The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-31 00:00:00

fusir.

NEW PHILHARMONIC SOCIRTY.—The second con-
cert of the season took place on Wednesday evening,
at Exeter-hall, under the direction of Dr. Henry
Wylde, the principal vocalists being Miss Stabbach,
Madame Anna Thillon, and Mr. Hamilton Braham ;
the solo instrumentalists, Herr Ernst (violin), and
Mr. Lindsay Sloper (piano). The following was the
programme :

PAST I.
Overture—" Coriolsamu" Beethoven.
Selection from " The Ruins of Athens"
Aria—" Non tamer." Madame Anna Thillon
Concerto in I) minor—Mr. Lindsay Sloper Mendelasohn.
Symphony in C minor Beethoven.
Part Song—" 0 Hills, 0 Vales of Pl
H.ure" ldendelasohn.
PART eas
Overture—" Oberon "
Selection from" Comus" C. E. Horsley.
Fantligt— tOtello)—Violin, Herr Ernst
Rub.. and ktondo—" Arriere, &Mere t " Madame
Anna ninon (L'Etoile an Nord) Meyerbe3r.
Overture—" Ruler of the Spirits "
Conductor—Dr. Wylde.
Beethoven's overture to Coriolanus, which was
very finely performed, though seldom heard
in this country, is a striking composition, full
of melancholy grandeur. The selection from
the Ruins of Athens comprised the chorus,
" Daughter of mighty Jove ; " the duet of Greek
slaves, which was sung by Miss Stabbach and Mr.
Hamilton Braham ; and the wild and original
"Chorus of Dervishes." The pathos of the duet did
not seem to be felt by the singers, and even the
chorus of Dervishes was sung with a little too much
vivacity. Mendelssohn's concerto in 1) minor was
exquisitely played by Mr. Lindsay Sloper, who is one
of the most accomplished pianists of the day. His
tone was full and resonant ; his execution firm and
articulate; and his style animated and expiessive.
Nothing more unsuitable to Madame Thillon could
possibly have been chosen than Mozart's " Non
temer." This florid singer is quite at home in the
music of the modern French opera; but Mozart's superb
aria is not the class of music in which she is heard
to advantage—her meretricious reading completely
destroying the character of the music in this in-
stance ; yet it is due to Madame Thillon to say that in
the second part she fairly redeemed her character
in her brilliant execution of the air from Meyerbeer's
L'Etoile du Nord. But the great feature of the
evening was Beethoven's orchestral chef d'auvre, the
symphony in C minor, which was performed in a
manner which did great honour to the conductor and
the orchestra. The tempi of the different movements
were taken with judgment; and the grandeur and
pathos of this matchless work were developed with an
expression and effect rarely heard. It was certainly
a most magnificent performance. Mendelssohn's part
song, which was sung with much care and delicacy,
was unanimously encored ; and the selections from
Comus, a chorus, " Come let the rites begin," the ac-
companied recitative, " This way the noise was," the
song, "Sweet echo," remarkable for its ingenious
and imaginative instrumentation, were, with the
chorus and march, all rendered with fine effect, and
proved full of characteristic beauty and expression.
In the Otello fantasia Ernst achieved his usual
triumph ; and Weber's two overtures to Oberon and
The Ruler of Spirits were played with an effect
which proved the excellence and power of the
orchestra. The concert was highly successful, the
hall being crowded in every part, and a large sum
was collected for the charity for which the concert
was given.
SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—On Friday last (23rd
inst.) one of the finest musical performances of the sea-
son was given by this society at Exeter-hall. Mendels-
sohn's Lobgesang, and Mozart's Requiem—the one a
hymn of praise, the other a service for the dead—
offered an opportunity for a most suggestive compa-
rison between the pure styles of these greatcomposers.
The choice of these two works for performance upon
the same night was one of the happiest selections of
the directors of this society, and drew a crowded
audience to the hall. The solo performers,
Mrs. Lackey, Mme. Novello, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr.
Weiss, were, with the exception of Mr. Sims Reeves,
in excellent voice. In the duet, u I waited for the