The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-12 00:00:00

ROYAL SURREY GARDENS.

These gardens are becoming almost as musical ag
in the time of the late M. Jullien, at whose sugges-
tion, and in accordance with whose plans, the music
hall was erected, and who proposed and carried out
in the course of his brief transpontine career so
many attractive entertainments. Last night the
first of a series of concerts was held under the pre-
sidence of Mr, Balfe—whose name, in itself a tower
of strength—was attached to nine pieces out of ten
in the programme (a bona fide Balfe programme),
and who was enthusiastically received on making'
his appearance in the orchestra. The brilliant
overture to " The Siege of Rochelle"—the first and.
by no means least popular of the many successful
operas that have proceeded from his pen since, after
a long sojourn in Italy, he definitively established
himself in this metropolis—formed an appropriate
and effective prelude to the concert. We shall not
attempt a detailed description of the performances'
which on the present occasion afforded much une-
quivocal delight to upwards of 7,000 persons.
Suffice it, there were pieces from sundry of Mr.
Balfe's operas, among which figured conspiouonsly
"In this old chair " (Maid of Honour), by Mr.
Perren, and the " Power of Love " (Satanella), by
Miss Parepa, both of which were thoroughly well
sang and loudly encored. The greatest sensation,
however, was created by " When other lips and
other hearts" (Bohemian Girl), which Mr. Sims
Reeves—being called back after a song by Signor
Alary, " The British Volunteers"•—gave with such
wonderful vigour and warmth of expression that
be was compelled by unanimous desire to repeat it,
and thus to sing no less than three times in imme-
diate succession. Besides the operatic pieces, there
were several of Mr. Balfe's chamber songs and
duets, the best being a new ballad, "If I could
change as others change," charmingly given by
Madame Laura Baxter, and the deservedly popular
"I love you," composed expressly for Mr. Reeves,
which, beir:g rendered in his most expressive stale
by that heavily-taxed gentleman—who is always
expected to double the lai'our he has undertaken—
was, as a matter of course, redemanded, and in so
emphatic a manner that to decline the honour would,
to say the least, have been impolitic. The splendid
bass voice and energetic delivery of Mr. Weiss, and
the artistic talent of Madame Weiss, were also
heard to advantage in " The two locks of hair,"
'and " The ring on my hand"—ballads eminently
suited to the taste of the drawing-room. The Misses
Brougham and Mr. George Perren were encored in
the laughing trio from the Rose of Castille, the two
ladies having already won golden opinions in the
sparkling duet, " Trust her not"—one of Mr. Balfe's
most genuine settings of Longfellow's poetry.
Besides the foregoing, there were the capital trio
for women's voices from ;the Italian opera of Fal-
staff (produced at her Majesty's Theatre nearly 20
years ago), allotted to Miss Parepa, Madame Weiss,
and Madame Laura Baxter; a concerted piece from
the The Siege of Rochelle; a spirited march (com-
posed for the Emperor of Russia); and the familiar
overture to The Bohemian Girl—the last two per-
formed extremely well by a band of some 30 players
directed by Mr. Sidney Davis. Mr. Balfe himself
accompanied the vocal music. The second concert
is announced for Wednesday, the 18th instant.