The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-24 00:00:00

The Festival of the Three Choirs.

HEREFORD, Friday.

There was a large attendance last night at the
concert in the College Hall. Mr. Sims Reeves was
unable to sing, which necessitated some changes in
the programme.
The crowding of the room—for there was hardly
a seat unoccupied--and the late arrivals prevented
the full enjoyment of the magnificent overture to
" Der Freischutz;" but the Beethoven Symphony,
which opened Part 11. of the concert with its abrupt
commencement, which, when first heard some half a
century ago, we are told, was " followe 1 by bursts
of laughter, and a conviction that the author had
at length become (loci ledly insane," was a splendid
performance, and throughout the half-hour o:cupied
by it the audience maintained the most perfect
silence. Of course a:1 thre.3 of s lags put
down for the first tenor, it was presumed,
would be cut out of the scheme, but as there
was one by the talented c mductor, Mr. Town-
shend Smith, which had never yet been given
in public, his brother, Mr. Montem Smith, kindly
consented to sing it, and he was accompanied on the
pianoforte by the composer. It is a graceful ballad
of poetical sentiment, and was nicely sung. To
make up for the loss of the two songs, " I'll weep
with thee " and " Water parted from the sea," Mr.
Santley repeated Polyphemus's love ditty, which he
gave on,Wednesday evening, and his willingness to
make up for the public disappointment at the ab-
sence of his sick brother artist was acknowledged by
a hearty round of applause on his appearance in the
orchestra. We need not say that the song was
thoroughly enjoyed, as also was Benedict's new
song, " When my thirsty soul I steep," which was
given with a jollity and abandon that quite carried
away his audience. The gem of the first part of
the concert was, no doubt, the scena from " Der
Freischutz," by Mdlle. Tietjens, "Softly sighs,"
which, we need hardly say, was a most finished
performance. Perhaps the next piece that pleased
most was Sir Henry Bishop's " Tell me,
my heart," - which was deliciously warbled
by Miss Edith Wynne, who had the honour of
the first of the few encores of the evening. Subse-
quently the same lady introduced, by way of va-
riety, a "Welsh song, in the language of the Cymru,
and her rendering of the duet (Sir H. R. Bishop),
"As it fell upon a day," with Madame Patey-Why-
tock, was a most finished performance. In Land's
song, " When night is darkest," Madame Patey's
exquisite voice, especial distinctness, and extensive
compass were manifested to the great delight of her
hearers ; and another noticeable feature in the con-
cert was the charming rivalry between the mellow-
toned instrument and the human voice in Doni-
zetti's scena, " Ardon gl' incensi," from " Lucia,'
by Mdlle. Tietjens with Praten flute obbligato.
The general chorus had little or nothing to do
last night, their work being confined to the march
and chorus from " Jessonda," " That touch or
sound," and the National Anthem.
The excursion and ordinary trains this morning
brought a large accession of visitors to Hereford,
for this is always the crowning day of the festi-
val. The " Messiah" of Handel is a never-
failing attraction. The tyro in music looks to it
as the first illustration of that classical school
which he is taught and quickly learns to admire,
and the old habitue of concert-rooms and music
meetings seeks to renew former impressions of the
grandeur and beauty of this wonderful emanation
of human skill and divine inspiration. The
" Messiah" has done more than any other offspring
of human genius to promote charitable objects, to
help the fatherless and the widow, to feed the hun-
gry, and to clothe the naked, and whenever and
wherever it is given by a band and chorus of any
merit it is sure to secure a host of listeners. It has
been always the closing sacred piece at the Cathe-
dral at these festivals, and has never failed to bring
together the lf.rgest audience of the week.
And so it was to-day. To add to its attrac-
tions the programme showed that Madame
Lind-Goldschmidt was set down for the
gem of the oratorio—the ai; in part 4, " I know
that my Redeemer liveth," while all the other
principals assisted in it. It was much feared that
Mr. Sims Reeves would not be sufficiently recovered
from the bronchial affection which prevented his
singing yesterday and on Wednesday evening; but
his appearance in his place in the orchestra before
the commencement of the oratorio at once dispelled
these alarms. The sharp treatment of Wednesday
appeared to have been most beneficial, for he was
in splendid voice, and he sang the opening recita-
tive, " Comfort ye," with all his quondam finish
and expression, while the more spirited passages
subsequently taken by him, ex. gr. the air, "Thou
shalt dash them," did not want fire and energy.
Mdlle. Tietjens took the soprano soli in the first
portion of the oratorio, giving the " Rejoice
greatly " with wonderful volubility, although
evidently suffering from hoarseness, as was the case
last night; and Madame Goldschmidt took her
place in the parts 3 and 4of the oratorio. Her
rending of the airs, " How beautiful are the feet"
and "I know that my Redeemer" were exquisite,
but all the upper notes were evidently strained, and
it is useless to pretend that she has the physical
capabilities of Jenny Lind, though as an artist she
is great as ever. Not the least delicious morceau
in the morning's performance was Madame Patey-
Wytock's rendering of the beautiful airs, " He
shall feed his flock," and " 0 thou that tellest." Ic
is to be hoped that the services of this lady will be
secured at future festivals of the three choirs, and
especially as the early retirement from public life of
Madame Sainton-Dolby is talked of. Miss Julia
Elton rendered the affecting air, " He was despised,"
with the greatest delicacy and pathosi and her
delineation of the sorrows of our Lord affected
many of her hearers to tears. Mr. Santley
and Mr. Weiss divided the bass soli. The short
recitative (No. 34),. " Unto which of the angels,"
was written by Handel for a tenor voice, and
Mr. Sims Reeves was set down in the pro-
gramme to sing it, but it was taken by Madame
Goldschmidt. It may be noted that on this occa-
sion the oratorio was given entire the passages to-
wards the close which are usually omitted being
included in the programme. Indeed, there was an
addition to the actual programme by the repetition
of the grand " Hallelujah" chorus, it is presumed,
at the request of the noble president, Lord Bateman.
During its performance, as also while the chorus,
"Glory to God," and the concluding chorus of the
oratorio were given, the audience remained stand-
ing. The chorus was given with a perfection
throughout that has been rarely if ever excelled.
The numbers attending this morning were 2,137,
against 1,969 on the " Messiah" morningatthelasoft
Hereford Festival in 1864, showing an increase
168.

THE SUEZ CANAL.—A transport service organised
from Port Said by the Suez Canal Company appears to
have acquired a certain importance. The delivery of the
necessary plant (tugs, sloops, &c.) is completed, and the
receipts acquired during the first six months of this year
amounted to £21,055. The weight of gO.Odstbarried during
the same period was 9,506 tons, and the number of passen-
gers conveyed was 20,132. The business clone during the
last two months shows a considerable increase. The Penin-
sular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company is said to be
contemplating the despatch of coal to Suez by this route.
The Bombay and Bengal Steam Navigation Company has
also had negotiations of late with the Suez Canal Company.
The date now fixed for the definitive opening of tho great
canal is Ootober 1, 1869. The expenditure diem last year
upon the works was, in round figures, £2,520,000.
CANOE VOYAGE ACROSS TILE ENGLISII CHANNEL.
—We have to record the exploit of Mr. Bowker, a member
of the, Canoe Club, who on Monday last crossed in his canoe
Octoroon, from Ambleteuse, a village seven miles north of
Boulogne, to Dover. After having put on board two bot-
tles of wine and a can of biscuits, Mr. Bowker paddled out
of Ambleteuse at 6.45 a.m., and came in view of the English
coast, after running some 14 miles west of Cape Grisnez,
having lost sight of land only about quarter of an hour.
About 10 miles from his destination he was hailed by tho
South-Eastern steam packet, the captain of which vessel
pointed out the route, Mr. Bowker having unfortunately
lost his chart and found his compass would not act. He saw
during his voyage several shoals of porpoises, one of these
monsters rising within a few feet of the bow of the boat.
Ho reached Dover ats44 p.m., after paddling (with the ex-
ception of 30 minuterrest) about 11 hours, his arrival
causing no little excitement among the promenaders on
the beach. The Octoroon is 16ft. long, 23in. wide, and
Bin. deep, unquestionably the smallest boat which has over
crossed the channel. The weather was fine, but the sea
_ EVA 14ith9lit gillZ4 ila MO plfiM