The Press.
London, England, 1858-09-18 00:00:00

Studies of Christianity,

THE LEEDS MUSICAL FESTIVAL
THE first musical festival held in this wealthy and
music-loving borough was brought to a most success-
ful conclusion on Saturday. The second miscellaneous
concert on Thursday evening, down to which our last
notice was brought, was attended by a large and
brilliant audience ; and the performance, which
Included selections from Mozart, Rossini, Mende's.
sohn, Donizetti, Spofforth, and other eminent corn
posers, passed off with spirit and slat. This was the
first and only occasion during the festival of the
appearance in one performance of the whole of
the Italian vocalists, namely :—Kme. Clara Novello,
Mlle. Piccolomini, Mme. Alboni, Signor Vialetti,
Signor Giuglini, and Signor Rossi.
The third morning performance, on Friday, con-
sisted of " Spring " and " Summer," from Haydn's
Seasons, and Handel's Israel in Egypt, both of which
were given with unqualified success. The solo
singers highly distinguished themselves. In Haydn's
work the "principals" were Mesdames Novello,
Weiss, and Sunderland (sopranos), Messrs. Wilbye
Cooper and Sims Reeves (tenors), Messrs. Wion and
Santley ( basses) ; in Israel the same, with the ail&
tion of Miss Dolby (contralto). Miss Dolby's two
airs—" Their land brought forth frogs," and " Thou
shalt bring them in "—were pure and faultless;
Mme. Novello's clear and resonant soprano, in the
solos ot' Miriam, the prophetess, penetrated in liquid
tones to every corner of tho spacious edifice; Messrs.
Weiss and San tley;declaimed the showy bravura duet,
" The Lord is a man of war," with wonderful energy;
the duet, "Thou in thy mercy," was carefully given
by Miss Palmer (whose ready and efficient perfor-
mance of Miss Dolby's duties on the first day, when
the favourite contralto was prevented by indisposi-
tion from appearing, has met with general recog-
nition) and Mr. Wilbye Cooper ; equal praise may be
bestowed on " The Lord is my strength," by Mes-
dames Sunderland and Weiss ; and, to conclude,
" The enemy said I will pursue " was one of those
displays of vocal skill united to expression and power
in which M:. Sims Reeves stands wholly without a
competitor. The choruses, both in The Seasons and
Israel, were executed in such a manner as to warrant
unqualified eulogy. The third miscellaneous concert
followed in the evening.
On Saturday Handel's Messiah brought the festival
to a triumphant close, the oratorio having been per-
formed in every respect worthy of the character of
all that had preceded it. After The Messiah, the
National Anthem was sung, Mrs. Sunderland taking
the principal solos. On its conclusion Professor
Sterndaie Bennett received at the hands of the
gratified audience an ovation which proved how great
wits the estimate of the professional services he hail
rendered as conductor. Nor was civic dignity and
personal worth, iii the person of the newly-knighte,i
mayor, forgotten, and three hearty cheers were givei.
for Sir Peter Fairbairn, who acknowledged the cow;
pliment from his seat in the gallery.
The expenses of the festival have been very larger'
nearly 6,oool.—but they are more than covered by the
receipts, which are upwards of 7,500/. This balance
further swelled by donations from ime of the
principal performers will make up about 2,1
which will be handed over to that excellent, local
charity, the General Infirmary.