The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-04 00:00:00

IV. OROSZ'S CONCERT.

M. Orosz is a Hungarian pianist, recently arrived
in London, of whose powers we had heard very high
accounts. He gave a concert last evening, at a()
rooms in Mortimer-street, which was attended by
many amateurs, and he certainly did not disappoint
the expectations that had been formed of him. He is
a very remarkable performer, and indeed appeared to
us, in so far as we could judge from a single hearing,
to be a great master of his instrument. He combines
strength of hand with brilliancy and rapidity of
finger, to a degree we have never heard surpassed.
His immense masses of harmony were pure musical
tone, free from noise or harshness. The powers
of the instrument were taxed to their
full extent, but never forced or overstrained ; and in
rapid flights and passages, the lightness and delicacy
of his touch were admirable. Of his style, and of his
possession of the higher attributes of sentiment and
expression, we are less able to speak, for the pieces
which he chose were all of the ultra-modern school,
calculated rather to display executive power than to
delight the ear and move the feelings by the charms
of melody. His principal piece, " Liszt's Remini-
scences of La Sonnambula," was unquestionably ex-
ecuted as well as Liszt himself could have done it;
but, after all, it was "des notes et rien que des notes,"
little snatches of Bellini's sweet airs, tortured into
a thousand fantastic shapes, loaded with runs and
ornaments, and buried under mountains of irre-
levant accompaniments. We believe that this
kind 'of composition, introduced by Thalberg and
Liszt, and monstrously overdone by their thousand
and one followers, is going fast out of fashion, and
that there is a reaction in favour of the great masters
of the older school. That M. Orosz is conversant
with that school we have no manner of doubt, and we
hope soon to hear him give proof of his being so. We
were greatly pleased with his performance of an
"Etude Characteristique" of Szekely, and of a
" Valse Brilliante" of his own, which he played with
the utmost grace and spirit. On its being loudly
encored, he played instead " Kossuth's March," a fine
martial strain, which, from the vehemence with which
it was applauded, seemed to have struck the
chord of national feeling in the hearts of many
of the audience. Another young Hungarian, M.
Remenyi, who has also been only a short
time in London, showed himself to be
a violinist of the first class. He played Ernst's famous
" Elegie" and " Carnival de Venice" in a manner
which enchanted the audience. Ernst himself could
have scarcely given his own beautiful and mournful
strain with deeper feeling ; and in playing the " Car-
nival de Venice" M. Remenyi sported with the
enormous difficulties crowded into that piece. He has
a magnificent tone, perfect intonation, and unerring
certainty in attacking the most arduous passages.
Mozart's sixth quartet in C was admirably performed
by Mr. Blegrove, M. Remenyi, and two Messrs.
Lutgen. M. Lutgen, the violoncellist, also played a
solo, and is an excellent performer. Several pleasing
vocal pieces were sung by Miss Binckes and Miss
Herrmans.

CASHMERE.—J. he following is an extract of a letter
from au officer just returned from Cashmere:—" It is a
lovely country, and I only regret it is not ours. It was one
of the worst acts of our Government to give it up to Gholab
Singh. By doing so they sold a whole nation into slavery.
The people are most discontented and wretched. It is most
distressing to see them in such a state. They are much
worse off than when I was there last year. I will give you
some idea of a piece of oppression :—Gliolab Singh has just
had occasion to send an army to the frontier, and to carry
their baggage 8,000 men were required to accompany them.
These men were seized in and about the city of Cashmere
by the soldiers, and marched off to the army. They may be
absent four, five, or six months, and while they are away
they receive no pay, and only one pound of flour a-day. A
man in this country is supposed to require two pounds a-
day, but they are only to have just enough to keep them
alive. While they are absent no provision is made for their
families, and how they are to live no one can imagine. This
act of atrocity was committed while I was in the city."
BARNET GREAT CATTLE FAIR, WEDNESDAY
NIGIIT.—The great annual gathering of breeders, graziers,
speculators and jobbers in cattle yesterday, interested in this
highly important cattle fair, which commences this day
(Thursday), exceeded, if possible, any former year. Every
train to Barnet by the Great Northern Railway brought such
an influx of persons, who arrived in London by the South-
Western and other railways into the town, that sleeping ac-
commodation could not be procurea at any price. From the
immense number of cattle that have already arrived, all the
pastures in and for miles around Barnet are to be seen many
thousands of beasts from all the principal breeding counties
throughout England; drove after drove has been arriving in
rapid succession, so that every available acre of pasture land
is turned to advantage. The beasts are in most excellent
condition, and it is anticipated, from the great abundance of
aftermath, and the prospect of a great turnip crop and other
winter provender, that prices will be high.
The Town Council of Glasgow have adopted a
report recommending one uniform rate of assessment for the
relief of the poor throughout Scotland, or in other words, to
make the entire country into one pariah.