The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-16 00:00:00

SELECTION OF ANCIENT AND MODERN

MUSIC.

A musical performance, under the above appellation, took
place last night to a house literally overflowing in every
part. If the numerous and most respectable audience con-
gregated within these walls be taken as a criterion of
public feeling, it is certain that the ancient attachment for
Lenten entertainments has not subsided, and that if an effec.
tive programme be put forth there is no indisposition on the
part of playgoers and lovers of " sweet sounds" to extend their
patronage to real attraction. The selection for this occasion
embraced a portion of Handel's oratorio of the " Messiah" for
the first part, some gleanings from Haydn's oratorio of the
" Creation" for the second, and the third and last was "mis-
cellaneous," or more properly speaking, was, with one excep-
tion entirely taken from the Italian school. We may add that
there was a most efficient orchestra, which included the names
of Lindley,Willman, G. Cooke, Dragonetti, &c.,with T. Cooke,
as leader, and Costa as conductor. The solo parts of the " Mes-
siah" and " Creation" were assigned to Madame Stockhausen,
Miss H. Cawse, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Seguin, and Mr. Hobbs. The
chorusses were feeble ; an encore was obtained in the magnifi-
cent outbreak of " For unto us a child is born," although the
compliment was paid to the composition and not to the execu-
tion. Seguin and Madame Stockausen were heard to much
advantage in all the pieces in which they were engaged, but
Mr. Hobbs, although a ve7y pleasing singer in a concert-room,
was totally unequal to the task allotted to him. Mr. Bennett
sang the air " In native worth" with smoothness and delicacy.
Some disapprobation was evinced between the first and second
part, in consequence of the non-appearance of Grisi, but it was
allayed by Mr. Cooper coming forward, and announcing that
the prima donna had not arrived. In the meanwhile Rubini
repeated twice " II mio tessore in tanto," from Mozart's " Don
Giovanni." At the termination of the second part Cooper
again came forward with a lengthened visage, which por-
tended a dire musical calamity. Cries of " Grisi, Grisi," were
uttered, but all anxiety on her account was dismissed by the
speech of the stage-manager, who briefly announced that " in
consequence of severe hoarseness, duly certified by a medical
adviser, Signor Tamburini could not sing on that evening."
The apology was accepted with resignation, we suspect be-
cause the majority of the audience was not aware of the irre-
parable loss they had sustained. For the rest we have only to
mention that Mademoiselle Grisi was encored in her splendid
efforts in " Di Piacer ;" Lablache was compelled to sing
"Largo al factotum" twice; and Ivaisoff had a similar duty
to perform in " Vivi tu." Grisi and Rubini sang the charm-
ing duett of Fitzjames and Ellen from " La Donna del Lago,"
and were of course much applauded, as were Lablache and
Ivanoff in Mercadante's duett, " Claudio, Claudio 1" Miss
H. Cawse gave Dr. Arne's song of " In infancy our hopes
and fears," with great expression, and Madame Stockhausen
sang " Ouvrez" in her accustomed style of excellence. Seguin
was the substitute for Tamburini, and he deserves great praise
for the very creditable manner in which he took his share, with
Lablache and Grisi, in the concluding finale, " Nume benefico."
We ought not to omit a notice of the admirable playing of
Rossini's overture to " Guilleaume Tell" by the band. It was
encored, and the precision, force, and skill of all the members
well merited the loud applause bestowed upon it. The selec-
tion upon the whole imparted great satisfaction ; and when
the combination of eminent talent is taken into consideration,
it would have been strange if there had been experienced any
other feelings than those of delight.

CAMBRIDGE.

TO THEEDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The Tories here are utterly astounded, and
the streets are filled with knots of Dons talking, in the most
animated and theatrical manner, of the danger of the
Church, and the gloomy prospects of the country. The
Address, it appears, is for the present deferred, and indeed
nothing else is talked of but " the triumph of POPERY and
INFIDELITY," to use the words of the pious and charitable
Clergy of the Church of England !—Your's very truly,
MILO.