The Press.
London, England, 1857-07-18 00:00:00

ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

TETE fourth and final concert of the Easter term
was given last Tuesday, at the Institution, Tenter-
den street, Hanover•square. The programme con-
tained the names of Miss J. Whitehead, Miss E.
Spiller, Miss Bignall, Miss C. Mackenzie, Miss L.
Fosbrooke, Miss Whyte, Miss L. Van Noorden, Miss
Aylward, Mr. Wallworth, and Mr. Bentkin, as
vocalists; Miss Le Dieu, pianiste, a pupil of Mrs.
Anderson, and Mr. John Cheshire, harpist, a pupil
of Mr. Balsir Chatterton. The selection was from
works by Beethoven, Donizetti, Balfe, Coppola,
Weber, Verdi, Croce, Rossini, W. S. Bennett, Mozart,
Meyerbecr, and the Earl of Westmorland. The
singers were chiefly students under Manuel Garcia,
the brother of Viardot and Malibran, and Signor
Schira.

There is too much disposition in this country, to
cry down our institutions in art, as well as those of
a political character. An interesting list has just
been published of the termer pupils of the Royal
Academy of Music, distinguishing those who have
gained glory as vocalists, pianists, orchestral per-
formers, and composers. We have not space for the
entire list, but we may cite the names of well-known
celebrities, such as Sterndale Bennett, Macfarren,
Mudie, Edward Loder, Hullah, Steggall, Lucas,
Brinley Richards, \V. H. Holmes, Mrs. Edward
Seguin, Mrs. Alfred Shaw, Lady Bishop, Mine. F.
Lablache, Mlle. Favanti (Miss Edwards), Miss
Bassano, Mrs. Weiss, Miss Ransford, Mrs. Enders-
sohn, Mrs. Noble, Mrs. Gilbert, Miss Palmer; Messrs.
A. Sapio, E. and \V. Seguin, Allen, Bodda, Swifte,
Harrison, Whitworth, Herberte, Cori, Lejeune, Wall-
worth ; Mrs. Hullah, Miss Macirone, Miss Vinning;
Messrs. H. Blagrove, C. Seymour, H. Hill, A. Sim-
mons, Lavenu, \V. L. Phillips, Goodban, H. Chip),
Aylward, Howell, Mount, Richardson, G. Cooke, C.
and T. Harper, &c. The names have been selected
at random, but they aro familiar ones, being
musicians of note in every branch of art. We be-
lieve the Academy has educated 1,024 in all, 017
female and 407 male, and that there are now about
80 students in the Academy, some of whom will
certainly turn out distinguished members of the
profession. It must be recollected that the Academy
has been founded, fostered, and supported by intli
♦idual exertions and subscriptions, without any
assistance, like the continental Conservatoires, from
the Government.

There can be no doubt that the Academy supplies
a first. rat tnu,ical education at a cheap and reason-
able rate, and it is not the fault of the system if
Bachs and Beethovens, Alozsrts and Itlendels-
sohns, are not turned out every quarter, as we are
gravely assured ought to be the case. If the pupil
has it in him—that is genius—it will come out of
course ; but ordinary capacities, with ordinary as-
siduity. may leave the Academy good professors if
they please, and great ones if they oe gifted as well
as learned. We find, on glancing over the printed
lists, that tl,e Academy has produced enough talent
to supply a National Opera, if it could be created,
with excelle it composers, and executants vocal and
instrumental, of first-rate ability. It is a national
disgrace with such materials not to have an English
Opel a,