The Express.
London, England, 1849-09-05 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL

BIRMINOHAY, TVZSDAT.
This festival commenced this morning. With the
general arrangements your readers have already been fully
unformed. The public appreciation of these, aced the success
with which they have been carried out, will be estimated by
the fact that the attendance was by far the largest that was
ever known at this festival on the first morning's perform-
lieu. Partially, this result is in a great degree attribut-
able to the brilliant anticipations enter.ained of what might
be expected from so numeriully great en orchestra as fear
hundred performers, and especially of one so well appointed
in *very respect.
Everything that art could suggest to ensure at once
accommodation and elegance has certairily been done,
and for all else the splendid company assembled fully com-
pensated. Amongst those present, in addition to Lord
Guerasey, M.P., the president, there were the Earl
of Bradford, the LMies Bridgman, the Marquis of
Northampton. Lady A. Finch, Viscountess Aehbrouk,
Major and Lady Louisa Spencer, the Dean of Worcester
and M. Peel, Lady I:kt Clifford and the Misses Russell,
Lady L. Herbert, Lord Wrothesley and party, Lord Sandys
and party ; Sir John l'akington, M.P., and party ; Lord
and Lady Leigh and family, Lord Pima the Earl of Ayles-
ford, the Hon. F. Gough, the Dean of Lichfield and party,
W. S. Dugdale, E•q., the lion. and Rev. G. M. Yorke, H.
Tufaell, E.q., M.P. •W. Scholefield, Esq., K.P. ; Lvrd
and Lady Henley, leidy Moncrieff, the Hon. R. H. Clive,
M.P., Sir B. and Lad Leighton, Si, A. and Lady Corbett,
Sir F. and Lady W. Horton C. B. Adderlsy, Nag. M.P. ;
Capt. Mike, the Dowager Lady Wainington end party, &c.
The judiciousness of the choice of the committee
in selecting Mendelessohn's greatest work—the Elijah
—for the morning's performance, was exemplified in
the full attendance, noticed above. The principal changes
to notice in the corps from that of 1846, were
the substitution of Herr Pischek for Eitaudigl,
of Sims Reeves for Lockey, and of Madame Cu.
Wan for Madams Caradori Allan. Taken upon the whole,
perhaps, the auditory this morning were the eainen ; not
that the chief artiste Pisohek, exhibited, or perhaps indeed
possesses, the depth and fullness of tone of Staudigl; but
whether from practice (which the last-named could not have
had is this oratorio at the time he sung it here), or from
some other cause, it struck us that the declamation of Pis-
disk was the grander, and the more impressive of the two.
Certainly he acquitted himself admirably throughout the
entire performance. Mr. Sims Reeves wit, too, at least a
very good substitute for Lackey, although traces of this gentle-
man's late illness were mealiest enough in some parts where
the utmost stretch of power was requisite. Of Mote. Casten=
one could scarcely speak too highly, having in view her
whole performance. Her part in use duet and recitative,
" Whet have I to do with thee ?" was executed with mar-
redone beauty, precision, and skill. So, speaking not quits
so geaerally, with respect to the Misses Williams—these
lads acquitted thews Ives so excellently as to leave nothing
weeded, nor anything that the moat fastidious or accomplished
critic could wish for.
Mr. Cbipp presided at the organ with admirable pleasure
to all thou who beard him throughout the entire oratorio ;
and with reference to the instrumental portion of the choir,
we can scarcely conceive anything more nearly approaching
perfection even in the minutest details. The choruses
were effective in fullness and power ; neither was the but
attribate wanting to complete their excellence.
Running through the libretto, and bestowing upon it as
much attention as time will admit (the oratorio did not
conclude until after three o'clock), it may be noticed that
the introductory declamatory prologue wit a magnificent
effort of genius and power. In this Piochek left nothing
to wish for, unless it might be that lower and deeper tone
which Staudigl would probably have achieved ; although,
perhaps, after all, this was not a fault. The Mimes Wil-
liams sang the duet, "Lord! bow thine ear," with great
beim, acd feeling; and the fullest justice was done to the
now welt-known recitative, " Elijah ! get thee hostas," by
Mee M. Williams. The double quartet, " For he shall give
hie 'agile," was prettily sung by the Misses Williams,
Millis. Jetty de Treffz, Miss Stevens, Mr. Siete Reeves,
Her Piscbek, Mr. T. Williams and Mr. Machin. In
the succeeding duet, the extraordinary power of Pischek's
voice fully developed itself, especially in the prayer or incan-
tation invoked foe the spirit of the child. la the chorea of
the priests of Baal, the effect produced by the choir of trout-
bon, a was almost sublime; but perhaps the most striking
characteristic of the grandeur of this chorus weir the moment
when, in the despair of the priests, the multitude of stringed
instruments fell in to swell the power and effect of the in-
vocation.

Hurryieg on to the second part, as I mad needs do, I
think that the opening air, " Rees ye, Israel," was Castel-
lan's best effort of the day ; in the succeeding chorus the
brass shot, was heard again to great effect : the recitative,
" The Lord hath exalted thee, &a." was declaimed in the most
eplendid style by Pischek ; and Mr. Sims Reeves sang the
recitative " Man of Ood," with marvellous beauty and pre-
cision ; so with the next song of the Prophet, in which seems to
be fully developed the singular felicity with which the im-
mortal composer conveyed the spirit of Elijah into the cha-
racter of the melody. The succeeding trio of the angels,
"Lift thine eyes," &c., sung by the Misses Williams and
Miss Williams, was one of the most beautiful features of
the performance. This and the succeeding chorus received
an encore at the hands of the president. The air, " Oh,
rest in the Lord," as sung by Miss M.Willianss, was de-
Gerstell, 'scored ; although, perhaps, this scarosly was up
to Miss Dolby's effort in the same melody. The Seal shams
was sung
with great spirit, skill, and precision. Probably,
taken as a whole, the oratorio has never been eio well
performed.
To-night there is, as nand, a concert of miscellaneous
mask; and to morrow the " Athalle" in the morning. I
am not aware what the receipts were to-day--oertainly a
very large amount. lam informed, however, that up to
Monday morning the orders for tickets exceeded by 1,0001.
that of any previous occasion.
Mr. Peter lioness's but of Mendellssohn was placed in
front of the orchestra this atoning. It is considered exceed-
ingly

THE EXHIBITION OF INDIJeTaT AND ANTS.—
LeVan have boss addressed to the leading Raantsenuere in
Manchester by Mr. Cole, informing than 01 this Intended
exhibition, ea neentielleed In HO AlOwns.. whit • Tilly le
abet training what maintain* is likely to be given to the object
in order that Prince Albert may bring the subjoin before
Government Mr. Cole, Mr. J. Bvatt Burial, and Mr.
Fuller are going to Manchester as a deputation on the
subject.