The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-18 00:00:00

GRAND CONCERT AT HAGLEY.

A grand conceit was given at the Hagley
Hall Barn, on Tuesday evening last, under the
auspices of the Hagley Recreation Committee.
The principal performers were Miss Muntz
)Violinist), Sir George Cornewall, Bart., (Violon-
cellist), Lady Cornewall, Mrs. Fennell, Miss
Clara Mentz, Miss Ibbotson, Hon. Mary
Lyttelton, and the Hon. Mrs. W. H. Lyttelton
)Concertina), instrumentalists; and the Hon. S.
G. Lyttelton (Vocalist). The room was well
filled with a highly fashionable audience most of
the gentry of the surrounding district being pre-
sent. The music was of a high-class character
being selections from works of Mozart, Handel,
liassini,lieethuren, and other great masters. The
great attraction of the evening, however, was
the violin playing of Miss Mintz, a young lady
from Birmingham, of whose talent as a musician
report had spoken very hlithly, and we can only
say that the most sanguine anticipations of her
listeners were more than fully borne out by her
performances. Until recently it had been con-
sidered that the N.iuliu " the most perfect instru-
ment ever made," was unsuitable for ladies ;
that in their hands it was ungraceful ; and that
it was en instrument so difficult to master that
they would not have patience sufficient to make
them adepts in the use of it. The fallacy of
such suppositions have of late been thoroughly
exposed by such ladies as Madame Norman.
Neruda—who is said to be quite equal if not
superior to Sivori and Paganini in their best
days—and Miss Muntz, the latter of whom is
the very best amateur on the instrument, re-
gardless of sex, that we have ever had the
pleasure of listening to. The mellow evenness
and purity of tone, and the crispness and delicacy
of touch which distinguished her performance
were something almost marvellous, and her
audience were completely enraptured with the
ravishing melody which she produced from her
instrument.

The first piece was to have been the overture
to &demi " Ouillninue Tell," but the over...tire
to " Tancredi " was substituted, the perfor-
mers being Mr. H. Turner (Stourbridge). Sir
George Cornewall, Hon. Mrs. W. H. Lyttelton,
Hon. Mary Lvaelton, Lady Cornewall. and Miss
Ibboteou ; Lady Cornewall and the Hon. Mary
Lyttelton, accompanying on the pianoforte, and
Miss Ibbotson presiding at the harmonium. It
is needless to say that with such an array of
talent the overture was performed to perfection,
auct the applause which was given at the close
was well nielited. An " Adagio, in D," by
Jlvrit, introduced Miss Muntz to the audience
and her magnificent playing was listened to with
rapt attention, and she was tremendously ap-
plauded at the conclusion of her performance.
She was ably accompanied throughout by her
sister, Miss Clara Mentz. A harmonium and
pianoforte duet " Andante Cantabile," from
/Sect/wren, by Mrs. Fennell, and Miss Ibbotson,
was admirably rendered. An Italian song from
Handel, was next given by the Hon. S. G.
Lyttelton. This gentleman possesses a magnifi-
cent baritone voice, and the ease and accuracy
with which he gave the more difficult pasts
showed him to be a musician of great ability.
A ti:o, (in E flat,) by Hufnuid, in which the
performers were Miss Mentz, Sir George Corne-
wall, and Lady Cornewall, (the latter of whom
presided at the pianoforte), was ably rendered.
Mrs. Fennell next performed a " Grand Sonata "
from Weber, with her accustomed brilliancy and
skill. As moat of our readers have frequently
heard this lady play it will be unnecessary, for
its to enter into any minute description of her
performance. The next piece that calls for
comment was a magnificent violoncello solo con-
sisting of a fautasia on " You'll remember me,"
from Balfe's Bohemian Girl, which was given in
a masterly manner by Sir George Cornewall, he
being ably accompanied on the pianoforte by
Lady Cornewall. This was followed by a piece
entitled " Meditation" from Gounott, performed
by Miss Monte, the Hon. Mary Lyttelton, and
Miss Clara Mentz, in which the violin playing
of Miss Muntz was heard to great advantage, and
at the conclusion, the piece was unanimously
encored. This having been responded to, the
Hon. S. G. Lyttelton, gave an English song by
Prods with great pathos and feeling. He was
accompanied by Sir George Coruewall on the
violoncello, and the Hon. Lady Mary on the
pianoforte, and the effect was so pleasing that
the audience showed their appreciation by uni-
versally demanding a repetition of the piece.
A Violin solo," Larglietto Sonata," No. 6, Beet-
hoven, by Miss Manta was given in an admirable
manner, and tho prolonged and hearty applause
testified the delight and appreciation of those
present. The evening's entertainment was
brought to a conclusion by the performance of
Mendelssohn's " Grand March" from " Athalie,"
by Mr. H. Turner, Sir George Cornewall, Hon.
Mrs. W. H. Lyttleton, Hon. Mary Lyttelton,
Miss Ibbotson, and Lady Cornewall.
The Concert was the very beet we have
listened to for some time, and the Hagley Re-
creation Committee are not only to be com-
mended for their efforts to foster a love for high-
class music, but also to be congratulated on
being able to get together such an unexception-
able array of talent to be the exponents of it.

" A VISIT TO EPPS'S COCOA MAITUVACTORT.—Througb
the kindness of !dews. Epps, I recently had an oppor.
I inity of seeing the many complicated and varied pro-
cesses the Cacao bean passes through ere it is mold for
public use, and, being both interested and highly pleased
with what I saw during my visit to the manufactory, I
thought a brief account of the Cacao, and the way it is
manufactured by Messrs. Epps, to tit it for a wholesome
and nutritious beverage, might be of interest to the
readers of " Land and Water. "—See Article in" Land
and Water," October 14.

BREAKFAST.—EPPS'a COCOA.—GRATEFUL AND COM-
FORTINO.—" By a thorough knowledge of the natural
laws which govern the operations of digestion and nu-
trition, and by a careful spplication of the fine properties
of well-selected cocoa, Mr. Epps has provided our break-
fast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which
may save tie many heavy doctors' Service
Gazette. Made simply with boiling waterer milk. Each
packet is labelled —"JAMES EPP9 & CO., Hommopathie
Chin:Mats, London." Also, makers of Epps'. Caimans,
a thin, refreshing beverage for evening use.

MANITPACTITHR Or COCOA, CACAOINII, AND CROCOLATAL
We will cow give an account of the process adopted
by Messrs. James Epps & Co.' manufacture.. of &stele
articles, at their works in the Easton-road, London."-
8e• Articilllu Put le of Osseille Howshold OW*.