The Express.
London, England, 1848-11-14 00:00:00

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SOCIETY OF BRITISH AIUSICIANS.—This society
has commenced its fifteenth acuson with a series of chamber
concerts at the Hanover-square Rooms. The tlrst took
place lest evening, and was attend. d by a numerous audi-
ence, among whom we observed many distinguished pro-
fessors and amateurs. The performance commenced with
Mendelsaohn's Qeintet in A for two violins, two tenors, and
violoncello, performed by Messrs. Watson, B. W. Thomas,
Weslake. R. Blegrove, and W. F. Reed. It was ad-
mirably executed, and had a charming effect, es-
pecially the scherzo, a movement strikingly cha.
racteristic of Mendelseohn's genius. Mile M. Williams
sang a ballad, " The winter it is past," composed by Miss
Kate Loder. It was pretty; but had the fair composer
known the simple, plain:lye little Scotch melody to which the
verses properly belong, she would not have thought of join-
ing them to any other maiie. Mozart's " Voi the sapete "
was sung by Miss Thornton with much beauty of voice, and
in a pure style ; but she did not give the various shades of
expression which form the difficulty of this air. The Misses
Williams then sang a duet, "Where honeyed roses," cons-
posedby Mr. 3. B. Catkin—a pleasing, but not remarkable
composition, very nicely sung. A sonata for the pianoforte
and violin, by Mr. Walter Macferren, was played by Messrs.
Liadsay Sloper and Watson. The music is redolent of
Mendelssohn from beginning to end, but har much merit,
especially the scherzo, which is fanciful and animated. It
received great justice from the executants. The second part
of the concert began with a quartet for two violins, tenor,
and violoncello, by Mr. C. Potter, performed by Mesas. B.
W. Thomas, Watson, Weslake, and Reed ; an excellent and
classical composition of the sch-.0l of Haydn and Mozart,
clear in design, ingenious in its combinations, end
full of pleasing melody. The finale was especialy vigorous
and spirited. Mr. W. H. Seguin then sang Hendei's fins
air, " Tette rea," from the opera of "Scipione," with an
effect which produced a gen_ral encore. Tw i soap, com-
posed by Mr. Charles Horsley, were sung by Miss A. Wil-
liams, with • violoncello obligati accompaniment by Mr.
Reed. The one is entitled a " Rmnade," the other " The
Water Lily." Both have merits, but they are quite in the
modern German style, and more remarkable for the rich-
ness and fulness of the accompaniments than for the beauty
and expression of the melodies. Beethoven's grand trio in
B flat for the pianoforte, violin, and violoncello was then
performed by Miss Kate Leder ; and a trio from Macfar-
ren's " Devil's Opera" concluded a very interesting concert.
JULLIEN'S CONCERTS at Drury-lane Theatre con-
tinua to attract numerous audiences. Last evening a per
was introduced who is new to the majority of the
London musical world, although in some few select circles
here his powers are known and appreciated. This was M.
Vivier, who performed a solo on the French born, intro-
ducing a cadenza and some new effects of harmony. His
playing is smooth and finished ; his cantabile pangs@ are
beautiful, both in tone and expression ; and he has disco-
vered the means of producing harmonic sounds of which his
instrument has hitherto been deemed incapable, end which
he employs with exquisite effect. Altogether, the perform-
ance was such as to give this gentleman a high rank amongst
the soloists of the day.