of the great composers. We should
be glad in future to see his place filled by any other
artist, proviso semper that his substitute shall feel
and freely appreciate the composition before him.
Should he be even slightly incorrect at times, we
would pardon him for the sake of his real worth, but
we cannot pardon insensibility and obstinate perse-
verance in a bad style. Mr. Bennett apparently is
unchangeable—may we have occasion to declare that
our opinions respecting him are not so !
Ste HENRY 131 SHOP'S CONCILRYS, HANOVER-SQUARE.
—The last but one of the new series of concerts
for the benefit of Sir Henry Bishop took place on
Saturday last, and we could nut help feeling some
disappointment at the uninteresting character of the
selection. Sir H. Bishop's works abound in beauty
and originality—their character is so veiled that
there could be no difficulty in furnishing materials
fur many concerts of the highest interest from judi-
cious selections waae by a musical admirer tit this
delightful composer. Besides the uuiuter,sting ua-
Lure of the selection, there was a great monotony
about the programme. Why not mix solos and
duets, of widen the number is legion ? We Lave
ourselves seen it Dalmaiue's a thick catalogue of
Bishop's works, and his works alone; surely there
can be no uifficulty in having variety, and beautiful
variety. We are so great an admirer of the genius
of this ill-treated co►nposer that we telt caneideraele
irritation et the idea o: the false impreseion winch
must have been produced on many persons by s bad
choice of materials of a musician alai a has of
genius. The second minenielit of the first qtuntette.