The Express.
London, England, 1868-11-21 00:00:00

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.

The thirty-seventh season of this great institu-
tion commenced last night, with a performance of Mr.
Costa's oratorio, Naaniam, by desire, and in the presence
of their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess
of Prussia.
'1 be selection of Mx. Costa's second oratorio for last
n hi,' s opruing performance of the season was a compliment
to its composer similar to that which the society paid to him
on the occasion of their 500th concert on Dec. 13, last year,
when Naansim was also given. This work, like its pre-
cursor, Eli, was composed specially for the Birmingham
festival--the one in 1865, the other in 1864, each having
received various performances by the Sacred Harm 3IliC
Society; and the earlier work having just been produced
with great success, under composer's direction, at
Stuttgardt.
The important soprano solos of Naansisti are so identi-
fied with the great singer (then Mdlle. Adelina Patti, now
the Marchioness do Cane) by whom they were first sung
at Birmingham, that it is a severe teat for any other
singer to contend against the recollection of such au
exquisite performance. The effect produced by Madame
Lumens-Sherrington in this music, therefore, affords good
proof, if any were wanting, of her powers and accomplish-
ments. Last night, as at the five-hundredth concert of the
society last year, this lady rang the music of Adah with
much refinement and grace of style—qualities especially
recognisable in her delivery of the air, "They shall be
turned back," and the expressive prayer (with chorus)
"Maker of every star." Madame Sainton-Dolby,
as before, gave great significance to the contralto solos,
especially the beautiful air of the resuscitated child, "I
dreamt I was in heaven." The subordinate soprano
solos, including the air for the Shunamite, "Look up, my
son," wore given with brightness and power by Mdlle.
Enequist. The important music assigned to Elisha was,
as on previous occasions, sung by Mr. Santley with
that admirable command of the declamatory and cantabile
styles which has long since rendered him eminent both in
e.rarriatie and sacred music.

Our musical readers will be glad to learn that, among
other interesting features in the forthcoming perform-
ances, will be Beethoven's ()rand Mass in I), which has
been several times so finely given by this society, but not
for several years yak.

E 4 CLEMASTICAL PREFERMEN rB.—John Ban is
authorised to state that her Majesty has conferred the
canonry at Westminster, vacant by the promotion of
Archdeacon Wordsworth, on the Rev. Canon Prothero,
and the stall to which he had been nominated at St. Mums
Cathedral has been conferred on the Rev. Robert Gregory.
vicar of St. Mary the Lees, Lambeth. The same journal
is requested to contradict the statement that has appeared
is several papers, that Mr. Disraeli has appointed the
Rev. W. M. P. Pym to the vicarage of Ifugheurlon. Mr.
Disraeli does not know the gentleman, and hay nomi-
nated no one.

THE REFORM 'RACIER AND Tim ELEcrioxe.—
At the weekly meeting of the council of the Reform
League, held on Wednesday lastthe following resolution
was unanimously adopted :—" That this council would
cordially express their deep gratitude and obligations to
the members of Mr. Beales's central and other committees,
and the 7,160 truly independent electors of the Tower
Hamlets who voted for him, for their seal, devotion, and
great services in the election of the president of
this league for that to an issue so nearly suc-
cessful ; and are strongly of opinion, from facts disclosed
to them, that had the working-clam electors received free
and uninterrupted fair play, and acmes to the polling
booth without moleetationby police and other interferences,
Mr. Beale' would undoubtedly have been one of the
mambo" alerted."

$ll/711111 iffoitEoE.—The sculptures from Heli-
carmine, which were cm their arrival deposited in Wa-
Cashed& greeted for their reception outside the
Museum, are at Modth in course of beiog removed
to the interior, sad illigmd of in the Egyptian. Elgin,
and Reamaill= The shed at the vas side of the
buffelaff, ha hem emptied of its valuabM contente,
has tees
mid the remaining objectionable
erections, as emw mew ham yiekled up their treasuree,
will also be aimed away. In the Roman gallery an addi-
tional shelf for a number of ancient busts is in process of
eonalreeliem and the walls coloured to a higher shade of
=opted lectseat to the marbles. A statue of
tram of great antiquity, is ahici placed
in this gallery. very interesting statues from the
recently-acquired Farness collection have boss arts
in the Egyptian selows—the Mud rthrri and
fries" together with a lore of Mercury, and the
unique salient espy of the famous Diatimmence, are now
exhibited for public inspection is the different sculpture
galleries.