The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-06 00:00:00

NEW PHILHARMONIC CONCERTS.

The fourth concert, and last but one of the pre-
sent season, took place last night, with the following
programme :

PAH? I.

Overture (Struensee
Hoeft. " Tutto e dieposto" I (Le Norse dl PI-1 Motet. Aria, " Amite"j oto) Sig. Gassier f
Concerto, Violin, Mr. Henry Holmes
Polices (Der Prelschutz), Maine. Sink°
Dnetto, •La ci darem," (Don Olovaani,, Mdlie
Sink° and Signor Deader Mozart.
Symphony, In A minor (No. S) Mandelseohn.
PAST IL
Concerto, In E fiat, Pianoforte, Madame Arabella
Goddard
Cavatins, "Ah forme A lul," (Traviata,,
Widen
Aria, " Vi e% Is
Tull vendetta" (Lamed& Borgia),
Signor Gassier
Overture, In e major' MB.), (Vestal)

The instrumental pieces in the abo►e selection are so
frequently performed as to call for little comment on the
present ocoasicel. Meyerbear's effective but somewhat
laboured overture (the grandly-wrought climax of which
is its best portion) scene to be a favourite with the eon.
doctor, Dr. Wylde, since it ia frequently given at these
concerts. Mendelssohn's grand musical picture of the im-
pressions which he received during his visit to Boot.
land in his youth has long since taken its
stand among the beet works of its kind. In this
and other orchestral piecto of the evening the orchestra
was generally effective—the scherzo of the symphony
being so well played as to meet with an immediate encore,
and the difficult passage for the oboes in the last move-
ment, so often • stumbling-block, being given with great
certainty and steadiness. A principal feature of the even-
ing was Madame Arabella Goddard's admirable perform-
ance of Beethoven's grandest concerto, now known se
the " Emperor." In the force, energy, and brilliancy
with which the first and last movements were given, and
therefined expression anddelicacy imparted to the exquisite
adagio, Madame Goddard again displayed those high and
exceptional powers which she has so frequently manifested
in this and in other music of the highest class. The Con-
certo of Spohr (in the style of • vocal soma)—the favourite
if not the best of his many works of the kind—was played
with considerable powers of execution by Mr. Henry
Holmes, who was perhaps most successful in the last
movement, the bravura passages of which were given '.►ith
much brilliancy. His performance altogether was received
with much applause. Mr. overture is the pro-
duction of • highly accomplished musician, who
is ,chiefiy known to the public as the composer of •
few graceful songs and pianoforte pieces. He is also, how-
ever, a skilful master of orchestral effect, as he has proved
by various works, which deserve • hearing quite as well
as some more recent productions. His overture is light
and brilliant, somewhat in the Italian style—the second
subject, or episode, being particularly noticeable for its
melodious brightness. The instrumentation, too, is rich
and varied throughout, and the work was received with
expressions of satisfaction that should lead to a hearing
of other productions from the same hand. The vocal music
and the singers, both so familiar to the public, call for no
special comment.

Mdlle. Parepa recently appeared at Chicago, in
the Barber of Seville, and appears to have gained a great
triumph. " The audience tarp the Nei, York !Jerald)
were enthusiastic to the last degree, giving her a per-
fect ovation, and letting loose carrier doves with bon-
nitrite."

THE SHEFFIELD TRADES UNION COMXIBSION.—
The commission eat again yesterday, when Robert Holm-
shaw, president of the Seiner Grinders' Union, was
examined. He said it was also a benefit society. The
weekly contributions were la. esl. men and 9d. boys.
Those who did not contribute were advised to do so. Those
generally refusing were the better class of men, and also
the most intemperate. When men are in arrears he in-
variably requests their masters to use their influence. If
that fade they consulted with other branches. They take
no other means than withdrawing the men until the
arrears ere paid. Stealing bands is a continual occurrence,
but the society does not do it. It is done from spite, and
from one man taking another man's work. The masters
and men were exactly on the same footing when both paid
to the union. If all the trade lost their bands
they would come to him. He did not know why
they came to him, except to make it known in
the trade. He had never been asked what he had
done with the bands, and did not know where they were.
lie bed never been the means of • man's bands being re-
turned to him. It bad never been said in his presence
by one of the committee to a man, "If you pay your
subscriptions you will get back your bands." The com-
mittee had been asked in his presence, by • loser of
bands, why his bands had been taken. They
might say to a man, " Why, you are so much in
arrears." He bad never beard a person to whom this
question bad been put say that he would pay up his
arrears if he got his bands back. He had known men
pay up their arrears when they bad lost their bands ;
and the bands were very likely returned because the
money was paid. The bands being taken no doubt
enforced the payment. That was a general thing, both
were money was in arrears and the laws of the trade
violated. All that they do as a trade is to take away bands.
Never knew any one who has done so, nor paid any mo-
ney, nor known of any being paid for doing so. George
Platte had been • scissors manufacturer in the Park, and
had been a manufacturer five years. He deposed that
about 1862 an attempt was made to form a union. He was
called upon by • person named Knott to ask him to join
the union. He several times refused, but at length he
to pay Bd. per week ; that was 4d. for himself and
for two boys. In May, 1863, he left his workshop, and
when an apprentice came the morning following he found
that his shop had been broken into and two of his bands
taken away. He paid, and his bands were restored. Some
other evidence of similar effect was given, and the com-
mittee adjoin-lied.