The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-26 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN CONCERTS.

The concerts now being given at Covent Garden have
more than fulfilled the expectations created by the names
of the two distinguished conductors. They may fairly be
pronounced a vast improvement oven on the attractive
concerts of the late Mr. Mellon. Signor Bottesini, who i 5
a Joachim among double-bass players, is almost equally
skilled as a conductor. His merits as a thorough musi-
cian are significantly shown in the operatic selection
from " Romeo e Giulietta." This has been done in 3
masterly manner, and presents a series of agreeable remi-
niscences gliding one into another, without the clumsy
transitions that usually distinguish such compilations.
Some of the music of this opera that on the stage passed
almost unnoticed is found much more effective in its pre-
sent form. This is notable in the quaint charming s r
for the page, so coldly received, notwithstanding the
graceful musician-like singing of Mdlle. Nau, that more
than compensated for her childlike voice. It has been given
to the oboe, and seems to attract more than any other
nzarceau. Signor Bottesini has introduced the wedding
music omitted this season at the Royal Italian Opera,
and in the march we see how Gounod is indebted for his
leading themes to Richard Wagner. If " Romeo 0
Giulietta " had been put on the stage as Gounod's first
work, its reception would have been very different to

imt bestowed on it last season at Paris and in London.
However, notwithstanding its more than ever evident
want of tangible melody, and its poverty in harmony-,
Signor Bottesini has admirably succeeded in offering tb
selection tlaat is received every evening with increasing
favour. But the great attraction that renders these con-
certs superior to all those that have preceded them is 00
dance music of Herr Johann Strauss, conducted by the
composer in his own inimitable manner. In the days
when M. Musard commenced the open air concerts in the
Champs Elysee, dance music was the chief, if not the sole
feature in the programme. It was the same with 31-•
Jullien's deafening entertainments in this country. In
the latter case the dance music was something awful/
and, consequently, a success. Of late years a better taste
has been forced, not without some labour, upon the
people, and the first part of those annual promenade con
certs has been devoted almost exclusively to the more
important works of the great masters, and has been ac-
cepted by audiences with a graceful condescension. Tb°
second part, however, has been invariably reserved ler
the dance music of native and foreign composers. To our
disgust we have had too much of the former and too little,
or rather none at all, of the latter. If M. Jullien's waltzes'
polkas, and massive army quadrilles were terrifying, what,
shall we say of the sickly effusions that have for Pas'
seasons disfigured the autumnal concerts at Covent Garde°
and elsewhere? How was it, that whilst Paris and Ger-
many and the whole Continent rejoiced in the fascinating
compositions 41 the elder Strauss, and the greatest cons,-;
posers listened with delight to waltzes like the " Bopbie
and "Pulsationen," and pronounced them beautiful, that
we were condemned to hear our glorious orchestras night,
after night fiddle away at the " Guards " or " Mabel 2,
It was simply a degradation for such bands to be oblige"
to play such music. Not a particle of originality, but al-
ways a maudlin attempt at what was styled "voluptuous
melody." There was no deficiency in the number of native
composers, but they were all alike. If they had °Tell.,
borrowed their ideas from good sources, it might bac'
been something, but they were indifferent whom theY
patronized and stole from each other. And crowded
audiences rose up and shouted with rapture.
But happily this season Mr. Russell has introduced 115
to the son of that Strauss who formerly so bewitched 00
musical world at Vienna, and who Wa3 known and aPPr(-
ciated everywhere, excepting, of course, London. 111°,,
son may not, in all instances, possess that wonderful giP'
of melody which in the father was unequalled ; but 11l
such a waltz as the "Morgenblactter," there is not mucPu
to choose between them. Wo find in his compositions, aa
in those of his father, a great freshness and originality'
pure melody, and solid writing. There is a brightneea,
and, at the same time, a repose in style, which uef°l.
weary, but please at all times. Wedo not wish to assigat
to this class of composition more than its duo rank, 1/11,
in the hands of Herr Strauss and his son it is indeser''
bably fascinating. As a conductor Herr Johann is unc°
quailed. Without his own interpretation, even tht°
" Morgenblactter " would lose much of its charm. 11:
confers a characteristic significance on every movettl °
io
—sometimes on every bar—and infuses poetry into t-
whole. Like his father, he leafs the orchestra with th
violin. In the opening bars and occasionally, he conduct°
with the baton, and then plays his own melody with
pression emphatic, but not in the least degree exaggertig
His manner is most unaffected and unpretending.
time marking is characteristic and graceful, and his °"
fire and enthusiasm are quickly caught by the perfortuer!
and the audience. Wonderful to relate, this charintab
dance music is thoroughly appreciated, and each succ°s-
sive audience grows more and more enthusiastic. 4,0
We cannot say much for the remaining items i°
programme. The two solo singers are very indifferc'o'
Among the instrumental soloists Mr. J. 11. Wohli is
of the most remarkable musical athletes wo have nio
witnessed. His left-handed agility is surprising, but
to interest, more especially in that dreary everlaa"t,,
" Home, Sweet Home." His arrangement of the "Fa that
waltz is novel, and he plays it with a dexterity
e 0
is almost brilliant. There is also Mr. Levey, who has Illy
facetiously advertized as "Pa2,-anini Redivivus."
there is Master Bonnay, a phenomenon whose extraericil
nary skill on the xylophone, from which he extracts 01.1,,
better music than the "Redivivus" does from the 111°01 o
induces us to hope that ho exercises his talents on acio .0
genuine musical instrument. Greater variety and .1/
classical music, with some of the waltzes of Strausar'
will render these concerts all that can be desired.
ssA MYSTERY.—An extraordinary discovery
human remains has been made in Whixall Moss, 13tiog
Whitchurch, Shropshire. A man was engaged in Olt sof
turf in a part of the moss which has not been used for
years, when ho came upon the skeleton cf a little oh
elf
near which were lying pieces of decayed cloth, aPParAe
the remains of that in which the body had been place' 00
fore being buried. There were also found close hittee,
skeleton, which lay about three foot from the sur'in the
four legged oak-stool, with a hole clumsily cut veri
centre of the seat, and a portion of a leathern aPr°l3, that
much decayed. The condition of the peat show'', oa
in
• these had all been carefully placed in the grellnufonecl
covered up, bits of the upper layer of the peat beg_ or
mixed up with the lower soil. On examination bYelia of
t goon the skeleton was pronounced to bo that of iuecoov
from four to six years of ago, but from the soft and,"..o se
posed state of the bones it was impossible to li7ect to
opinion as to whether or not the body had been 6,u ilibour
violence previous to burial. No one in the nog „0 the
hood is able to advance a reasonable conjecture as to
circumstances under which the child was buried i°
_bow;
place and in such strange company, and tho affair
altogether a mystery. DroViSi°l3
BETTING IN THE STREETS.—There iS a _OOO5
in the Metropolitan Traffic Act that three or m0r0,F_,,,,,
Ua
assembled in the streets for the purpose of hotting 1° -1
taken into custody by a constable, and be fined. sod
Mouchoir, 3 yrs, winner of the Stonehous
ssold At
Ladies' Plate, on Thursday, at Plymouth, ;jar. Dalteci'
auction, after winning the last-named rac°, to
for 60go.