The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-23 00:00:00

MB,. BENEDICT'S CONCERT.

This accomplished and popular musician gave
his annual grand morning concert yesterday in St.
James's Hall. Mr. Benedict has a threefold claim
on po2nlar support as a composer, as a conductor,
and as a•pianist, for in each of these capacities he
has won golden opinions from the public. His
concert is always one of the fashionable assemblies
of the season, and the present occasion was ❑o
exception to the rule, for a large and brilliant
audience crowded the hall and appeared to be
highly gratified by the entertainment. The list of
artistes included some of the most eminent names
of the day, Mesdames Alboni, Carlotta Patti, with
Signor Giuglini and Mr. Sims Reeves, being among
the vocalists; and Madame Arabella Goddard,
Signor Piatti, Messrs. Lindsay Sloper and Bene-
dict among the instrumental performers. Madame
Alboni's exquisite singing can never fail to give
pleasure, and in a scene from Tancredi and are
Tyrolienne from "Betly" she delighted the audience
with that easy and melodious style so rarely even
approached by others. Madlle. Patti achieved a
decided triumph in Bellini's graceful Polacca "Son
vergin vezzosa," in which her voice reached to mar-
vellous altitudes with surprising facility. Madlle.
Artot sang a vocalized waltz with great skill and
execution, and Madame Lemmens• Sherrington dis-
played her powers of embellishment in several ela-
borate pieces. Madlle. Trebelli, who sang a solo
with taste and expression, and took part also in a
quintett from one of Verdi's operas, acquitted her-
self with credit, while the other ladies were more or
less successful, Signor Giuglini substituted the
new and popular romanza " Colli Nativi," which is
never heard without an encore, for the cperatic
morceaux set down for him in the programme, and
certainly the audience did not disapprove of the ei-
change, for there was no exception to the general
rule, and a unanimous redemand induced the singer
to repeat it. Mr. Sims Reeves sang twice, the
graceful ballad of " The Message," being one of his
performances. He was, as usual, loudly applauded.
Mr. Santley was very well received, and displayed
his fine voice to advantage in a scum from Mr. Bene-
dict's " Dirgo di Lara." Piatti's performance on
the violoncello is too well known to need criticism.
It is enough to say that he sustained his reputation
on the instrument he has made especially his own.
The pianoforte performances were not the least in-
teresting portion of the concert. The duet for two
pianofortes, played by Madame Goddard and Mr.
Benedict, was a marvel of executive skill, while the
quartett for four performers on two pianos was
played with correctness and brilliancy. There were
many other performers and performances, for the
programme was of unusual length, but those we
have mentioned were the gems of the concert. It
is a pity that some means are not devised of afford-
ing proper ventilation to the Hall, for, as we heard
it remarked, the physical discomfort in this warm
summer weather interferes very considerably with
the pleasure derived from the entertainment.

LIFE-LIKE PORTRAITS—There are some excellent
portraits in the Exhibition now held at the Paleis
de l'lndustrie, in the Champs Elysees, and which is open
every di.y—on Sundays gratuitously. That of the Emperor,
by Flandrin, is admirable. He is represented at full length,
in the uniform of a General of Division, standing with his
right hand resting on a table, and the left on the hilt of his
sword. It is of the simplest kind possibl-, and is a striking
likeness. There is also a:portrait of the:Popa, who is repre-
sented kneeling, and in an attitude of fervent prayer, with
his hands closely clasped together ; and not far off the por-
traits of Cardinal Morlot, the late, and M. Darboy, the
present, Archbishop of Paris. Among crowned heads the
picture of King Victor Emmanuel stands foremost as an
admirable likeness. Not all the loyalty of Alice Lee could
extort from her the admission that Charles 11. was other-
wise than " hard favoured," and I doubt whether any
Italian, however ewhus'astic he may be for the " _Re
Galanitomo" as a sovereign and a soldier, would say that
heanwas.exactly an Apollo. Be this as it may, M. Faguani
and complexion: The
.picture is a
h painted him so Welke that as you enter the saloon,
and his robust form, clothed in the military dress that best
becAnnen bun, catches your eye, he actually seems to walk
out ot
come
painted by the ea
with which the
rated the artiet
e frame so perfect is the resemblance in feature
wt. is of Italy was so
lac simile of the one
me artist the Town-hall of Naples, and
IA his own hand, pleased that he deco-