The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-21 00:00:00

NATIONAL CHOBAL SOCIETY.

The commencement of the seventh session of the
National Choral Society last evening was a welcome
event to the lovers of music. The closing in of the
long winter evenings always renders the prospect of
the musical campaign especially agreeable, and to
judge from the large and brilliant assembly who
last night filled Exeter Hall, the attractions of the
National Choral Society have increased rather than
diminished with advancing years. The oratorio
selected for the first performance was Mendelssohn'o
"Elijah," always one of the popular favourites.
It is not too long, and does not fatigue the
audience, while the beauty and variety of the
music, its dramatic character, and the opportunities
which it offers for the display of every singer's abi-
lities, render it also 'a favourite with performers'
The principal singers were Madame Suchet Chan'
pion, Miss Franklein, Mr. Kerr Gedge, and Mr'
Southey. The chorus singers, who numbered nearly
700 performers, acquitted themselves with credit,
though their share in the oratorio is a very trying
one. The rapid succession of choruses in the firs
part, " Baal, we cry to thee," " Hear our cry,
Baal," and " Baal, hear and answer," werg
given with vigour and effect. "The fire
descends," which follows after the recitative,_

" Oh, thou, who niakest," was also wry*
well done, especially the change of expression de:
nianded in it at the passage, " The Lord is God.
In the second part, though less numerous and less
dramatic in character, the choruses are very fine;
and though the singers towards the close Ahowel
some signs of fatigue, they gave them for the ra°s
part with good effect. "Be not afraid," indeed'
was one of their especial successes ; and "
God, the Lord," a chorus demanding no small care,
went off well. " Then did Elijah," however, was 11
satisfactory, and did not come up to the standard'
Madame Sachet Champion was theprincipal soprano
and sang very fairly. Miss Lucy Franklein has 3
pure voice, but wants practice and confidence. She
will, with a little time and experience, be an acqui-
sition to our oratorio singers. She was evidently
nervous at first, but gained courage as the evening
proceeded. In the solo and chorus of the Queen
and people, " Have ye not heard," Miss Franklein
sung with spirit and power, and in the beautiful
and well-known air " 0 rest in the Lord" she
obtained an encore—the only one granted ill
the course of the evening. The trios and guar"
tettes did not go so well as the solos. ,the
first quartette, " For he shall give his angels
charge," was a comparative failure. " Holy, boll:,
holy" went better, but even " Lift thine eyes,
though applauded, as it always is, was not very
successful. We should suggest to Mr. MARTIN, the
able and efficient conductor, a little closer attention
to this department at the next rehearsal. Tlie
tenor was scarcely equal to the occasion, though
he sang carefully and with some expression'
Mr. Santley was of course the principal
bass, and sang with all his accustomed
ability. The music of "Elijah" did fill,
justice to his powers, and he was warmly applande"
throughout. In the fine declamatory air, " Lii3t,i
this world like a fire " he sang with a vigour ao:
energy that elicited a universal encore. In accord
ante with the wise rule now generally observed he
did not comply with the request, but simply ackn°l;
ledged the compliment paid him. In the air ``
is enough, 0 Lord," he also made a favourable ira]
pression. We are glad to see that Mr. Martin 113'3
secured his assistance for the Christmas perform'
antes, which, we have no doubt, will be as satin'
factory to the society and to the audience as
first rendering of " Elijah."

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.—The Lord ClO-
cellor attended in state yesterday in the House of Lcirc.ls:
for the purpose of further proroguing the Imperial perks'
ment. His lordship, who was attended by his officis'ir'
ordered the House of Commons to be summoned, and
Denis Le Marchant, Bart., the Chief Clerk, appeared at
bar. The writ authorising the prorogation was read Dia
the Hon. Slingsby Bothell, the clerk, after which the Loi
Chancellor, in the name of the Queen, declared the rerll:7
ment adjourned until Tuesday, the 15th cf January,
Nothing was said about meeting on that day for the u'of
spatch of business, and it is the opinion of the officers tit
the house that Parliament will not actually meet till

about three weeks later.
MADAME TUSSAUD'S.—AS there are many of °l'ir
country friends who usually visit the metropolis on '.-„°
occasion of the Smithfield Club Cattle Show, which is 9--
flounced to be held next month, we would recotniVei":
them to pay a visit to Madame Tussaud's most attraetif°
and interesting exhibition in Baker-street, where innunil:
able additions have been made since last year of rOdeaii-
life size, of the most distinguished mon of the day, 35 .--fi
likewise many of England's fair and noble daughterS.
LEAMINGTON AND WARWICKSHIRE HUNT A-Wul'i;
ING, 1866.—There is a decided improvement visible f
year in the style of the cups run for at this meeting, all 'lw°.
which are from the well-known manufactory of J. ' t
cover,Aututn Autumn
with foliated Welter Cup
Handles,is a
Benson, of Bond-street and Ludgate-hill. 9:11° areut'd
of a 011.'5
with exceedingly
enrichmentsg ef
Italian character iu repousse. The body of the OP 1...
divided into panels, containing groups of flowers, eM:I.11 s
sitely chased in high relief, while the centre panel contaruf.
a representation of " The Start," also chased in high 11)lie.-1
The cover is surmounted by a group of race horses, in dellfa-
aisli:fresbon?;
from life. The base is of ebony, with silver ornaments, s'of
ul tazza s-. 4
bears two shields, on one of which is engraved the nanLelio
the winner, and on the other a list of the stewards. '-'-',
Guy Cup, which is also in the Italian style, bears a, fa 7.
resemblance to one in the Farnese Collection, and isfho
borately chased and decorated with parcel gilding.
0.-1,0,1
cover is surmounted by a group, representing
jockey prepared for the race. The base of this
with silver ornaments bearing the 113:110 of the cup and._.
winner. The Hunt Cup differs in every respect frorintisli:
old r ~,_„,,.
two preceding, and is iu the shape of an
tankard and cover. The body of the cup is beautilpw,';',
wrought with figures illustrating the story of Alia!owLil
while the cover, handle, and foot are richly decora.tb.diiioull
gives height and importance to the cup'. Tho 130_, for
festoons of flowers. An ebony base,with silver curt Trad
_att9c;
Cup, a very beautiful tazza, in the same style as th Nvevis'
of
Cup, but smaller in size, is richly decorated with
chased, and surmounted by a racehorse, the 1 1
fruit and flowers in repousse. The cover ishboePlaeuDifouio7
raised on an ebony base, ornamented with §ilver.