The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-02 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE,

CONCERT AND PRESENTATION OF TESTI-
MONIAL TO HERR MANNS.
Saturday last brought to a close the series of
musical entertainments of the season 1864-65, which
have been marked throughout by discriminating
taste and uniform excellence. Mr. Manns is, no
doubt, at this present moment justly elated by the
flattering testimonial presented to him and the high
eulogium publicly passed on him in the name of the
directors of the Crystal Palace Company. It affords
us also unfeigned pleasure to record our own humble
appreciation of Mr. Mann's unflagging zeal, enlight-
ened discernment, and scholarly research, and to
express our sincere wish that he may long continue
to wield his masterly baton on the scene of so many
well-won successes, and to be the valued associate of
the able triumvirate which so harmoniously rules
the interests of the Crystal Palace administration.
The programme for the occasion was as follows:
Overture, " Oberon" Weber.
Air, " a roamer, " (Son and
Stranger)
Air "Vedrai Carino" (Don Giovanni) Mozart.
Aria, "Rend' it Sereno" (Sosarme) Handel. •
Valse Arietta, " The Lark Song" Gounod.
Symphony, No. 9, in D Minor, Op
125 (The Choral Symphony) ..... Beethoven.
Madame Lemmens-Sherrington, Mis 3 Julia Elton, Mr.
Wilbye Cooper, Mr. L. Thomas, and the Crystal Palace
Choir. Conductor—A. MAms.
In consequence of the enthusiastic reception on
the preceding Saturday of the " Choral Symphony,"
and of the inability of many visitors to get within
the concert room, this magnificent composition was,
according to previous announcement, repeated on
Saturday last, and drew together a still more nume-
rous, and, if possible, a still more delighted audience.
Having already spoken of last week's performance,
we need only add that that the second was indeed
faultless, being for all concerned in its execution a
genuine triumph, and for all who listened an un-
qualified treat. At its close Mr. Manna was loudly
recalled. The solo vocalists, Madame Lemmens-
Sherrington, Miss Julia Elton, Mr. Wilbye Cooper,
and Mr. Lewis Thomas, were all warmly applauded
in the respective songs allotted to them.
Immediately after the concert several of the
directors and of the gentlemen who had interested
themselves in the " Manns Testimonial," the sub-
scribers and their friends, repaired to the Terrace
Dining-rooms, where, on a platform raised for the
occasion, were exhibited the magnificent and costly
Sevres clock and vases, which, with a purse of 200
guineas, were to be presented to the popular
conductor.
Mr. SCOTT RUSSELL having been elected to the
chair, said that he, as a director of the Crystal
Palace Company, and one of the oldest inhabitants,
deemed himself happy and privileged in being chosen
to present, in the name of his brother directors, and
Mr. Manna's friends and admirers generally, a testi-
monial which that gentleman so well merited. The
chairman then spoke in the warmest terms—and
amidst almost continuous applause—of Mr. Manna's
well-known ability and conscientious efforts to raise
higher and higher the standard of excellence of the
Crystal Palace musical performances. For the last
ten years he had had frequent opportunities of judg-
ing of Mr. Manns's talents and personal character,
and rejoiced at having the opportunity publicly to
state that he esteemed him equally in his artistic
and private capacity. " Ten years ago," said Mr.
Scott Russell, "we, old inhabitants of the district,
viewed this Crystal Palace as an intruder on the
privacy of our homes and retirement ; but now, on
the contrary, we daily repair to our avocations in
the busy and crowded city of three millions, know-
ing and rejoicing that we leave our wives and daugh-
ters amidst such varied sources of intellectual, re-
fining, and elevating wealth as might be envied by
the proudest and highest in the land."
Mr. MANNS, who was evidently touched by the
kind and laudatory manner in which he had just
been spoken of, stepped forward to return his
thanks, but was allowed a few bars' rest by repeated
rounds of cheers and applause, in which his fair ad-
mirers took a prominent part. Remembering how
undemonstrative at concerts ladies generally are;
it is impossible not to express the wish that Mr.
Manns's gentle friends may, on future occasions,
display some small portion of the exuberant energy
and entrain which they so manifestly evinced.
Mr. MANNS, in a neat, happy, and even fluent
speech, begged to thank from his heart all concerned
in this demonstration of approval and goodwill
towards him, assuring them that ten years' arduous
professional exertions and cares were more than
repaid by the reception he had met with. "If,"
said he, " the mere wish to do good is sufficient to
afford happiness to many, what must my feelings be
in looking back on the scene of my labours amongst
you, honoured and cheered by the esteem and ap-
probation of those who so often come to listen to
the strains of the fine band which it is my privilege
to conduct, and which is so efficiently maintained
by the liberality of my directors. I feel proud indeed
of the kind things said of me by 31r. Scott Russell,
because I find that I have justified the confidence
hwehirec,hLt: pleased
ten years
yearsagtoo, when music was dethroned
place in nie, then a compa-
rative stranger ; and I gladly receive at his hands
vhich my wife and
mtoessttproenciiaol, precious,
and which I shall
teach my little girl to revere as the expression of the
I this
shall most
always handsome
hold testimonial,
esteem entertained for her father for his humble
but honest efforts in the cause of trt by those whom
he trusts still to serve and please until his hair is
silver grey."