The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-09 00:00:00

WORCESTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

WORCESTER, Friday Evening.—The concluding con-
cert at the College-hall last night was honoured with s
crowded attendance ; and never, perhaps, was the old
monkish refectory filled with so large and so brilliant a
gathering. The programme presented some very attrac-
tive features, including a selection from Weber's Oberon.
Miss Dolby's appearance in the orchestra at the com-
mencement of the concert was the signal for a warm
weilcsme. She appeared nearly recovered from her indis-
position, and went through all the pieces set down for
her without any apparent difficulty.
The overture to Oberon was played in a finished man-
ner, and the music of the fairies in the opening chorus was
delivered with characteristic .delicacy. Sims Reeves
delivered the glorious song "O 1 'tie a glorious
sight to see " magnificently ; and produced a startling
effect in hii delivery of the passage, "The fight is done
—the field is won." The characteristic eastern chorus,
" Now the evening watch is set, went beautifully.
The principal treble parts were sung by Miss Dolby and
' Madame Castellan, and to Clara Novello was assigned
the recitative and air, " Ocean, thou mighty monster,"
which was one of the most magnificent things ever lis-
tened to. The very first note of the recitative, ringing
through the rafters of the old hall, gave earnest of the
treat in store. The passage, " And now the sun bursts
forth," was a glorious burst of music, and her execu-
tion of the arduous finale was triumphant, bringing
down repeated rounds of applause at its close. After
this Mrs. Weiss sang the Mermaid's song, "0 1 'tie
pleasant to float on the sea," under disadvantages, but it
was given very smoothly, and she also received her mead
.of applause. The choruses " Who would stay ?" and.,
" Let us sail," brought the best part of the concert to a
happy termination.
Herr Formes then sang his favourite air from the
Magic Flute, "Possenti numi," with massive grandeur
of effect. He was encored, and sang a German song.
Madame Viardot, in the air, "Non piu mesta," from
La Cenerentola, had an opportunity of displaying to ad-
vantage her wonderful facility of execution. The
of a an
ohooku hour
awv
aa
ns taa
gl 1
eo woef, ,b Which
ht
ai ckh.
sin-
gular chorus of Dervishes, from Beethoven's Ruins of
iltyo fo af
the quarter
company
Athens, finished the first part of the concert, after which
athneinmtaejovia
ing a cool promenade in the •
conveniently adjacent
cloisters.
Mendelssohn's symphony in A mayor, which r, opened
the second part, went off admirabl but many thoughtr
it too lung. Signor Gardoni was
in the air from La Favorita, ~ s e.setrvedlytieluoanel
the brilliancy with which Madame r°gen
executed
Castellan.
the delightful air from Linda •
lace di
dt Chamounz, "o i
quest' anima.," drew down
It. Blagrove played a fantasia upon the concertina,
and obtained deserved plaudits. Miss Dolby de-
lighted her audience with her Irish and Scotch melodies,
"ne Oh, Lay of Dublin," and " Over the Sea." No
o knows better than Miss Dolby how to sing a
ballad, and the simplicity with which she sang these airs
charmed everybody, while their freshness came in as a
pleasing relief to the more ornate selections of the even-
ing. In consequence of the lateness of the hour the air
from Sonnambula, set down for Clara Novelle. was
airs amused a now-tired
omitted. Viardot's Spanish
hs
from Flotow's Martha,
audience ; and the quarte,t
'was sung by Clara
Novelle,
" Wass soli ich darn sagen,
Miss Dolby, G-ardoni, and Herr Formes, amidst a gene-
ral move. The "National Anthem" brought one of the
most successful
and best attended concerts of many
festivals to a close shortly before midnight.
devotedthe Af •
• e. (Friday) wasto essiaks
This morning
and at an early hour the doors of the cathedral were be-
sieged by throngs of gaily-dressed ladies and gentlemen
anxious to be present 0
at the last performance
of
the
festival.
The attendance at the cathedral this morning, as
shown by the tickets taken at the doors, was 1,457
persons,
and the amount collected for the charity to-
day, 2421. is. 2d. The accounts are not yet made up.
There is a grand full-dress ball at the Guildhall
to-night which will close the festivities of this auspicious
week.

TILE HARVEST IN ESSEX.— TLe wheat and oat crops
in the south-west division of the county have been out
and
eight or ten carted. Scarcely a field of wheat or oats was to be
seen days since. The yield and quality of
the grain are represented to surpass the harvest efloall7
previous years.--ClvdntsArd Olfronic