The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.

Tam ancient society commenced another season last
Monday, the permanent conductor for the six con-
certs being, as during the past year, Professor
Sterndale Bennett. Instead of haying two chef,

THE PRESS.

d'attaque, or, as they were called in former times,
" leaders," there are now three. Sivori and Cooper
were in 1856 the two first violins iu turn; in 1857
we shall have Sainton for two concerts, Blagrove for
two, and Cooper for two. This arrangement has
been pronounced to be absurd. And so it would
have been in those days when a leader and a con-
ductor fought a battle for supremacy ; but the baton
having gained the day against the bow, it is matter
of little consequence whether a chef d'attaque be
changed every concert, provided he be an efficient
executant, and understands his conductor. Mr.
Bennett is not a demonstrative wielder of the
baton—he seeks apparently quietness and un
obtrusiveness. Amateurs can listen calmly with the
certainty there will be no attempt at new readings,
and that the pace will be the jog-trot one. The
result must be evident—it is cold conventional
correctness. A little more decision, a shade or two
of additional colouring, and the effects would
perhaps be less somniferous. This remark will not
apply to the overtures—for the band, trained as it
was by Costa, will go its own pace—but to the
symphonies. Haydn's No. 8, in E flat, which is more
filled with episodes than is usual with his works,
and Beethoven's to D, No. 2, would have gained by
increased animation on the part of the conductor.
The two solo instrumental items were Piatti's fine
rendering of a violoncello concerto by F. A.
Kummer, admirably written for the instrument, and
Miss Arabella Goddard's correct but frigid interpre-
tation of Mendelssohn's concerto in D minor. After
the recent fame acquired by this highly-accomplished
pianiste in Beethoven's sonatas, her playing was
looked for with great interest, but did not realise
everybody's expectations. The mechanism was
wonderful, especially in the final movement ; but
the slow one seemed to many hearers to be deficient
in sentiment and passion. Mme. Rudersdorff and
Signor Belletti were the singers.

THE MUSICAL UNION.
THE thirteenth season was opened by Mr. Ella on
Tuesday, with a most interesting debut—that of
Mlle. Anna Molique, a daughter of the distin•
guished violinist and composer of that name. The
lair pianiste is a pupil of Charles Halle, and took
the part originally assigned to her master (who had
met with an accident) in her father's MS. trio in F,
No. 2, op. 52, Molique and Piatti being her colleagues.
This combination gave additional zest to the produc-
tion and performance of the trio, which, like all the
works of the great classic, will require more than one
hearing to appreciate the profound, novel, and in-
genious combinations with which it is crowded.
Mlle. Molique made a very favourable impression
on her critical auditory. Spohr's double quartet in
D minor, op. BS, was attacked with uncommon
vigour and remarkable brilliancy by Molique,
Carrotlus, Goffrie and Piatti and Blagrove, Ries, R.
Blagrove, and Paque. With Mozart's quartet in C,
No. 6, and a contra-basso pronunciamento from
Bottesini, the morning's programme was complete.
The reception of Molique's and Silas's compositions
will doubtless induce the director to he more bold
in his policy. "Nothing venture, nothing have,"
will apply to music as to ordinary life.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
PREPARATIONS are in active progress for the concerts
of the Royal Italian Opera company, the first of
which will be given next Friday. Mr. Gye, who
constructed with so much ingenuity the orchestra of
last year, solving a problem in acoustics which had
been declared to be an impossible one, has again
superintended the arrangements, and has availed
himself of his former experience to extend the com-
forts of the auditory, whilst securing them all the
advantages of hearing even at the most remote
distances. Mr. Costa will conduct a portion of the
programmes, and the full choral and orchestral
forces of the Royal Italian Opera, as at Covent
Garden, will be brought into play. The selections
for the season will present many points of peculiar
interest to amateurs.

The indefatigable committee of the Sacred Har-
monic Society are at work night and day for the
Handel Festival on the 15th, 17th, and 10th of
June. The Messiah will be the first oratorio, Judas
Maccabees the second, and the Israel in Egypt the
final one. The enormous extent of the orchestra
will be guessed when it is mentioned that it will be
nearly forty feet wider than the existing one in
Exeter-hall; and yet so accurately has the line of
sight been carried, that every executant, vocal and
instrumental, will have a clear view of the conductor,
who will not be obliged to resort, as Berlioz did in
Paris at the Great Exhibition, to some dozen sub-
conductors to communicate the beat of the baton.
Gray and Davison's gigantic organ, which is intended
to remain permanently in the transept, is now in
course of fixture, and by the end of the ensuing
month will be complete. The makers are confident
in their assertion that whilst it will be the most
powerful instrument in the world, it will combine
such qualities as to render the Crystal Palace organ

415

A 1, and the glories of Friburg, Harlem, St. Denis,
York, Birmingham, and Liverpool are to be eztin
guished. Costa has matured his plan for the
equal balance of force in the stringed, wind, and
percussion instruments. The proportions he has
adopted are these :-76 first violins, 74 second
violins, 50 violas, 50 violoncellos, and 50 double
basses—in all 300 stringed. The wind comprise 9
flutes, 9 oboes, 9 clarionets, 9 bassoons, 12 horns,
12 trumpets and cornets-a-piston, 9 trombones, 3
ophicleidcs, 9 serpents and bass horns, 3 drums and
6 side•drums-90 wind and percussion in all. The
grand total will be 390 players. Here is a wide
field for speculation as to the effects which will be
produced by such tripling of the ordinary parts
ol• an orchestra. That there will be some sublime
results cannot for a moment be doubted; but whether
the inner subtle workings of a composer's score will
come out in bold relief, is a problem to be solve 1.
What an aggregate of human voices will accomplish
we already know by the essay under Costa's direc•
tion at the opening of the Crystal Palace.

MR. C. KENNY gave an interesting lecture con-
nected with humorous anecdotes of the great com-
poser Beethoven on Wednesday night, at the
Mechanics' Institution, Chancery-late. Some of
Beethoven's compositions were done justice to by
the admirable singing of Miss Palmer, Miss
Hughes, and Mr. Allen. Master Harrison also ac-
quitted himself most respectably on the pianoforte.
The room was well attended.

Las BOUFFES PARISIENS, whose charming per•
formances have for several years been among the
attractions of Paris, are about to appear here at the
St. James's Theatre, commencing on May the 20th.
In addition to the principal artists, Messrs. Pradeau,
Guyot, and Gertpre, and Mlles. Dalmont and I.lare-
chal, it is intended to import the orchestra of the
establishment uudir the direction of M. Offenbach,
by whom the music of many of the pieces is corn-
posed. These performances, so thoroughly French
in their piquant and artistic finish, can scarcely fail
to become popular.
CRI3IEAN RELICS.—Undor this title a grand Illus-
trated Concert is to take place at the St. James's
Theatre on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
next. The proceeds of the three concerts are for
the benefit of the Nightingale Fund, the Soldier's
Infant's Home, and the Army and Navy Pensioners'
Employment Society.

alloneg parka anb Qtit

FRIDAY EVENING.
Taz return of the Bank of England for the week ending
the lath inst., shows the following changes compared with
that for the week preceding :
Increase in Circulation
Decrease in Public Deposits
Increase in Other Deposits
Decrease in Private Securities
Increase in Bullion
Increase in Rest
Increase in Reserve

Bullion in Both Departments 9,803,749
Circulation, including Bank Post
Bills
The three most essential points in this comparison are all
of a very favourable character. The Private Securities
have diminished nearly 600,0001., while the Bullion and
the Reserve have each increased more than half a million.
These changes fully show that there were no grounds fer
anticipating, as appears to have been the case in Paris a
few days ago, that the Bank Directors were preparing to
place the Money Market under still further restrictions.
The Bullion is now gradually approaching towards
10,000,0001., whilst the stock of notes has increased to
3,619,220/. It is quite understood that the changes which
have occurred in the position of the Bank during the cur-
rent week have not been such as to interfere with its pro-
gressive improvement; but so long as the publication of
the returns is delayed till Friday, when they might be put.-
lished upon Tuesday, seeing that the accounts are made
up to the Saturday previous, such opinions must be ac-
cepted with reserve. The other changes shown by the
comparison do nut call for any remark.
The Money Market has in the present week presented
quite a contrast to its condition during the preceding ten
days. In our last we described the extreme Eringency
that prevailed up to Friday, caused by the apprehensions
excited by the restrictions on discounts and advances im-
posed by the Bank, followed by rumours that the Bank of
France had increased the premium from four to six per
mille upon its purchases of gold. Up to Thursday the
sensitiveness was such that many houses, in order to he
prepared for whatever might happen, enlarged their dis-
counts as much as possible ; and thus involuntarily added,
by an exaggerated demand, to the existing stringency. A
heavy demand, too, had been prevailing all the week in
order to pay for the silver sent to India by Monday's
packet. From these, and other leas important causes,
a state of general uneasiness was created out of propor-
tion to the real circumstances which created it. In the
present week, therefore, we have had a natural reaction.
It is true, which we doubted last Friday, th,t the Bank of
France has increased the premium upon its gold pur-
chases • and it is also a fact that Messrs. Barings have
launched the great Russian railway scheme upon the

416

Money Market. Yet neither of these circumstances,
which in ordinary times would probably have arrested
any immediate tendency to improvement, were able to
prevent a very considerable degree of ease prevailing
all week—dertainly until nearly the close of business
yesterday. The supplies have been ample at all the bank.
ing and discount houses, while the demand has been
moderate, and rates, hitherto so firm, were up to Wednes-
day evening from one•eighth to a quarter below the Bank
minimum upon the best bills. In the Stock Exchange the
h u•rowers last week at six and a half per cent. were glad
to become lenders at six, but they could not find takers
from day to day, as has been the case lately, but only till
the end of the railway account—that is, for nearly a fort-
night. Some of these gentlemen, therefore, are likely to
be sufferers by the eagerness to increase their reserves
which they manifested last week. Such has been the
g •neral condition of the market. The falling off in the
demand may not, however, ba wholly attributable to the
n aural effects of reaction. Manufacturers in the country,
feeling the effects of high prices in the cost of raw mate-
rials and of dear money at the same time, are reducing
their production to a very appreciable extent, and the
result is already felt in the diminishing number of bills
sent up from the North; while the shipping trades have
wit, been so active as usual during the last. fortnight.
There has also been a decided suspension of new enter•
prises. The falling off in the demand fur money in the
present week is therefore, to some extent, easily accounted
for ; but, as it has arisen exclusively from temporary causes,
it may revive, perhaps suddenly, and become as intense
as ever. These are the usual concomitants of an unsettled
market. Indeed, some symptoms of a revival were ap-
parent yesterday. But, on the whole, the feeling and
disposition is certainly improved; and there arc not
wanting parties of experience and position who believe
that unless some incident of an untoward character occurs,
the Bank may at an early period remove its existing
restrictions as to the discount of brokers' bills, and its
temporary advances upon Government stock. The Rank
certainly will not retain them unnecessarily, to the detri•
nista of its own business. To-day the demand was much
more active, and nothing was done under the Bank rate. '
The railway settlement next week, and the approach of
the 4th, were assigned as the causes of the change.
Gold to a small amount has been taken into the Bank;
but the specie movements of the week have been uaim•
portant, with the exception of the export to India and
China by the packet of M anday. That export amounted
to 739,7931., a very small amount of which was in gold.
8-30001. have been sent to Rio. A sum of 210,0001. is an-
nounced to-day from Australia, bat we have had no other
arrivals of consequence. Rather more than 500,000/. are,
however, still expected from Australia, the larger portion
of which is due. Nothing has yet been heard of the Oneida,
which had a small sum on bo ird. The measure adopted
by the Bank of France has placed some limited orders to
purchase gold for transmission to Paris in the hands of
oae or two houses here, but they have not yet effected any
transactions of importance privately nor withdrawn any
amounts fiom the Bank. They appear to be waiting the
Australian arrivals, most of which they may probably
secure. These operations, so long as the stock in the
Bank is not materially affected, will create but little ap
prehension, as the money must, sooner or later, come back
to this country.
The American Exchanges have improved to 109, and it
is likely in a week or two to become profitable to remit
gold here. The Continental Exchanges, however, do not
show any material variation. They are still wavering.
English Securities have been as nearly as poss'ble sta-
tionary since our last. The Funds have been a point or
two higher than this day week, but an improvement has
not been established notwithstanding the better aspect of
the Money Market. Railway Shares may be described in
almost the same terms; if anything they are rather flatter.
Foreign and Miscellaneous Stocks have been exceedingly
dull.

Consols, which left off last Friday at 931 exactly for the
Sth May, hay: touched 03&, but the average quotation has
been ol} to I. This was the closing price yesterday.
Considerable money dealings have taken place, and they
have supported the market. To-day they opened and
closed at 931 to 1, after having been temporarily f lower.
Exchequer Bills have taken a decided turn. From
being at 10s. dis. to 3s. dis., and being almost unsaleable,
they have improved to 3s. dis. to par, with rather a fair
demand. This change was initiated by some large pur-
chases by the Bank broker on Monday and Tuesday, and
they have been firm since. The market is now supported
by the fact that on the Sth May 2,000,(X)01. of Mr. Glad-
stone's Exchequer Bonds will be paid off.
Railway Shares have experienced but a dull business,
and quotations have in some instances declined, but not to
any material extent. The holders of nearly all English
descriptions are firm. So that what with the high prise
of money on the one hand, and the belief that stock is not
at its natural value on the other, transactions have been
upon the most limited scale. French shares have been
affected by sales caused by the weaker position of the
market in Paris, where there has been an extremely active
demand for demand. Canadians have been firm, but they
gave way a little to day.
Foreign Securities of all descriptions have been
neglected, and there has been senrcely any movement in
prices. Mexicans are steady. Turkish a little lower.
Business in Joint.stock Bank, Miscellaneous, and
Mining Shares has been unimportant.
Messrs. Baring, Brothers, and Co., issued the Russian
railway prospectus on Saturday. Out of the 12,000,0001.
to be raised in the first instance towards the entire aggre-
gate of 47,000,0001., this proposal invited English
capitalists to subscribe to the extent of 2,000,0001. The
first payment is to be 6/. per share, anu the period for
applications is from the 28th April to the sth May. We
believe that with the subscription of Messrs. Baring
sheasselres and that of their friends the 2,000,0001. is