The Express.
London, England, 1859-06-18 00:00:00

THE HANDEL COMMEMORATION.

FULL DRESS REHEARSAL.-(THIS DAY.)

The present year completes the century from the
death of Headel, and the treat prouder@ to be merited in the
national annals by • oommemoretnn worthy &bite of the

undying fame of the great composer, sad the amoical
resources of th• people for whom he conorived sad oosapaad
his sublime oratorios. It has been said of England's bud
Hist there never wee but co. Seshal<•n; sad, with equal
truth may it be affirmed of her no lee. inspired compeer,
diet there was never but one Handel. Both sums lave
becouic throughout the world familiar as household
words, and the recurrence of the daqs of their birth
sad death have MOT. than once been commemorated by

dramatic and musical festivals. The presumed ciintenary of
Handers birth, in 1784, was celebrated by a public perform-
ance of some of his works on a scale of unsurpseeed
and unknown magnitude at the period. He wee
bore, however, at Halle, in Lower flesomy, on the
23rd of Fehr/sexy, 1686, and died In Leaden, at hie
rolidesce in l'fper Broek-street, on Good Friday, April 13,
1759. He came to Ragland at the age of 26, and made
Loudon his horse, and he produced he. the greater
portion of his numerous compositions. It was for England
end the English language that be composed, and
while hi* own good quehtise won him the e,c.erion of
his contemporaries, his hapernhatile oratorios have
endeared hiai to the heart* of all nodality. He was
buried in the Poet's Corse? of Westminster Abbey, about
8 o'clock, on Friday eight, the Mt April, 1759. We tears
from the introduction to the book-programme of the present
commemoration that the celebralien of thepretuniedcentemary
of hie birth, in 1784, comaieted pertly of a performance of
some of his works in Westminster Abbey, when the orchestra
numbered 625 persons, vis., sopranos, 69; alto. 48 ; tenors,
83, buses, 84; violin", 95; violas, 26; violoncellos, 21;
contra-Damao, 15; flutes, 6; °into, 26; ,beseroons, 26; don.
blo-b.eeooo, 1; tramper, 12; horns, 12; trombones, 6; and
drams, 4.

Another festival took pleas in the Abbey In 178 oririeii
the performers are said to have amounted to 1,068; wh.le
1331 there was a reueiesl festival held in Wmtniinerer
Abbey, at which about 600 perform( ra were employed.
The eventually led to the eitablialiment of the Sacred
Harmonic Society, under whom eapervieion the ex-
periment wee made in June, 1857, of holding •
Great Handel Feetival " in the Central Transept of the
Crystal Palace. The chorus then coneisted of 2,000 video
and the bend of 386 inetrumenialists. A large organ eras
erected expreeely for the occasion ; and, the whole experiment
being conducted to a enevicreful Irene by the skill,
energy, and ability of Mr. Costs, it was forthwith
resolved that the ossMeary if the death of the greet com-
poser should be emareetnneated upon the same spot. Shier
then • committee of the Booed Harmonic Society have been
exercising every possible care to select and secure properly
qualified persona to media in the performance, and
today the result of their labours was put to
the test of a grand preliminary reheareel. An enlarged end
improved orchestra has been erected, measuring is width
216 feet, or twice the diameter of the dome of
St. Paul's Cathedral; end in death 100 feet, with the bark
and aides completely incloesd and covered in so as to direct
the mend towards the sadistice and prevent its diapersinn.
Most of the important cities and tierce, sad many of the
village. of England sod as well as those
o Southend and Ireland, have ben called on to contri-
bute their quota to the choir. The cathedral
choirs and the principal choral societies have sent their
members and performere here even from the Continent to
tender assiateaos. The chorus embraces 2,538 voice.,
viz., 617 •opranea, 718 alb* (206 female.), 617 tenors,
and 665 berme. The hind numbers no lees than 468 inetru-
mentalista, thus distributed —7 euperintendentio 92 first
violin., 90 second violin., 61 viola, 60 violoncellos, 61 double
buses, 10 flutes, 10 oboes, 10 elerioutits, 10 baseorsis,
6 unwept)* 6 corsets, 12 horns, 9 trombones, 3 ophickiles,
2 bombardone, 8 serpents, 3 double drums, I bass drum, and
6 side drum.. Mr. Costa is the conductor; Mr. Brown-
smith the organiet; sod the principal vocal pertirusere
include the name. of Madame Clem Novella, Madame
Huderedorff, Medium Lameness Sherrington, Miss Dolby,
Mr. Sims Reeve*, Mr. Weise, and Signor Belletti.

•
This morning several people were on their wey to the
Crystal Palace ate. early hoar, while half the rnetropolie at
least was still in bed. The weather was 'acerb, the sur-
rounding suburbs were decked oat is all the epleedoor of
leafy June, and the pethwaya were lined with count lege 'peva-
tort At the Pimlico ant London-bridge stations the crudt is
literally overwhelming. How the trains were marshalled
end 6sepstelsed tram eight o'clock till as late se zoom, was
something incomprehensible. Travelling by the latter route
it seemed as if half a dosen (mine were engaged Ina hatter
shelter race—sow an expose da-bed peat—now you overtook
&seemingly endless string of enip•y carriage*, and then you
were earthed by the shrill whistle of straggling locomotives
everted Is the very snowy precaution of piloting the va-
rioesconvoya ; sod yet, when you reached your destination
the maimede appeared lost brne-ath the vest sixpence
of the crystal building on Pewee-hill. The into-
lerable heat of the crowded station and closely-
pecked carriages wee exchanged for a cool delicious breeze.
You could breathe wiihout difficulty, and the ladies could
circulate wit Lout riakiog the &duty of en exquisite toilet
upon which hi um had been spear. The only drawback to
the comfort of the great traueept was the duet. Excepting
the removal of this ennoyaoce, t here was little to be desired.
137 11 o'clock the scene was highly picturesque and enjoy-
&Lie. Two catenates whip have been added to the orchestra.
which is covered by • greoeful awning pointed in imitation of
a summer sky. In the centre repro. the broad compact
organ, built exprerly for the commemoration and decorated
in light and tasteful cilium. The well of the ampleheatre is
occupied by the band, and bcbinl it roan rag right
and left are placid the f-to tie chorister*, whose
variegated drama triaged by a compact throng
of black ovate Ova the orchestra the aspect of a
huge parterre of ft Jerre. 'Neetirr to in on the Boor
of the tranrept are the hall of thews-item*, who, as viewed
from the ganef we above, seem to be elm et entirely composed
of (dice. What en alma erg collecion of bonnet.: What
dazzling hum What charming lures: The eye grows
confu-ed at the panorama, en t tarns for relief to the spread-
fog landscape beyond the glit,ering walls of the
Palace. Suddenly the cages peals forth the majestic
*tholes of the National Anthems, the audience rise simul-
tectously with the orchestra, and the them% whith wee
sufficiently exciting befote., becomes almost overpower.
ing. A female form dreecol is bright pink (Madame Clara
Novelle') &de-mossoo the (rant; the,. .eductor waves his white
baton, and thin God Rave the (Piece" rolls in thrilling
volumes from the throats of the greenlet and granoest
arduous England ever babe 11. Anhui., sounding like
the rattle of a heavy h.il storm, follows the anthem, and
seals for • short interval the andivithe and orchestra sink
into a state of repose.

The rehearsal commenced won afterward', and It at once
became utandest th.tt an iuscamee improvement bad been
made In the acoustic &enurement,. The wan come out
clew and distinct, wbtle the chorus, ate nethened and
highly tutored es it is, precitmed • grandet.r of effect
truly entrancing. The Halletij oh woe the tint chorus to teat
Its power, and it seder*. nt the t ale .1 with to much .noses
that even the etvettet critics end! not leer-jet their ruiner
tine of delight. Other potions of the Mersiah wt re rehearewl
with (gaol satirfection, and at orwanis the whole of the 1'
inn On solo pars b, lag rung by Madame Clara Nu-
cello and Signor Bell WI. The harmony was prounneed
to be ea perfect es owlets practice, and &bit ty amid
reader it. A few selection were glean from the ora-
torios of Iklaltazusr, Soot, Staris,o, sad Ada. Neat.
1..41, 'hot meager piece of the prod composer, " ties
the Cunquetiag Hero Comae," retelling to the fur-
thsenwt rest and eleetrilyiag the lestenew. Mr. Sims
Reyna, Mr. Webs, Mks Dolby, and Madame tbadereit rS
meg in some of the selection+. The rehearsal has certainly
remind all that was expected of It.
At the time ow rep at left, cr twle.l trains were still
arriving from the north, east, and w at, and the groan I. of
the palace acre beginning to Irk as chart:Mega, the interior.
All the walks were dotted with goy Formula, end to doubt
as the eternoon atio.ne .1 the neerubl.ge out of doors
would be much inereeeed. Smyth*, that en-
twine* or (median roe ouggert appears to ban
to,* done to acme the *detest order. No less then 192
gentlemen have untelt•lten the teak of wing ae newards,
but the acmes herding to the venous divan* is the leen-
&opt sent to be so nernietakerel,ly todkated at the different
entrareas that their owl al dal likely to deeolwi ern these
rutlemen will be weariag • bA of coloured ri Mae in
their button-holes.

A hind of box Is Esher rsja•ii 1 .t the eastern
side of ibo lisesept, directly fat 1 'be rrchestre, iR antici-
pation et • visit Rent week trouts':iv likesty.