The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-31 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

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BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY MORNING.

•
On the first day of the festival we indulged in
anticipation,. that the results would lie favourable. Seven
out of the eight performances have uow taken place, and
our expoetatiou has been fully realised. At the concert last
night the receipts were exactly 4001. greater than on the
corresponding evening at the last festival. The amount
taken last night was 1,0881. lON. The appearance of the
hall was meet brilliant, and in a musical point of view the
ansoert was entirely succawful.

This programme was gone through almost without a
fault ; unquestionably one of its most attractive features
was the performsoce by Miss Arabella Goddard and the
orchestra of Beethoven's elaborate Concerto in E fiat. This
occupied more than thirty minutes, and was executed
throughout with wondrous precision. In a concert of this
character the audience is apt sometimes to manifest im-
patience at a performance of so great length,
however high the intrinsic character of the music
may he ; on this occasion the audience sat lite-
rally entranced under the effects of the grandeur of
the music and its executiou. Mdlle. Patti was encored in
both pieces, and Mr. Bentley obtained full and well-merited
applause for the magnificent way in which be rendered
Meyerbeer's air, "Ah ! now I feel," from Dinorali. It
was getting towards midnight when the coucert was over,
but so brilliant had it been throughout that the audience
seemed to feel no sense of weariness, and the festival corn
mittee deserve to be congratulated and felicitated on tho
success of the concert so far, and on the expressions of satis-
faction which they have elicited from all who have attended.
The Lu I of Shre wsbury, the president, attended the concert
last evening.

FRIDAI EVEIDRO.

There was a great hall again to-day, not of course equal
to the At asiah morning, because, as is well known, there is
• certain class of people who from custom, or fashion, or
some other feeling, make • point of attending holism's of
this character on the day on which the Messiah is performed.
Making due allowance for the absence of this section of
worthy people, the attendance to-day was large ; • strange
would have said the hall was crowded, though, in face
such was not the case ; but the president's gallery, the
side galleries, sod the floor were alike well tilled ; and
such a musical treat the connoisseurs who from afar had
Bucked to Birmingham to-day have seldom experieucod.

BEETHOVEN'S MISSA SOLENNIS
was the great work selected for the opening performance
of this morning, and as such must unquestionably be re-
garded as the grout novelty of the Birmingham Festival
of 1861.

A work so rarely heard, yet so highly estimated, could
scarcely fail to be an immense attraction to those who ad-
mire the compositions of the illustrious Beethoven. Even
in the metropolis itself this gigantic work of the
great German composer is not frequently heard.
It requires so much patient study and careful
rehearing, particularly on the part of the choir,
to do it anything like justice, that the rarity of
its performance inspires us with little surprise. On the
other hand, when it is performed welt few compositions of
Beethoven are more effective or better calculated to impress
the bearer with au idea of the great genius and vast power
of the composer.
The solo parts were taken by Madame Ruderedorff, Ma-
dame liainton-Dolby, Mr. Montem Smith, and Mr. Bentley,
who did their respective parts as well as could be possibly
expected, though it was evident they were not so well ac.
quainted with their work as with these things they are more
frequently performing. But taking this into cousideration,
and the very difficult character of the music, the solo music
was dune very welt The performance of the mass alto-
gether was a great success. It is exceedingly doubtful
if it ever wisdom so well before, or if so much pains was
taken to get such a perfect performance, and it is quite
clear after this that there is nothing in the whole repertoire
of music, sacred or secular, that cannot be performed at
• Birmingham Festival. Hunimel's Alma Vino, which
followed, was undoubtedly put in the ►cheme to dis-
play the powers of Mdlle. Patti. As usual, she made the
part suit her, and so delighted her audience, that • repe-
tition was at once desired and complied with. Though
comparatively simple, it played very well, and it is
exceedingly doubtful if it was ever performed better.
A large selection from hive/ in Rflypi brought the morn-
ing's performance to a conclusion.
The following shows the etteudance and amount of
receipts this morning—it is larger than on the Friday in
1858, and there is the extra concert to.uight, which will, it
is anticipated, be a crowded one : —President and Vice-Presi-
dent's seats, at 21s. each, 182, 1911. 2s. ; secured sofas, 21s.
sash. 742, 7791. 2e.; unsecured seats, Rh. 6d. each, 4711,
2461.155; two pauses, 111 s. lid. each, If. le.; donations and
collections, 2541. 12e. lid.; total number attending,
total receipts, 1,4721. 12s. &I.

The Duke of Somerset (the First Lord), accom-
panied by Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Frederick Grey,
K.C.8., Rear-Admiral Charles Eden, C. 8., and Mr.
Whitlmead, M.P. (Junior Lords), and Rear-Admiral Lord
Clarence Paget, C.H. (First Secretary), leave on Monday or
Tuesday next for Holyhead, on an official visit of inepec-
Con, at the conclusion of which the Admiralty Hoard
proceed to Kingstown, Cork, Ste., on their annual tour of
inspection.

The Marquis sod Marebionem of Chohnoudeley
intend to remain at Houghton Hall, Hougbarn, Norfolk,
until the middle of the ensuing mouth, when they repair
to Cholmoudeley Castle, Cheshire, for the winter.

Thu Marquis and Marchioness of Clauricardo
return from Homburg at the close of the ensuing month.
The noble marquis vacates his mansion on Carlton House-
terrace this autumn, Mr. Fo'jambe, M.P., and Selina Vis-
countess Milton haring purchased the remainder of the
lease. The Marquis of CLusricarde has taken the late Mr.
Mortimer Druminond's mansion in Stratton-street, Pic-
cadilly.

The Earl and Countess of Derby are staying at
Knowsky, Lancashire. The noble earl is in the enjoyment
of excellent health. Next month and in October the noble
earl will receive a select circle for shooting.
The Earl and Countess of Essex. have been
entertaining during the week, at their seat, Cashiobury
Park, near Watford, Lord sad Lady blilden, Lord Ebury,
Sir Bridges Henniker, Mrs. L Fox, and a Went family
circle.

Viscount and Viscountess De Veaci and Hon.
Miss Year), have left town, on • visit to the Marquis and
Marchioness of Aikebury, at their seat in Yorkshire.

Viscountess Somertou and Lady Mary Craven
arrived in town yesterday from Homburg, attar a tour of
Vise Germ►n Spam,

His Excellency the Hon. William George Staf-
ford Jeroiosbam awl lady, acoompeoied by Signor F.
Elmore, have arrived at Ifaurity's lintel, from Lima, Peru.
It is stated that Viscount Houck is likely to suc-
ceed Sir Edmund Walker Head as Governor-General of
Coma.