The Sun.
London, England, 1824-07-05 00:00:00

OXFORD.

We gave an account of 'the Commemoration at
this University on Saturday last.' The subject of Sir Rosen
NEWDIGATZ'S Prize, English Verse, was The Arch of Titus,
and the following excellent lines on the occasion were spoken
by Mr. J 431124 TIIO3IAS Hoilei Commoner of Christ Church :
Lives there no trophy of the hem's fame,.
No proud.memorial to record his name,
Whose vengeful sword o'er Israeli* fated land
Stamped iron bondage with a conqueror's hand ? •
Beneath yon altered hill's imperial mound,
With ruin'd shrines and fallen columns crown'd,
Where Rome's dread Genius guards each mouldering stone,
The cradle of her empire, and her throne ;
TIT us, thy Arch proclaims the peaceful sway
Of taste, ennobling Triumph's proudest day ;
Survives, the Forum's grandeur to recall,
And weep deserted o'er its country's fall.
Though dimni'd the outline now' not time o'erthrows
Th ' unrivallid grace which in each fragment glows ;
through each ruin'd part,
ADnistiplaGyliiis
thie, beaming
glorit..sor
immortal
Arti
with mingling beauties erown'd the column's tower,
lonia's graceful curve, and Corinth's flower,
And tapering as they rise aloft in air,
The Sculpturid frieze and votive tablet bear.
From o'er each column Fame exulting springs,
Seems stretch'd for flight, and waves her golden wings ;
Yet linger not ! within the circling space
The storied walls more radiant beauties grace,
In warlike pomp the triumph's rich array
Leaps from the living marble into day.
High on his car the victor borne along,
Hears with exulting heart th' applauding throng;
With sparkling eye surveys the sacred spoil,
And feels one hour oierpay long years of toil.
Lo ! JUDAH'S swarthy sons before the car,
The witherid remnant of disease and war !
Rebellious passions light each faded cheek,
And all the bitter pangs they dare not speak :
And shall these trophies from His temple torn,
The living God, some idol shrine adorn ?
Shall we, shall Aaron's sons no more rejoice,
Nor breath yon trump with Conquest's silver voice,
From Salem's holy mountain heard afar,
In days of festal gladness and of war ?
Is then the seven-branch lustre sunk in night,
Which shed o'er Israel's fate mysterious light ?
Or shall its golden lamp with heathen flame
Gleam as in scorn to point at Sion's shame ?
Yes, it is quenchid ! tin Judah's captive maid
Wake from her woes beneath the palm-tree shade,
Recall her wandering sons, abjure her pride,
And bless the anointed King she crucified I
Th' unfaided crown of David's glory claim,
Yon Arch o'erthrown, and Rome itself a name.
,After the recitation of this Poem the business of the Cony°•
cation ended, and the Meeting was dissolved.

GRAND MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

CADIDRIDGE, FRIDAY EVENING.--The Musical
Festival has commenced, we are happy to say,
under the most favourable auspices.

The doors of the Senate House opened at six o'clock, and
long before the 'opening of the Concert the body of the build-
ing was crowded. The floor is calculated to hold a thousand
persons, and the galleries accommodate two or three hundred.
The company included great numbers of the .Nobility of the
county, and dresses of the Ladies were marked by unusual
splendour. Their beauty, however, far eblipsed the brilliance
of gems and the •aiety of colours. We cannot but observe
that Cambridge and its neighbourhood are matchless for beau-
tiful women.

The Concert commenced at eight o'clock with Rossini's po-
pular Overture to La Gezza Ladra, which was very finely done.
The first song was one from Mr. Kellner, called " The Ma-
niac," to the words of Campbell's admired lines " Hark! the
wild Maniac sings." It is a manuscript composition by Mr.
Kellner, and well calculated to display his bold and nervous
style. The Scotch duet, " Tho' you leave me now in sorrow,"
was then beautifully Sung by Miss Stephens and Sopio. The
Lady was received in the most flattering manner by her splendid
audience, and the song was encored. Madame Catalani next
ascended the orchestra, and she was also received with the
highest distinction. The first song was that of Guglielmi,
is introduced in Il Fanatico ; the air beginning " Mio hen per
to quest 'anima." She gave it with much variety of expression,
and of course made it effective; but it is not a composition of the
highest rank. A Concerto upon Nicholson's Flute followed,
and he played with that beauty and richness of tone for which
he is unrivalled,'and which no musicians estimate more highly
than those of Cambridge. The Duet from Ricciardo, in which
occurs the brilliant movement " Ah , nati e ner" was executed
swaipth emior.Aafrkadaabe inle spirit
inain,sd
sigrngiacem bwyasC,oplabrrttitctui
lalrtloyssaindi, iniarne(di
for its chaste finish and rich quality of voice. Sapio gave
with much sweetness the Air of" Smile again my bonnie lassie,"
and Miss Stephens was encored in that of" Gin, living worth."
Rossini and Catalani then app2ared to sink;the' Duet " Se
fiato in corpo avete," from Cimarosa. Rossini had taken the
Pianoforte in Catalani's song, and in the duet in which his
wife took part, but so great was the intereet excited by the
promise of his singing, that the audience renewed the expres-
sions of favour which they had previously bestowed. When
he began the song, there was a quietness about his face which
it was difficult to understand ; but as he proceeded to the'
droller parts, the contrast was admirably effective. He pos-
sesses an uncommon play of countenance, and manages it
most adroitly. His voice is a high tenor, rich, full, and flexible,
but giving no indicatiqns of practice or cultivation. He sings
with apparent indifference, and if his pretensions submitted
him to critical remarks as a singer, he would decidedly be con-
sidered defective in style and manner. Ile evidently knows
this, and with good taste selecti those pieces where humour is
the material requisite. The duet was received with bursts of
laughter, and a loud and universal demand for repetition almost
anticipated its close. In the second instance he gave a broader
touch to some of his points, once or twice injuriously to their
effect. lie managed, however, to increase the mirth of his
hearers to an almost boisterous extent (for such an atmos-
phere), and absolutely put Madame Catalani hart dc combat ;
she was literally convulsed with laughter, and unable to proceed
in two •or three places.
One of Mozart's beautiful Symphonies led in the second
Act. Sapio commenced the vocal part by singing " Kelvin
Grove," with so much taste, that an encore was demanded.
Miss :Stephens and Kellner. gave Travers's charming duet,
" Haste my Nanette," and we remarked that Rossini attended
to its ingenious construction with much interest, making inqui-
riesabout its Comser. Catalani then gave that singularly
beautiful piece, "Mena," from " La Donna del Lago." She
gave the air with the truest feeling, and marked with most
powerful emphasis the " tutto detesto." The inimitable t ind-
ley played one of his unique Concertos to the great delight of
his audience.

Rossini then sang his own celebrated " Largo al factorurn,"
from " II Barbiere di Sivigila," and again provoked unbound.
ed laughter by his vivacity and humour. Another uncompro-
mising encore was called for as soon as he had finished, and he
complied with great good nature. The Terzetto " Crutla
Sorte" was next performed in a truly splendid manner by Ca.
talani, Colbran Rossini, and Sapio. " Rule Britannia" was
thefinale. It is impossible to describe the effect which Madame
Catalani produces m this national song. Whether to a mixed
concourse in a Theatre, or in the Senate House at Cam-
bridge, one of the sanctuaries of Aristocracy, she never fails to
roust, feeling. that are altngetherincontrollable in their nature.
Immense bursts' of applause followed each stanza, and as
they were continued for some time after the close, Catalani
ordered the band to strike np " Cod save the King," of which
she sang the first verse with all her finest energy. It is need-
less to add, that at Cambridge this was recerved with en-
thusiasm.

SATURDAY, J u LT 3—The Grand Selection of Sacred Music
at St. Mary's Church has not been so well attended as the Con.
certs. About seven or eighehundred people were' present, and
the building is said to hold two thouiand if well filled. We un-
derstand that the morning performances are never so well attend.
ed here, and there was a Congregation at the Senate House,
which would in some degree diminish the numbers at the Church.
Handel's occasional overture opened the performance. Kell-
nfreormgajoes
itihuea
wth recitativeeon
considerable
raaibrl
e`•
effect.
linplesoastilnieg 11;imeirntsg,haeayr,::
minded us of the chaste manner of Perelman, which is say-
ing much to his praise. " Lord, remember David," was sung
by sepia with uncommon feeling and beauty of tone; but his
cadences were not sufficiently varied, to relieve the monotony
somewhat belonging to the melody.: Catalani's songs this morn-
ing were 44 Gratias agimus tibi ; ' Marcello's duet, " Qual
Andante," (with Miss Stephens) " Angels ever bright and
fair," and three concerted pieces in which she took part. Her
" Angels ever bright and fair," produced the greatest efiket,
although we do not altogether agree in taste with the Canthridge
people on this point. There were some very rare points of ex-
pression and beauty in her manner of giving the air; bat we
confess, that in our opinion there can be nothing equal to its
own sublime simplicity, just as it came from the genius of
Handel. Miss Stephens, we were sorry to observe, laboured
under a slight disposition this morning. Her first song was" Let
the bright Seraphim," and she had not sufficient possession of
her powers to conquer its difficulties ; and much fear was en-
tertained that a complete hoarseness wax approaching. But in
the second Act she recovered considerably and gave " Pious
' Orgies," and" What though I trace," in her own (if not in her
bey". Colbran Roaini, Cate-
la " Ali mance la rocs"
wveur y best
done) s twy
ttllo f
theen c hfiannetsitn geszet tnaccompanying it on the
orngai'n.SarllAhaenFdinPalleacteoith R
efatinAct, Adesti Fideles," there
was an unfortunate confusion owing to the want of previous
rehearsal. At the repeats the Band played one part and the
singers sang another. The second act contained a selection
from " Judas Maccabeus," in which Kellner gave " Arm,
arm ye braiel" with much energy; and Sapio, " (), Liberty!"
anTdhaaftteblreintstiNenilaannteristlere i in
nthes
no singer living who Can approach the manner in which he per-
formed Handel's
an viesrychl first
(a stvyeleryo Rood f s ngoinnegl.,
formed Handel's songs upon this occasion. The sacred per-
.formance ended with a IS. trio by Rossini, and a spirited
Benedicius (bearing somewhat too close a resemblance to Mo.
zart's) by Cianchettini. The trio is worthy of its great com-
poser, but not likely to rank among the highest effusion of his
genius.
SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 4—The Second Miscellaneous
Concert, given lasenight at the Senate House,.was, if possible,
more splendid than the first. In the body of the House there
was a still greater crowd, and the Gallery was decidedly bet-
ter filled. The Selection was equally good. A fine Over-
-1 ture by Romberg was the opening. Madame Rossini and
Placci took the lead in the vocal pieces, and came off with
peat eclat. Catalani's first song was a very fine production
Feed. • The aria " 0 da terresta" is both graceful and spi-
rited, and she gave it the full support of talents. In fact,
she retains her powers wonderfully in the midst of so much
exertion. Spagnoletti played a striking Concerto. It was
marked by his peculiar vigour, which seems to be incom-
patible with that delicacy of tone produced from the instru-
ment by some other Professors. Then came Sapio, with a
fine song of Attwood's, and Miss Stephens (quite recovered)
with Bishop's elegant air " Should he upbraid." The con-
elusion of the first act was the ferrate " Crude sorte," re-
-1 peated by Catalani, Colbran Rossini, and Sapio. Remember-
mg the inimitable performance of this piece on Friday night,
the audience welcomed it with a warm burst of applause. It
1 was again executed in a manner so imposing, that a loud and
irresistible encore was the consequence.
in
After Haydn's Symphony E flat, Sapio opened the Se-
cond Act with Dr. Pepusch's celebrated Cantata of " Alexis."
Catalani followed in a beautiful Romanza by Morlachi. After
this a new Comic Trio by Rossini was sung by him, Sapio,
and Place!. It is called " Papa Teed," and Is not only a
most humorous thing,. but contains passages of exquisite
beauty. His own singing was marked by the same humour
as on the former night, anti excited the risibility of the gravest
faces.in the room. The encore was demanded, but opposed
by the more considerate part of the audience. lie also sang
the lesson duet from µII Fanatico," with Catalani. Miss
Stephens sang " Sweet Home," by desire, and so sweetly
.as
to provoke an unanimous encore. The Concert ended with
" God save the King," the verses by.Catalani, and the whole
corps joining in chorus. Rossini's voice was remarkable abovy
all the rest, and upon being laughingly complimented upon his
English, he replied that it was ' very well
actiindeed."
ex pected to
The performances on Monday (to-morrow), are
exceed even thold of to-day, and more to be still attrve.

...
f . ‘..- ' • ...-
evi.'W
Altitie..l‘.;•.- s'ii: ,
~..c.v% v s;,i. ~_, 4., ,0.....,\. ,„...z.
...
..,....c.„ ~.....„ . ~ los,
,1/4;:„Fz.. -).1.1::it0y74, v l,ti
‘,..
'-'c., • 46
rlke 6 ' ft