The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-14 00:00:00

IBER.

ROYAL SURREY GARDENS.

The ettendance last night was the largest since the in-
auguration week, and apparently the most musical.
This, however, was not surprising, since the concert was
0:10 of unusual excellence, wad the whole of the first
part was devoted to compositions by Mendelssobn, whose
name for the English public generally has no rival in
attraction, except that of Handel. It would seem that
in a garden and in a theatre the spell is alike. Men-
delesohn's music, though refined and poetical in the
highest degree, exereL.es a strong influence over the
crowd, which with reasoning. minds must- be as
canviucing a proof of its geniality and intrinsic
worth as those more special qualities which have
obtained for it tie admiration of musicians. At
any rate we are glad to, see M. Jullien pursuing
the same policy at the Surrey.gardens which has
met with such Pegitimate success in every one of his cis-
pontine entsrpriscs ; and it is equally gratifying to find
in one district Cs in the other a public eager to support
and able to appreciate what is healthy and good.
The selection from Mendelssobu'e works was made
with great judgment. it was not a hit too long, and
yet comprised a rhre variety of piece;— all, without ex-
ception, b?,intiful and maverly. The overture in C
major, written for a military bend, which began the con-
cerr, was played for the fir,t time before a Llndon audi-
ence. It is a spirited and charrdrig work, and every-
where bears the familiar stamp of its composer. It was,
moreover, capitally executed ; hut at the same time we
think the stringed 'basses (which are not in the score)
added heaviness, rather than force, to the effect: M.
Jullien's "model baud" would have sufficed without
annexations. Of the symphony in A major (the
Italiau")—given entire, and with remarkable correct.
Less and pn'cisio,-17.—it:unnecessary to say more than
that it was listened to by the enormens assembly with
undeviating attention, and applauderfin a manner which
proved how heartily it bad been enjoyed. The first move-
ment of the quintet in A for stringed instruments (per-
formed by M.M. Kettenus, 6ighicelli, Schreure, Vieux.
temps, and another, gentleman not named in tfie bills)
was an experiment, which, considering the vast dimen-
sions of the music-hull, must be pronounced wonderfully
successful. Nevertheless, a pianoforte, would, we think,
have been better in place, and more likely to be under-
stood, than such exclusive " musics di camera" as this
tranquil and melodious quintet--one of the works, by
the way, in which Mendels§ohn earlick4 declared the in-
dependence aed originality of his style. The
employednpOn two of the most tuneful of the
,part-songs.
"0 hills, 0 vales," and "The Vale of Rest," —hoth of
which were well sung, under the direction of Cirm erine,
ter Land, and the first encored. We recommend for the
future that the orchestra should give the chord at she
in order to
preventy
termination of each verse in these parhte vvbich the
.
the voicesdropping towards the
did last night in both instances more than a semitone.
This would be preferable even to the association of a
bassoon or violincello with the basses—an expedient
frequently resorted to. The Mendelssohn selection
Came to a close with the magnificent finale to the un-
finished opera of " Lorely," which was executed with
great spirit—Madame Rudersdorfr singing. in a very
ettistic style, the music of the devotee bride of the
mine. After this performance the applause was'entbu.
siastie. We understand that, in consequence 91 the sue .
cess of the present essay, there will be another 4.` Met • •
delssohn night" on Wednesday next.
The features of the second part were the Zouaves—
who in M. Jullien's new quadrille created the saute sen-
sation a before; a duet, by Kalliwoda; for two French
horns, skilfully executed by the Messieurs Stoke,— two
neer weathers of M. Jullien's orchestra; and Bishop's
greed is " C!-Ough and Crow" (solos fey Madame It'uders-
dorfa Miss Kate Ranee, and Herr Relatansky), which
was unanimously encored. The madrigals and glees
seem to have obtained as' -much vogue here as at the
Crystal Palace—at least if we may judge from an an.
nouncoment that they are to be repeated every Friday,
The first morning concert is fixed fur the 23d insert,