The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-30 00:00:00

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THE BIRMINGHA.M MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
(MOM oua lbellOIAL COILIINBPONDICNT.)
BIRMINGHAM, THe mum
. . _

This morning's performance of the Messiah drew
(aa that oratorio always does, at this and all other
English , festivals) the largest attendance of
the week—that is supposing the numbers on the
closing day not to equal it, which is scarcely likely.
The fact of the great success of the present festival
is now beyond a doubt, as the aggregate returns to
be made up after the final performance of to-mor-
row (Friday) night will unquestionably prove. The
oratorio this morning commenced shortly after the
appointed hour (half-past eleven), before which
time the hall was 'crowded in every part—yet,
owing to the admirable arrangements,. the..aumher.
of entrances, and the active and courteous superin-
tendence of the many gentlemen who give
their valuable services as stewards, there was no
crowding or inconvenience on this, the most trying
oocasion of the week in that respect. We have
before alluded to this feature of the Birmingham
festival, but must again refer to one of many signs
of the intelligent powers of organisation which
euperadd the regularity of excellent administration
of business details to the high and special musical
value of the Birmingham meeting. Of Handel's
Messiah there is not much left to say after the
many occasions for notice which the frequent per-
formance of that oratorio has presented to a Lon-
don newspaper ; and especially after so recently
speaking of it as given at the Hereford festival—
most of the principal solo singers being alike on
both occasions. At Hereford the soprano solos
were divided between Madame Lind-Goldschmidt,
Mdlle. Titiens, and Miss Edith Wynne ; and
the contralto solos between Madame Patey—
Whytock and Miss Julia Elton—Mr. Sims
Reeves having been the principal tenor ;
the bass solos divided between Mr. Santley and
Mr. Weiss. On the present occasion the soprano
solos of the first and second parts (including the
bravura, " Rejoice greatly, " and the pathetic air,
" How beautiful ") were assigned to Madame
Lemmens-Sherrington—Mdlle. Titiens appearing
in the third part and singing, " I know that my
Redeemer liveth," the latter encored, as was Ma-
dame Lemmens-Sherrington in " How beautiful."
Mr. Sims Reeves gave the opening recitative and
air, " Comfort ye," and " Every valley," " Be-
hold and see," and " But Thou did'st not leave,"
with his usual fervid expression ; and the great
declamatory song, " Thou shalt break them," with
that combined energy and refinement in which he
is unrivalled among tenors. Mr. Santley,
too, in the air, " The people that walked
in darkness " (with its picturesque mystery)
and the more demonstrative songs " Why do the
nations " and " The trumpet shall sound " (the
latter including Mr. T. EIJI.. rper's unrivalled trumpet
accompaniment) produced the impression that
usually follows these admirable displays. Madame
Sainton-Dolby gave the principal contralto solos,
especially the air "He was despised," with her
usual pathos—the air " But who may abide," and
other incidental contralto solos, being expressively
sung by that rising contralto, Madame Patey-
Whytock. Of the choruses, it is scarcely necessary
to say that they were given with that precision and
certainty of attack, that admirable fusion of tone
and contrast of piano and forte, in which the Bir-
mingham choristers may challenge comparison with
those of any other locality, home or foreign. The
effect produced by such a choir in such sublime
choruses as "For unto us," the " Hallelujah," and
the other sublime choral movements of the Messiah,
can scarcely be imagined by those who have never
heard so well-trained a chorus. Israel in Egypt,
which is to follow Gounod's Mass at the last morn-
ing performance to-morrow (Friday), will afford
especial opportunity for display of the admirable
Birmingham chorus in a work consisting almost
exclusively of grand choral effects.
The receipts of this morning's performance
amounted to 2,729/. 15s.
We understand that the noble President has
made a further donation beyond that recorded in
Wednesday's Express; the Earl Beauchamp
having contributed further sums of 25 guineas
yesterday (Wednesday), and 100 guineas this day.

The following were present among the audience
thia morning : _ _

The President, Earl Beauchamp, The Archbishop of
Canterbury, the Mayor of Birmingham and party, the Right
Hon. Sir John Pakington, Hart., M.P., and party, the
Right Hon. C. B. Adderley, M.P., and party, Earl of Posts,
and Lady Mary Herbert, Earl of Bradford, Lord Newport,
M.P. Lord and Lady Walter Scott, Lord Wrottesley and
the Hun. Mrs. Wrottesley, Lady Willoughby and the Hon.
Miss Verney, the Viscount lifford, Sir W. Fitzherbert and
party, Sir 0. Chetwynd, Bart., and party, Sir John Duck-
worth and Lady Duckworth, the Lady Somerville and the
Hon. Mimes Somerville, the Rev. Sir Wni. Gibson Car-
michael, the Hon. Mrs Ralph Smyth, Sir Theophilus Bid-
dulph, Bart., and the Rev. H. and Mrs. Biddulph, the
Rev. H. and Mrs. Skipwell, Mr. and Mrs. A. Cartwright, Mr.
A. R. Forbes, Mrs. Mainwaring, Lieut• Col. Hale, C. 8., Mr.
and Mra. C. >'. Dilke. Mrs. Astley, the Recorder of Binning-
ham and party, Mr. G. Dizoa,M P., and Mrs. Dixon, tho High
Sheriff of Staffordshire, the High Sheriff of Worcestershire
and party, the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Dormer, Mr. J. Hardy,
M.P., and Mrs. Hardy and Mr. Reginald Hardy, Sir
Robert Hamilton, Bart., and party, Sir Thomas Winning-
ton, Bart., M.P., Mr. C. N. Newdegate, and party, Mr.
W. Stratford Dugdale, and party, Mr. H. C. Vase,
H.P., Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., and party, Sir Oswald
Moseley and party, Lord Lyttelten, the Hon. Mr. Talbot,
Lady Ward and party, Sir John Morris, Kat., Lady Emily
Poaeonby, de. _ _ .

The second evening concert (on Wednesday) con-
sisted of Mr. Benedict's cantata The Legend of St.
Cecilia, and Professor Bennett's fourth Pianoforte
Concerto (in F minor), forming the first part (a
judicious transposition having been made from the

• original
programmes, in which Mr. Benedict's work
was placed last).
The second part of the concert consisted of •
miscellaneous selection, as follows :

Overture ;Leonora)
Duo—Mdlle. Christine Nilsson and Mr. Sant-
ley, " Pronto In son " (Don Runnels
Song—Mr. Silos Beeves, " Adelaide" • Piano-
forte aceompanhnent by Madame Arabella
Clixidard
Aria —Mdlle. Christine Nilsson, "OH angul
d'inferno " Mato Magtern
Prize Gslee—Madame Sainton.Dolhy, Mr. Minis
Beeves, Mr. Cummings, and Mr. Bentley,
" Oh how much more cloth besutis beau-
teous seems"
Aria—Madame Lemmens :Sherrington, " Deb
slag non Javier" ,Le Norse dl Figaro;
Soulii—klr. Weiss. " I am not old"
Scene ed Arta--Madame Patey-WhYtoch
" faro" 'Orfilo)
Somanns—Mdile.Chrietine Nilsson. " V•rlan
Rosa " Nazis) Flotow.
Quartetto—Madame teIIIMSI3I eri
Madame Patey•Whytock bir Sh
. Cummftlooo,
ings.
and Mr. Weiss, " to dl se ben rammen-
toad" (itigoletto)

The returns for Wednesday evening's con-
cert are as follow :-9781. 5a., making, with the
returns of Wednesday morning, a total of
3,0671. 12a. sd. ; that for the corresponding day
of 1864 being 2,0801. 18s. 9d.

The Mayor (Mr. T. Avery) on Wednesday entertained
the President and Vice-Preadente and the artistes at the
queen's Hotel. Earl Beauchamp (President) sat at the
right of the Mayor, and Nellie. Nilason on the left. The
.714worder (Mr. A. R. Adios) occupied the vice chair. Lord
LyMohoo. Mr. George Dixon, M.P., Mr. Bentinck, M.P.,
and Mrs. Banana, 'Professor W. Steradale Bennett, Mr.
Benedict, 81. Bainton and Madame Seinton-Dolby, Mr.
Bentley, M. Lemmens and Madame Lemmens-Sherrington,
Madame Patey-Whytock. Mr., Mra. and Miss Weise, and
Cummings, were present