The Express.
London, England, 1857-06-13 00:00:00

THE HANDEL FESTIVAL.

THE REHEARSAL THIS DAY.
This morning the Handel festival, so long the "ab-
ject of excitement and expectation in the musical
circles not only of London, but of nearly the whole
i kingdom, was fairly inaugurated by a grand dress
rehearsal, as it is called, of the choral portions of the
three announced oratorios. The company were
more critical than, if not quite so numerous as, the
crowds that may be expected on Monday, and the
whole scene was calculated to give a very sufficient
foretaste of the musical glories of the ensuing week.
The grand orchestra, which had not been
finished until last night, looked like a vast
amphitheatre, and would be considered as affording
sufficient accommodation for a large audience,
anywhere but on Penge Hill, where ei erything from
mute to megatheria is produced on the most
coking scale. The great organ, v hieli has gradually
ben built up in sections, and each section tested
by anneal experiment, proved to be an instrument
af stupendous power, such power, indeed, as to
maks the lower garden terrace a by no means un-
favourable vicinity for the enjoyment of its im-
mense volume of sound. The transept was nearly
filled with a very elegant company, there were a few
also in the nave, where, thanks to the judicious clear-
ing away of several obstructions, there is quite"' good
hearing and seeing as in the more expensive positions.
Having been amongst the earliest of the arrivals,
we bad ample opportunity for examining the general
alffiffiliments, and are free to confess that every-
thing pearible has been done to transform this vest
conservable, into a gigantic concert ball. The
guinea mate in the transept are admirably arranged
and classified, and, if not too near, will leave
nothing to be desired in the way of
accommodation. The galleries containing the
five guinea stalls are luxuriously fitted up.
and as there is little apprehension of these being too
crowded, they will be admirably suited to the rich
and delicate of our marital amateurs. An-
other comfortable reflection is that the weather is
considerably cooler than it was a week since, and ;f
to-day's temperature should be retained during next
week, the action of the sun upon the glass will not
produce so much inconvenience on was generally ap-
prehended. In the refreshment department Mr.
Staples has made great exertions to satisfy the
appetites that will have been whetted by three
hours' sacred music. Comfortable dining room has
been provided for 2,000 sitters in the various
saloons, and well supplied refreshment stalls
have been erected in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of all blocks and [galleries, and
comestibles have been laid in immense
profusion. Mountains of ham, myriads of
thicken, tongues infinitely more numerous than
were to be found in the tower of Babel, and pyra-
mids of pastry, that would do honour to the Boule-
vard Italian.
The rehearsal was originally announced to corn-
MINIM at ten o'clock. and long before that hoer the
deism at London-bridge wile besieged by musical
milieus. The crowd, however, was naturally of the
mesa select character, the wealthy ; and the teshion-
able were largely represented, while many artistic,
musical, literary, theatrical, and scientific celebrities
figured in the throng. The earlier steam boats and
omnibuses brought the bulk of the choristera,whose
accents, or exterior, usually denoted their provincial
origin. With this class the ease and facility of the
transit appeared to form the subject of
as much admiration or astonishment as the
structure they were visiting, hundreds of
them, no doubt, for the first time. They evidently
went prepared to witness crowding, crushing, and
confusion. Indeed, some of them audibly ex-
their wonder and uprise at the end-
less streams of people flowing to and from the
railway, but of pushing, squeezing, or fighting for
places there was none. The admirable arrangements
of the officials obviated all inconvenience or confu-
sion of that sort, and if their laboun pass
off as smoothly next week as they have
to day there will be no cause for fear or com-
plaint. But it wee not alone the railway that
conveyed the visitors ; the road was preferred
by a goodly proportion, and the morning being
fine the ride down wee greatly enjoyed.
Arriving at the Crystal Palace, its vast ex-
puisivecess became observable by its com-
paratively deserted aspect. The thousands
who seemed overwhelming in the trains or at
the station, were completely lost in the
does avenues of this wonder of modern archi-
tecture. Once fairly entered, and seated in a gal-
lery of southern aspect, we were enabled to take in
at a glance a tableau unequalled in beauty and mag-
nitude. Spreading many a rood" right in
front of us was the leviathan orchestra, in size
far beyond anything ever contemplated by the
festival makers of ancient Greece or Rome, the
whole of the centre-portion being filled by dense
mares of Mr. Costa's black-coated choral legion, and
the canine* fringed with the bright faces
and gay toilettes of the innumerable St.
Cecilia' who are to witch the world with
their almost divine harmony during the ensuing
week. At the centre of the chord of this immense
semicircle was a neat pedestal, upon which stood
the great maestro, baton in hand, and ready,
by one magic wave of this potent little
sceptre to awake into life and sound the thou-
sand voices and instruments which awaited the word
of command. At this moment, the anxiety and ex-
citement of the audience were intense. There was a
pease. Then the tap of the baton was beard, and,
in a second, the whole of the orchestra burst out
in a flood of stupendous harmony, and the suc-
cess of the combination became an established fact.
The rehearsal began with the Overture to the
Messiah, played by the orchestra about 400 strong.
The effect of the instruments was excellent, the
softest piano being distinctly heard, and the forte
passages softened by the vast expanse. The
choral, And the glory of the Lord," first dis-
played the power of the vast chorus, and dis-
pelled any doubts which might have been
entertained as to their being able to move with
precision. They followed Mr. Costa's beat with as
much exactness as we have been accustomed to in
Exeter Hall, and the masses of harmony were equally
clear and distinct. In the chorus which followe
"For unto us a child is born," the power of the
voices was still more strikingly displayed. The con-
trast between the quiet, soft opening and the sudden
burst of sound upon the words " Wonderful! Conn-
seller !" was inexpressibly sublime. Then followed
. Lift up your heeds"—" The Lord gave the word"—
and the chorus of choruses, the divine " Halle-
lujah." The performance of this stupendous
effort of genius was the very climax of grandeur
and sublimity. Madame Clara Novelle then entered
the orchestra, and was received with a burst of ap-
plause. There was next a selection from Judas
Maeeabeus, beginning with the chorus, " Mourn, ye
afflicted children," the grave, melancholy character
of which was beautifully expressed. It was fol-
lowed by another chorus of similar character,
. For Sion lamentation make." The next chorus,
. 0 Father, whose Almighty power," is the
t in the Oratorio, and one of the greatest
Lt Handel has composed. It tested, more than
any that had yet been heard, the possibility of such
a host of voices giving clear and distinct
utterance to complicated fugal harmony. The
asst piece tested the power of a single
mike heard in this vast expanse. It was
ft air " 0 Liberty," sung by Clara Morello. It
might properly to be accompanied by a single violon-
la°, but on this occasion the principal performer
lwas supported by several others. The fair singer's
magnificent voice, however, rang through the place
as if she had been singing in the Hanorer-equare
Rooms.
At the time oar report left, wheih was necessarily
early, company were still arriving, and it was
anticipated that royalty would be represented in the
course of the afternoon, either bythe Prince of Wales
or Prince Albert. There were no reserved sesta to-d,
every one was left to take what seat he like;
the majority, of course, selected the floor of
the transept, but the galleries are decidedly
the beat spots both for seeing and hearing.'
In the course of the morning, and during the
progress of the more solemn portions of
ghe " Messiah," a cloud passed over the
sun. The audience, as wallas the orchestra, were
'tending uncovered, and by the shade quite a