The Press.
London, England, 1857-06-13 00:00:00

THE HANDEL FESTIVAL.

ns excitement for the demonstration of the ensuing
week is at fever heat. The arrival of the provincial
choralists alone would form no inconsiderable item
to the metropolitan returns of the floating popula-
tion, but visitors are pouring in from all parts of
the United Kingdom, the Continent, and even the
most remote places Lin our colonies. America
has sent her representatives of the press to report
the proceedings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
next; and the Crystal Palace will exhibit the cos-
mopolite aggregate of musical amateurs to an extent
to rival the opening of the original Exhibition. The
final rehearsal will take place this day Saturday)
at the Palace, to which admittance may be obtained
by half-a-guinea tickets. Last Saturday Costa had
a rehearsal at Exeter-hall, in the lower room, of the
additional accompaniments he has written for Judas
Maceabeus. There was a select circle of con-
noisseurs and critics present on the occasion, and
unanimity prevailed as to the masterly manner in
which Costa has acquitted himself. There was no
concert yesterday at the Crystal Palace, in conse-
quence of the great preparations for the festival.
The temporary stage for the Royal Italian Opera
concerts having been removed, the entire extent of
the gigantic platform that has been erected was
fully displayed. Without exception, this is the
largest music-hall which has ever been erected; the
semicircular backs rise nearly to the roof, with the
monster organ of Gray and Davison crowning the
whole orchestra. Nothing less than military or-
ganisation can have accomplished the arrangement
of the numbered seats and the approaches thereto,
both for executants and listeners. It has been
judiciously decided to admit the company only by
tickets. The commissariat for the week must be on
the scale of a Crimean campaign. Last night at
Exeter-hall was the rehearsal of the complete body
of choralists, town and provincial. The muster of
voices filled not only the ordinary orchestra, but the
grand area of the hall and the western gallery. The
accompaniment was confined to the organ, but to
cement the choral working some serpents and
ophicleides, with Chipp at the great drums, and
Horton at the monster drum, were employed. The
effect was beyond all calculation; great as the antici-
pations had been of hearing 2,000 voices thus
blended in the gorgeous harmonies of Handel, the
result was overwhelming. In the "Glory to God,"
" Unto us," and " Hallelujah " choruses from The
Messiah, in the martial and inspiring choruses from
Judas Maccabeus, in the picturesque and descriptive
combinations from the Israel in Egypt, the choralists,
under the directing influence of Costa's bAton, were
were as but one voice. The ease with which the
conductor held his forces immediately under his
control was perfectly wonderful. The time was re-
tarded and accelerated with consummate skill, the
gradations of sound were marvellously mastered,
and the delicate observance of a pianissimo was
even attained. What was still more astounding was
the quickness with which Costa detected amidst the
throng the slightest deviation from the right notes.
The principal choruses from the three oratorios
occupied about three hours, the gigantic meeting
separating with a round of applause for their chief.
Invitations had been extended to some of the prin•
cipal amateurs, and amongst these was the Duchess
of Sutherland, with a large party. The problem as
to the artistic success of the festival, we consider as
solved by last night's rehearsal. There will be same
sublime moments in the ensuing week's per-
formances.

687

action. If Mendelssohn had lived to have heard it
on the stage, or at a trial, we feel quite convinced
he would have " cut" it, for it is evident that no
soprano's powers can be taxed to such an unmerciful
extent, nearly the whole time, be it recollected,
dwelling on the high notes of the register. Loreley
was composed for Dille. Lind,.and the scene, it will
therefore be at once guessed, was beyond the means
of Dille. Spezia. Clara Novello sang it once to per-
fection st Birmingham; but, Grisi excepted, there
is no other artiste who could do justice to it on the
stage. The grouping of the personages, who are of
the " earth, earthy," and of the nymphs, who are of
the Rhine, aquareous, was not effectively contrived,
and it was a mistake to have such a crowd around
Loreley during the invocation. Mr. Benedict's
clever overture to the Crusaders—an admirable
opera we regret to state lost to us because there is
no English Opera—and a song from the Bride of
Venice, sung by Reichardt, were the only contribu-
tions in the scheme by the composer, who played, as
some consolation, with Signor Andreoli, a spirited
duo for two pianofortes by Halkbrenner, whose
works are now rarely heard. Alboni carried off the
vocal honours completely. Her " Pensa alla patria,"
by Rossini, was superbly sung ; and her " Brindisi,"
with the prolonged shake, as buoyant as ever. She
was encored in everything, but firmly and properly
resisted the demands. Giuglini's failure in the
" Adelaide " of Beethoven was a surprise to those
who had given him the credit of being a musician.
A singer may be out of voice, hut to miss some bars,
and to betray a total want of comprehension of the
composer's intentions, are inexcusable faults. Mme.
Schumann's poetic and brilliant rendering of Weber's
"Concert Stuck" excited a prodigious sensation.
Ernst played Mendelssohn's violin concerto, but was
labouring under severe indisposition. At Mr.
Benedict's second concert, on the 24th, Alboni is to
sing the music of Orpheus, from Gluck's opera of
that name.

Mr. Hullah conducted Mendelssohn's Lauda Sion
and Rossini's Stabat Mater, at St. Martin's-hall, on
Wednesday night. Misses Banks and Palmer,
Messrs. Sims Reeves and Thomas, were the chief
vocalists. In the Stabat, Mlle. Maria de Villar, hem
Hohenzollern, made her first appearance in this
country with success as a soprano, and was much ap-
plauded in the " Inflammatus." Miss Palmer also
won the sympathies of her auditory in the contralto
portion. _ _

Herr Molique, the violinist and composer, gave
his annual concert last Monday night at the Hanover-
square Rooms. This musician, who occupies such
high ground both here and in his native country for
his distinguished artistic acquirements, is as much
famed as an executant as he is honoured as a writer.
His playing of Bach's " Chaconne," in which nearly
all the modern difficulties are eclipsed in intricacy,
is perfect of its kind. His daughter, Mlle. Anna
Molique, fully confirmed the highly favourable im-
pressions formed of her at her debut at the Musical
Union. Garroting, Goffrie, and Lidel

Herr Charles Oberth t., the accomplished harpist,
had a morning concert on Thursday at Willis's-
rooms, assi+ted by Andreoli, the pianist, Signor
Regondi, the concertinaist, Herr Ries, violin, M.
Paque, violoncello, Herr Engel, piano harmonium,
and Mile. C.Wagner, Mile. Sedlatzek, Mme. Willpert,
and Miss Stabbach, vocalists.

On Monday last Mme. Puzzi assembled her patrons
at the Hanover-square Rooms, M. Charles Halle
commenced his pianoforte recitals, Messrs. Harold
Thomas and R. Blagrove had a matinee at
rooms, and in the evening Miss Macirone, a very
clever composer, had a gathering of her supporters.
On Tuesday the Duke of Devonshire enabled his
pianist, Mr. C. Coote, to convene his friends at
DevonshirA•house. In the evening Regondi had a
congress of concertinaism, of which he is the chief.