The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-27 00:00:00

USit.

M. JULLIEN'S CONCERTS.—The Mozart festival
formed as novel as it was a plea-ant feature on Tues
day evening at these popular concerts, and, as might
have been predicted, was no less successful than the
preceding Beethoven and Mendelssohn festivals.
The house was crowded to excess in every part, and
the expectations of the audience were completely sa-
tisfied by the excellence of the performance. The
selection consisted of the overture to the Zauberflote,
the entire symphony in E fiat, the aria, " L'Addio,"
sung by Miss Dolby, the sonata in E flat, for the
pianoforte and violin, played by Mme. Pleyel and
Ernst, and the Jupiter symphony in C. The sym-
phonies throughout were played with great spirit and
with great delicacy of execution, but some of the
movements, especially the finale in the symphony in
E tiat, were played much quicker than we have been
accustomed to hear; there was scarcely time allowed
to dwell upon the exqui-ite melody of the composition,
thus rather impairing their effect than otherwise.
The minuetto in this symphony was yet justly en-
cored with enthusiasm, an honour that was also
unanimously accorded to Miss Dolby in the " Addio."
The sonata in E flat, played by Mme. Pleyel and
Ernst, was very attentively listened to and warmly
applauded, and the final rondo encored, though not
without some signs of dissent. The concert was so
highly successful that it was repeated to a crowded
house on Friday evening, and Mozart will now, we
trust, have his niche allowed him in future concerts,
for who among all composers can compete in melody
with Mozart? '
•

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.-It is announced that
Herr Richard Wagner has been engaged as the con-
ductor of the Philharmonic concerts of this season,
in the room of Mr. Costa. Herr Wagner is a musi-
cian of great continental reputation. He has distin-
guished himself, not only by many works belonging
to the highest branches of his art, but by his labours
in musical literature and criticism. In this country
his music, as yet, is very little known ; but the ques-
tion of its merits has divided the whole of Germany
into two parties—the one party extolling it to the
skies, while the other hold it to be altogether fan-
tastic and extravagant. Wagner see ins, in this res-
pect, to be in the same position as Berlioz ; the
position for a time of every man, of a bold and ori-
ginal genius, striking out new forms of art for which
his age is not prepared, and which, consequently, are
not immediately comprehended and appreciated.
But, whatever controversy there may be respecting
Herr Wagner's music, it is (Omitted on all hands
that as all able and experienced musical director be
has no superior in Germany.
HARMONIC UNION.—This society has announced a
series of eight concerts during the ensuing season;
the first to take place on Wednesday, the 31st inst.
Herr Molique has been engaged as the conductor,
an office for which no musician in London is oetter

qualified. The concerts are to be held in the Hano-
ver square Rooms, instead of Exeter-hall, as hereto-
fore. Among the works promised during the season
are The Messiah, The Creation, The Seasons, Elijah,
The Lobgesang,Acis and Galatea, Beethoven's Ruins
of Athens, The Walpurgis Night, Rossini's Stabat
Mater, and symphonies, concertos, &c., by Mozart,
Beethoven, Sterndale Bennett, and other eminent
composers.

MRS. FANNY KEMBLE.—This accomplished lady
will give a reading of Shakspeare's Midsummer
Night's Dream, at Exeter-hall, on Monday, February
sth. The reading of the play will be accompanied
by the whole of the incidental music composed by
the illustrious Mendelssohn for this beautiful and
imaginative play. The musical portion of this per-
formance is to be executed by a powerful orchestra
and chorus, under the direction of Jules Benedict.
The conjunction of Shakspeare and Mendelssohn,
with such exponents as Mrs. Kemble and Jules Be-
nedict, promises a rare intellectual and musical en-
joyment.