The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-01 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY EVENING CONCERTS.

There was a capital concert last night, and suc-
cessful, as it destined to be. At the same time it presented
little or nothing that was new ; indeed, in the present date
of music, the best concerts are these which have the
smallest proportion of novelty—and therefore, beyond
general praise, it affords very little room for remark.
According to usual end very judicious practice at these
concerts, the most classical pieces—those most interesting to
amateurs—were placed in the first part, while the second
was made up of music, principally vocal, of a more familiar
and popular kind.
The music of the first part was selected chiefly from the
works of Weber and Mcyerbeer. It began with the
overture to the Freischiitz, played, under Benedict's skilful
direction, in admirable time, and with remarkable clearness
and spirit. Mies Alleyne then sang Meyerbeer's famous
aria, " Ab, coma rapids," from 11 Crociato ; a fine
specimen of the Italian style with which this great master
began his career, and which he so completely abandoned
when he began to write for the Parisi.. stage. Miss
Alleyne has of late made prodigious progress in her art,
and we listened to her with as much surprise as pleasure.
Her voice has not yet gained all the power of which we be-
lieve it to be capable, but its quality has become excellent.
It is full, round, and mellow. Her intonation is perfect,
and her style has the grace and finish of the Italian school.
In this, as well as in her other performances, she was ap-
plauded mat warmly. A clarinet concerto of Weber's was
played by Mr. Lazarus with the excellent tone and execu-
tion which distinguish this performer. The piece itself,
with many commonplace passages, has some original and
striking effects, which may be said to impel' it with the
stamp of the composer.
Then came the great attraction of the evening—Madame
Viardot Garcia. She had quite recovered from her indis-
position, and wu in the fullest possession of her glorious
powers. She sang the air from the Prophote, " Ah, mon
Ills !"—that most touching and pathetic prayer of Fides, a
character which to this day remains her own. Even as a
concert song, and without the cijuncts of stage represen-
tation, Madame Viardot throws into this air a deep and
earnest feeling which makes the singing of any other ap-
pear cold and mechanical. Indeed intense earnestness is
one of the principal means whereby this illustrious artist
makes such a powerful impression. Of her it may be said
more than of any other performer whom we know, that,
whatever she does, she does it with her whole heart and
soul.

Next came a trio from Robert k Diable, played upon a
trumpet, a trombone, and an ophicleide, by Messrs. Zeiss,
Cieffi, and Prospers ; a very clever performance, but bitter
fitted for one of Jullisn's promenade concerts than for an
entertainment of this kind. The fine trio, " Some slit it
vento," from Mozart's Cosi Jan hate, was admirably sung
by Miss Alleyne, Madame Viardot, and Mr. Weiss: this
gentleman then gave the " Piff, paff," from the Dagueteots
very well; bat this is a thing which will not bear trans-
planting from the stage to the concert-room. The great
scene, of Agatbe, in the Freiarhute, was then sung by Ma-
dame Viardot, in German, with immense vocal power and
the finest dramatic expression. In this, and in all her other
performances, this unrivalled artist was received with the
utmost enthusium—reiterated peals of applauie from every
corner of the hall, prolonged, after she had left the orchestra,
till she returned to it to repeat her acknowledgments. The
first part terminated with Weber's Jubilee Overture, a
noisy composition, not worthy of genius. It bears his ,
stamp, however, and is remarkable for the manner in which
" God save the Queen," the national hymn in Saxony as
well u in England, is worked into its conclusion.
The second part (as we have said) was a miscellaneous
selection of popular pieces. There were the overtures to
'the Cenerento'a and the Dame Blanche ; Mile. St. Marc
played a fantasia by Leopold de Meyer; Madame Viardot
sang " Non piu meets" ; and the rests of the vocalists
were Miss Ternan, Miss Tbirlwall, Miss Freeman, Mr. S.
Champion, and Mr. Geier. The hall was well tilled.

NEW MONEY ORDER OFFICES. GENERAL POET-
omen, Nov., 1853.—0 n the Gth December a Major Money
Order Office will be opened at Farnborough Station,
Hants. Minor Money Order Ottiecs will be opened at Hol-
lytroyde, Lancashire ; head office, Accrington; en the 9th
December. At Padiham, in the game county ; heau office,
Blackburn, on the 6th December. And at Penistone, York-
shire ; head office, Sheffield, on the Ist December. Also at
Dunmanwey, in the county of Cork, Ireland ; head office,
Bandon, ou the lot December. Postmasters must in future
address letters of advice fur Stroud, " Stroud, G 105.," and
those fur Strand, " Strand, London."

PROROGATION OF CONVOCATION.—Yesterday morn-
ing the Convocation of the Prelates and Clergy of the pro•
vine of Canterbury was prorogued, according to the tenor
of a royal writ by the Vicar-General of the Moat Kee. the
Archbishop of Canterbury and Metropolitan, under a spe-
cial (.lA:omission from his grace to that effect. His grace's
commissary, attended by the registrar of the puivince, at-
tended at the Jerusalem Chamber, when the commission'
was read by the registrar. The commissary directed the
royal writ to be read at length, after which the schedule of
prorogation wu read and signed by the commissary. The
proceedings were adjourned until an early day in January.