The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-21 00:00:00

MUSIC HALL, SURREY GARDENS.

The inauguration festival terminated on Saturday
with a miscellaneous concert of great and varied attrac-
tions which brought nearly 8,000 people to the gardens.
The beautiful weather that prevailed throughout the
evening enhanced the liveliness of the scene, and per-
haps more genuine enjoyment was never experienced by
a large mixed crowd. The music hall was filled in every
part, and many hundreds were compelled to listen to
the performances outside. Amid all this, however,
the greatest decorum prevailed, and it was remarked
by an official, when the assembly was about dis-
persing, that, although so many thousands had passed
so many hours in the gardens during five consecutive
days, not a single plant had been injured, not a flower
had been plucked from the parterres.
The concert was composed of such a mass of hete
rogenecus materials that a brief general description
must suffice. There were two symphonies iu the pro-
gramme—Mozart's in E flat and Beethoven's in C
minor—together with two of Weber's overtures,
" Euryanthe and Jubilee." It was gratifying to find
such attention and such applause bestowed upon the
orchestral music. The noble symphony of Beethoven
has become to the majority of music-lovers "familiar
as a household word.' The instrumental solos were
many and excellent. The most classical of these were
the concert stuck of Web sr, which brilliant and difficult
piece was played with admirable effect by Miss Arabel'a
Goddard (Mr. Lober directing the orchestra), and
elicited the same consideration and applause as the sym-
phonies. The others were a violin fantasia, by Signor
Bazzini ; a solo on the " piano-harmonium," by Madame
Dreyfus ; a violoncello fantasia, by Signor Bottesini,
the most accomplished living master of that unwieldy
and unmanageable instrunienteand whose performance).
have been among the remarkable features of the mis-
cellaneous concerts.
The "star" of the evening, so far as the vocal music
is concerned, was Alboni, who sang three times, and
each time with increased success. Alboni's first per-
formance was with Madame Cara Novello, in the duet
from " Tancredi,"—" Lasciarni non t'ascolto,"—which
the audience redemanded, but the singers with good
taste declined to repeat. Her next was the splendie
scenc; of Arsace, " In si barbara"—an example of pure
Italian vocalisation alike incomparable for expression
and bearisea. Her third and last was the Tyra/emu
rem " Setif (In questa semplice"), which she never
gave with more heartinese and genuine simplic:t
of style. This fairly enchanted the audience, and sail
encore was insisted on with such unanimity that, in
spite of her better judgmeet, Alboni o u'd do nothing
else than come forward and sing again. Ma,'a,nr-
Clara Novello, who, besides th duet was put dews
for Macfarren's "Captive of Agineourt," delighted the
vast crowd by her magnificent soprano eoics, ann
maintained her right to he considered the bast of
English female singers, divi(tinee the honours of the
evening with the great and popular It dian. Miss Dolby
gained well-merited applause in Belle's graceful set.
ting of Longfellow's poem, "The green trees whis-
pered," which she san t perfection. Another furors
was created by the wonderful execution of Madame
Gassier in "Una voce," which she embellis'eed a piacere
and with profusion. In answer to the meets Madame
Gassier indulged her hearers (who were nothing loth)
with the eternal valse of Venzanc. To conclude, there
was also a variety of singing by Madame Belden- ,
dorff, Herr Rokitansky (who has a fine bass voice),
and others. Among the rest was noted as a perform-
ance of promise Beethoven's "In questa temba •s.
cure," by a young debutante—Miss Kate Ranoe. The
names of the other singers (which is all we can find room
for) were Madlles. Beyer Zerr, Jessie Rolls, and AI
Gassier—the last one of the best barytones now "in the
market." To the chorus were allotted the "Tramp.
tramp, o'er moss and to I," by Bishop • the madrigal
"Down in aflowery vale," which was enchored; and "Tie
Heavens are telling," from the Creation. In addition ti
the symphony,M.Jullien directed his marchesymphonique
entitled "La Pais," for two orchestras and double choir
(enlivened by an army of harps), which was received with
immense favour. The bulk of the labour, however, fell
upon Mr. Loder and Signor Ifottesini, who displayed
their accustomed ability. Mr. Spark, trom Leeds, and
Townshend Smith, cathedral organist, from Here-
ford, undertook the choral pieces ; so that there were
enough of conductors and to spare.
Thus ended a series of performances the success of
which has far surpassed anticipation. The first !! Phil-
ling audience" ;o be admitted this evening. •