The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-23 00:00:00

Kc' r Ifs

[STAKPZD, 141.

ring in the next scene, "At the threshing
floor" is an endeavour at the pastoral character ;
the drone bass being largely used. The
vocal phrases, however, with the triplet pas-
sages, intended doubtless to convey an
impression of rusticity, are far too coarse
and trifling for pastoral associations. The choral
quartet " Blessed are the pure," a short piece of
simple four-part vocal writing, with the harp used
in the accompaniments, follows with refreshing
effect after the preceding coarse strains. Neither
the next scene, recurring to "The houaeof Naomi,"
nor that fallowing, At the gate of Bethlehem,"
presents any feature to relieve the prevalent dul-
ness of the music. The chorus " Gad standeth in
the congregation," rambling and incoherent as the
most common-place preluding of the most ordinary'
organist, was not improved by being sung some-
what
out of tune—almost the only instance of the
kind that has yet been observable during the fes-
tival. Another instance of fugal writing occurring
in the chorus "There is a son, 'tendato confirm the
impression that this learned form is best left unat-
tempted save by a master competent to wield it.
The concluding song and chorus of triumph, " 0
Lord, I will praise Thee," the solo brilliantly sung
by Madame Lind-Goldschmidt, commences with
some bravura passages of a flippant character quite
unsuited to such a text, and merges into a choral
climax which does not rise beyond the tone of coin-
monpleoe dulness that pervades nearly the whole
work. There is no avoiding the expression of an
opinion that this new " Pastoral "is unworthy of
the occasion and of the excellent artists engaged in
its performance, and that if novelties are required,
and nothing better than such a work can be pro-
cured from living composers, it would be better to
revive some of the many compositions of Handel
which have been ignored for many years.
The day's performances concluded with Mozart's
Requiem, very well given on all hands.
he first miscellaneous concert was held on
Tuesday night in the Shire-ball, with the following
programme :

Party 1.-Bmicrion ram Mot Arr.
Symphony In D. No. 4.
Aria, Iladame Patey Whytock, "L'Addio "
Reds. ed Aria, Mdlla Tietieus, "Non ml dir " (Don Olovanall.
Aria, Ur. Shoe Hermes, "Der per questa" (La Mame., di Tito).
Duette, Millie. Tieticno and Mr. !motley, "La dove prentle" kII
Plante Magico).
Sone, Mr. Montem Smith, "The Violet."
Andante et' Variations d'une Monate in A, arranged for voice by
J. R. Wekerlin, tibia Julia Riton.

Song, Mr. aantley, "On a faded violet" Matti.
Itonansa, MM.WM Wynne, " ynande ate
Ileta" (Yang'

Vl*MocellO obbligato. Mr. 0. Collins.
Song. Mc Webs, " I am not old"
National Air. Mdlle. Ttet,lma and thorn,
"Rale Britannia" (Alfred,

PLR! IL

Overture, " Mellish's"
Song, Mr. Sims Reeves, " My Queen" Blumenthal.
Irish melody, Madame Patey-Whylock, "The
meeting of the waters"
theenelle. Mdlle. TietitFols, " La volume._ Bewkenani.
Solo, violin Mr. H. B ve, Romance in F Beethoven.
Duette, Miss Edith 11 ynne and Mr. Sims
Beeves, "Tornarni a dir" (Don Pasquale)
Ballad, Was Jolla Mon, "Linke Foy, pretty
Far Barnett.
Song, Mr. Santley, "Oh, mistress mine
Air. Miss Edith Wynne, " When the bee
sucks" ,Tempest)
Chortle, " Home, there's a storm" Sir IL B. Bishop.
The orchestral pieces were played with the spirit
and precision which might have been predicted
from so tine an orchestra as that which is assembled
here, and of which we have already spoken in some
detail. Mr. Henry Blagrove's solo, too, was, as
on many former occasions of his performance of
itho same piece, a display of finished execution and
fine quality of tone. The brilliant singing of
Mdlle. Tietjens, especially in Dr. Arne's national
air (encored with enthusiasm), was again the
subject of universal admiration. Mr. Sims Reeves
(although, as we have previously stated, unable to
appear at the performance in the Cathedral yes-
terday mornin?) sang the beautiful air
of Mozart with great expression and re-
finement. The concert was evidently thoroughly
enjoyed by the visitors, who were less numerous
on this than on the following evening—the num-
bers being 275.
At the second concert, on Wednesday night,
Handel's Acis and Galatea formed the first portion
of the programme—the solos by Mdlle. Tietjens,
Mr. Montem Smith, and Mr. Santley. Mr. Sims
Reeves was to have sung the music belonging to
the part of Ads ; but, as at the Cathedral perform-
ance of the morning, he was replaced by Mr. Mon-
tem Smith, who sang the music of Aria in addition
to that of Damon, for which alone he was
originally set down.
The second part of the concert consisted of the
following miscellaneous selection :