The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-29 00:00:00

under
oocaoio4 r

,amstances of less hurry than the present
necessitates.

The : rid portion of this morning's pro-
geamne the oratorio of Judas, lasted to so
late an hour (nearly 4 o'clock) that we can
do little beyond briefly recording its fine per-
ferment,. !throughout, and the renewal oi the
success *ch Mdlle. Nilsson obtained by her
' first ap 'ce at the concert of last night (Tues- ,
day). refinement of style and sympathetic
quality this lady's voice were admirably exam-
fn
plified (hi this her first effort in English oratorio)
iin the sits " Pious Orgies," " 0 Liberty " (with
its violoneelli obbligati passages), and especially in
' the more florid air, "From mighty Kings " (the
I latter repeated), and " Wise men flattering "—in
all which Mdlle. Nilsson has evidently created an
impresai9h in Birmingham similar to that which
she has *ade in London ever since her first ap-
i pearance at Her Majesty's Theatre in June last.
IMr. Sint' Reeves sang the pieces set down for him
in Judas—the great war songs, " Call forth
thy Rowers," and " Sound an alarm," being
given 4 him with that grand declamatory
, style 4which we have so frequently had occasion
to spA with admiration in reference to the same
oratoritf. The other solo singers were Mesdames
Lemmens-Sherrington and Patey-Whytock, Mr.
Cummings, and Mr. Weiss, whose efficiency in this
music it is needless to dwell on. Of the magnifi-
cent performance of the choruses of this oratorio it
'is seemly possible to speak in sufficiently high
terms. The purity and resonance of tone, contrast
of light and shade, precision and distinctness of
execution, were beyond all praise. That affecting
lament of the Israelites, " Mourn, ye afflicted
children"—the beautiful prayer,"O, Father," with
the following noble fugue, " And grant a leader
bold "—the sublime " Hear us, 0 Lord "—the
dramatic " Fall'n is the foe"—in short, all the
grand choruses of this oratorio, so diversified in
character, were sung as they cannot be sung save
by such a body of fresh voices, constantly prac-
tising during the intervening years of the festival
with a view to preparation for its recurrence. The
oratorio of Judas (which was given with Mr.
Costa's additional accompaniments) terminated
with the chorus, " Sing unto God." The follow-
ing is the return of receipts for the morning :- -
2,0911. 7s. sd. The total on the Wednesday morn-
. ing in 1864 was 2,0661. 17a. 3d.

The following were among the audience at this
morning's performance :

President, the Earl Beauchamp ; the Mayor of Birming-
ham, the Earl and Countess of Powis and Lady Mary
Herbert, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Lyttelton and party,
the 144 and Countess of Bradford, Lord and Lady Walter
Scott, 'the Duke of Grafton, Lady Mary Wind-or Clive,
Lord and Lady Begot, the Bishop of Worcester and Mn.
Philport, the Dean of York and Lady Harriet Duncombe,
the Right Hon. C. B. Adderley, M.P., and party, the
Bishop of Rochester and the Hoc. Mrs. Claughton, the
Rev. Sir F. Gem Ouseley, Bart., the Hon. J. and Mrs.
Dormer, the Lady Ward, Sir Theophilus Biddulph, Bert.,
Sir Rotert Hamilton, Bart., and party, Sir John and Lady
Duckworth, the Hon. Gerrard Bridgemae. the Bishop of
Perth, Australia ; W. Fielding Harding, Esq., and Lady
Emily Harding, the Recorder of Birmingham, George
Dixon, Esq., M.P., General Sir William Gomm and lady
Gomm, J. D. W. Dig 4, Esq., and party, General Whaler
sod party, General Townsend and petty, the Mar. G. D.
Boyle, It. It. Johnson, Eaq. (High Sheriff of Worcetter-
s.hiV:d party, W. T. Booltbee, Esq., and party, Nt . S.
Du , Esq., and party, Sampson Iliusbury Fag., and
, F. Lee Smith, Esq., and party, W. C. Alston, Esq.,
and party, &o.
- - - - -

. ...
The first evening concert of Tuesday lasted from
8 o'clock until long past midnight—as might have
been anticipated from the following prograznmo :

PART I
Cantata, "Alexander's Feast," the solo parts by
Madame Lemmeus-otterringlon, Mr. Cummings,
and Mr Weiss Handel.

Concerto, Pianoforte tin E non), Madame Arabella
Uoddard Benedict.

PAST IL

Overture (Oberon)
New Song. Mr. Motley, When my Thirsty flour Benedict.
Arta, Millis Christine Nilsson, ln quest* sem-
! plies" (Better DonizettL
Terzetto, Mdlie. ?Wens, Mr. alms Beeves, and Mr
Bentley," inmate mini Trezuste" Beethoven.
Yalta, Madame L. Sherrington, " Nell& (Ana"
(ituinko 6 Giulletta,
Bone, Mr. Sims Beeves, Myelin toy guiding star"
, (Robin Hood)
lasitasla, Pianoforte, On 021 trews "Masaniello,"
Madame Arabella Goddard .
Seen*, Sidlie. Miens. " Taeesis.n(lite" ‘Trovatore) Verdi.
Irto. Madame L Sherrington, Madame Paley-
' Whytiat, and Mr. Weiss, " Soave ala B vent"
(Con lan tutte) Mozart.
Ballad, Mr. slain Reeves, "The Pilgrim of Love" Bishop.
National seedish Mrs. Mdlle. C 11114410 Nilsson.
Quartettu, Madame L Sherrington. Mr. Cummings.
Mr. Santley, and Mr. Wales, Ato o ears"
(Puritanii
Mr, Madman, Inte)Why tuck, "Rte infancy's bud"
(Joseph:
&Matto, Mdlle. Miens, lidUe. C. Nilsson, Madame
Patey-Whytock, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Mantle), and
Mr. Weise, " hula Bola" (Dom Giovanni)

The results of this concert were as follow :-
5791. 145., making, with the return previously
given of the result of Tuesday morning's perform-
ance, a total for the day of 2,684/.llx. 7d.

ALBERT MEMORIALS.—CardinaI Wolsey's Chapel,
i above the burial-place of our monarchs at Windsor Castle,
is now being converted into • most interesting memorial
of the Prince Consort, and the decorations are being con-
tributed by the princes and primeness of the royal family.
The roof, with ite beautifully arched work, has been
covered with a magnificent ceilim. of mosaic, said to be
the finest in the world for its size. Around the aides of
the chapel the plain glass windows have been replac, a by
stained glass, depicting events in the life of the Prince.
On the west wall the panels are being filled with mosaic
pictures of the sovereigns and celebrated persons whose
history is intertwined with thole( Windsor. When finished
(13 are already up) the series will comprise portraits of
'Henry 111., &Isere! 111., Edward IV., Henry VII., Jane
Seymour, srl of Lincoln, Duke of Suffolk, Henry VI.,
'Henry VIII., Chars 1., George 111., Janice 11., Lord
I Hastings, Marquis of Worcester, Archbishop Beruhridse,
M. A. De Dounuis, Matthew Wren, Bruno Ryves, Be' au-
' champ, Wykeham, Wolsey, Dean Unswick, Bishop Turner,
Bishop Robinson bishop Douglas, ArchbiahopSutton, and
others. Baron Tkqueli is to cover the walls beneath the
windows with marble inlay work, the subjects being
of • Scriptural character. Four of these large panels are at
the present moment being exhibited by perruissiou of he^
Majesty in the Paris Exhibition. The panel contributed by
his Royal Highness Prince Leopold has for its subject
" David and Saul ;" that by Princess Louise, " A Sc. ie
from the Life of Moses." On the panel given by Prince
Arthur. David is shown with his harp ; while Princess
Beatrice has presented a picture of Nathaniel. Above
each panel is a medallion portrait of the contributing
prince or princess, sculptured on white marble. There are
appropriate inscriptions attached to each panel. These
precious works of art, upon the closing of the Exhibition,
will be placed upon the walls of the chapel. The works at
the royal mausoleum in Frogurore grounds, where the re-
mains of the Prince Consort are interred, are slowly
verging towards completion. Artists are engaged in finish-
ing the decoration of the ceiling of the dome, wlech is
being elaborately painted, and other decorative works are
in progress, but it will probably be • year before this mag-
nificent tomb is entirely perfected.
A New ATLANTIC CABLE. —lt was announced
sometime ago that the French government bad authorised
an Anglo-French company to lay a telegraphic cable from
Brest to the American continent. The Pearie says that
the preliminary soundings, commenced four months ago,
are now complete. The cable will be laid from Brest to
St. Pierre Miquelon, it having been ascertained that the
bottom of the ocean along that line is favourable to the
design. From St. Pierre it is to go along the coast of New
Brunswick and the shores of the States of Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. A direct
line from Brest to New York would offer many difficulties,
owing to the tremendous depth of some parts of the ocean,
where the officers employed have been unable to find
soundings, and where, consequently, immense quantities
of cable might be sunk without result. The immersion of
the cable now being made in London is to begin in May
next year, and the Great Eastern is to be employed to lay
it. It is hoped that a month will suffice for the work,
and that in July, 1864, at latest, France and the European
continent will be in direct telegraphic communication with
Ansarice.—Usdiesesssi.