The Press.
London, England, 1857-06-06 00:00:00

CONCERTS OF THE WEEK.

Srvoitrs playing of Mendelssohn's violin concerto in
E minor was the prominent attraction in the fourth
Philharmoni programme. It was a masterly effort,
accomplished apparently with the greatest ease, and
distinguished for a certainty of intonation, refine-
ment of stlle, and polish of execution almost
unprecedented. Sterndale Bennett's overture to the
Naiades, a composition in:fancy, imagination, and
treatment worthy of any master, was a most ac-
ceptable orchestral item. Madame Comte Bor-
chardt, a Belgian prima donna, distinguished herself
by a vigorous reading of Beethoven's great scene,
"Ab perfido," one exacting an extended register
and executive powers of the highest order and first-
rate musical declamation. Her voice is metallic in
the higher notes, and her school is essentially
French, but she is not the less an animated vocalist,
who will make her Aforts tell.
At the fourth Musical Union, there was a most
finished interpretation by Mine. Schumann of Men-
delssobn's "Rondo Capriccios° " in E minor, op. 14.
Her touch was fairy-like, her execution brilliant and
finished ; it excited a prodigious sensation amongst
even the artistes, and loudest in the applause was
Rubinstein. Ernst was in his most poetic mood ;
everybody can therefore guess how he rendered the

563

andante in Mozart's quartet No. 4, in E flat, and
the portion of the romantic quartet in C minor,
No. 4, op. 18, of Beethoven, having for ablo coad-
jutors Goffrie, H. Blagrove, and Piatti.
At the third Royal Academy of Music, at which
there was a marked assemblage of royalty, rank, and
fashion, there were some highly creditable displays
on the part of the pupils ; amongst whom may be
finalised those of Miss Bignall, Miss Van Noorden,
Miss Whyte, Miss Lucia Fosbrooke, Miss Emily
Spiller, Miss Mackenzie, Miss J. Whitehead, &c.
A manuscript overture by Mr. Cusins was per-
formed, and Maurer's concertante for four violins
was played by Messrs. Isaac, Amor, White, and
Haynes. The fancy-ball in aid of the funds of this
excellent institution has been definitively fixed to
take place on Thursday the 2nd of July, under the
patronage of her Majesty. The Royal Society of
Musicians had their annual performance of The
Messiah, at Exeter-hall, on the :3rd inst., under the
direction of Professor Bennett, with Mme. Novell°,
Mme. Itudersdorff, Mrs. Weiss, Mrs. Lackey, Miss
Dolby; Messrs. Sims Reeves, Lockey, Thomas, and
Weiss, as principal singers.
Dr. Wylde terminated his New Philharmonic
concerts last Wednesday. A new pianiste of merit,
Mlle. Staudach, played Beethoven's concerto in C
minor; Mme. Gassier was the vocalist. Mozart's
serenade in C minor, for wind instruments, known
here chiefly as a stringed quintet, was the chief
feature of the programme.
Of the " annuals " there is just now an avalanche.
That of Miss Dolby and Mr. Lindsay Sloper is
al ways attractive—such is the great respect enter-
tained for the eminent English contralto, and the
estimation in which the abilities of Mr. Sloper are
held both as a pianist and composer. Mr. Redfearn,
who is a rising tenor, has also gathered his admirers
together. Mrs. John Macfarren, the pianiste, and
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have also entertained their
friends this week. Mr. Blagrove, one of the original
founders of the Chamber Concerts, has again entered
the field for a series of quartet performances, with
the co-operation of Molique, Sainton, Piatti, R.
Blagrove, Bottesini, Mme. Oury, Miss Arabella
Goddard, Mlle. Anna Molique, Herr W. Ganz, Sc.
Miss Chatterton gave her first concert on the 3r3
at Willis's-rooms.

At the Crystal Palace yesterday afternoon the
Royal Italian Opera company had another grand
concert under Costa's direction ; and yesterday
evening at Exeter•hall was a rehearsal of 1,500
metropolitan choralists who are to take a part in the
Handel Festival the week after next. The assem-
blage of all the chorus singers for a general trial
will be next Friday at Exeter-hall, and the rehearsal
with orchestra will be on the Saturday at the
Crystal Palace. A plan of the orchestra has been
published; nothing can be more complete and
business-like than the arrangements. Every singer
and every instrumentalist have their numbered
seats.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The production of
Don Giovanni is now positively fixed for Thursday
next. For many years the idolaters of Mozart have
felt that the chef-d'mivre of the great master has
never been treated with a re.pect adequate to its
high deserts, owing to the omissions from the score.
The production of Don Giovanni is to be an event in
the history of Her Majesty's Theatre. The greatest
care has been taken with the details of scenery and
costume, and the music as originally composed by
Mozart has received an equal degree of attention.
Elvira's air, "Ah, fuggi ii traditor," hitherto omitted,
will be restored, so also will Masetto's air, " Ho
capito," and Don Ottavio's air, " Della sus pace."
The cast includes the names of Piccolomini, Spezia,
Ortolani, Giuglini, Beneventano, Belletti, Corsi, and
Vialettit

CARDINAL WISEMAN delivered his second lecture
at the Marylebone Literary Institution, " On the
Collection and Arrangement of a National Gallery of
Paintings," on Wednesday. Having in the first
lecture explained the principles which should guide
the formation of a national gallery of paintings in
this country, he now chiefly directed attention to the
mode of collecting the specimens required and to
the many neglected opportunities of procuring such
specimens. The cardinal mentioned many instances
of collections of paintings offered for sale on the
Comment, containing specimens which would have
been particularly valuable for our national gallery,
but which were either altogether disregarded or the
commissions for the purcbase were on too niggardly
a scale : for instance, the refusal to purchase the
collection of Sir Thomas Lawrence, offered to the
country for 20,0001., and afterwards purchased by a
dealer for 60,0001. He said that there are few indi-
cations at the present time of endeavours to repair
the effects of the omissions of former days, and he
noticed several late instances of valuable paintings
which the nation might have possessed at low prices,
but which had been allowed either to pass into other
hands or had been subsequently purchased at greatly
enhanced prices. He rejoiced that the commence•

ment of a collection of the works of modern artists
had been made by the donation of the Vernon Gal-
lery; and he strongly recommended the adoption by
this country of the plan pursued on the Continent,
where native art had been more appreciated, that the
best works of living artists should be added to the
collection without waiting for years after their deaths,
when the price of their works would have attained a
higher value. lie suggested that agents should be
employed in every country where art treasures exist
to make themselves acquainted with paintings that
may be procured, and that active exertions should be
thus made to possess the works that are wanted.
Cardinal Wiseman concluded by citing the remark
of the French Commissioner of Art to Napoleon 1.,
when urging him to restore some of the paintings
taken from Italy, that the principal object of a col-
lection of the works of the ancient masters was to
stimulate modern artists to produce works equally
admirable.