The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-11 00:00:00

filtunc.

MONDAY POPULAR CONCERTS.
The following selection was performed last
night:
Quartet, in D. OD 44
" Deeper, and deeper WAIL" L HandeL
Air. 1" Wait her, anent"
Sonata, In C, pianoforte Weber.

Pk ST I.

PART 11.
Ltaler Ohne Warta. Pianoforte
Regret."
Songs {"Ou every tree that thalamus In the Schubert.
Quintet, Op. s 7 Hummel.

- -
The novelties in the above programme were the solo pieces
of Heller and the pianoforte Quintet of Hummel, per-
formed for the first time at these concerts. The Lieder
°lane Work of Helier (Nos. 2,4, and 7 from Op. 120), are
among the latest but not the best of this composer's pro-
ductions. The exquisite form of the Lied Wine Work,
originated and perfected by Mendelsohn, has been so
thoroughly wrought out by that master, that all imitations,
however clever, seem a superfluous waste of talent. The
pieces now referred to are strained and affected, and want-
ing in that natural flow and grace, and tbst completeness
of development within limited outlines, which are so ad-
mirable in the originals of Mendelssohn. Stephen Heller
has written much pianoforte music impressed with a dis-
tinct individuality of character; full of poetical idealism
and romantic fancy ; with which these recent productions
are 'scarcely worthy of comparison. Although they re-
ceived every advantage from the refined and finished per-
formance of Mr. Halle, they did not make any
marked impression. Hununel's Quintet a later
work than his celebrated Septet in 1) minor—
while neither so elaborate nor so interesting, bee yet
much of the charm which that composer's graceful style
and rich variety of passage writing for the pianoforte im-
parts to most of his music for that instrument. The open-
ing allegro is especially bold and vigorous in subject and
treatment ; and the final rondo full of elegance and
vivacity, notwithstanding the sombre key in which the
piece is written. The Quintet, although placed at the end
of the programme, detained most of the audience, and
was received with every expression of tdessure—a result
largely owing to its excellent performance by Mr. Halle
and his coadjutors, Herr Straus, Messrs. H. Blagrove,
risque. anti Reynolds. The first of Weber's four solo
sonatas, with its impetuous finale known as "It moto
continuo," has before been played at these concerts
by Mr. Halle, but never with greater effect than last
night. The bravura passages in which this difficult piece
abounds, were executed with a power and self-command
that belong only to thorough art training ; while the im-
pulsive final rondo was given with an impetus and unflag-
ging energy that could not be surpassed. Mendelssohn's
Quartet (the third of the seven pieces of thatches which he
produced) was given with excellent effect, aa it has been
on various previous occasions at these concerts. Of Mr.
Sims Reeves' admirable declamation in the recitative, and
refined expression in the air, of Handel ; and of his unaf-
fected pathos in the two lieder of Schubert (the second en-
cored), it is only necessary to say that they were equal to
any former manifestations of this artist's admirable powers.
At the concert of Monday next Herr Joachim is to make
his first appearance this season.

Drama.