The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-13 00:00:00

Concerts Past and to Come.

Last Monday Miss Agnes Zimmermann gave her
third and last Pianoforte Recital for the season.
Though " last" it was not " least ;" on the con-
trary, it was full of interest, as may be seen by the
summary we give of the programme :—Fantasia in D,
Bach ; Rondo, A minor, Mozart ; Fugue, E minor,
Handel ; Rondra Percerole, Stendale Bennett ;
Polonaise in A, Chopin ; and what was the piece
de resistance of the morning—a new Sonata, by
G. A. Macfarren, composed expressly for Miss
Z immermann, and performed by her for the first time,
This is not the place to debate upon the merits
of so well-known a maestro as Mr. Macfarren,
whose success in many other lines of composition
has made his name conspicuous among our English
artists—our Bennetts, Benedicts, Moliques, &c. ;
suffice it to say that the new sonata was worthy
of his fame, and that its beauties were interpreted
as most worthy of the fair performer. We trust it
may speedily be published.
Alluding once more to Miss Zimmermann, it is but
justice to add that her three " Recitals" have been
amongst the greatest treats this season has afforded
to the lovers of classical pianoforte music, and we
bid her farewell with the best wishes for her
future success. We have omitted to ;mention
that the present recital was enriched by four
charming songs, the vocalist being Miss Julia
Elton, a young and very nice singer.
Mr. Walter Macfarren, who conducted on this oc-
casion, gave recently a very interesting pianoforte
performance of his own at Willis's Rooms, and we
perceive he promises another on the 16th, at which
he is to be assisted by Miss Zimmermann.

We wish to draw the attention of the lovers
of classical vocal music to the promised per-
formance on Friday evening of Cherubini's magni-
ficent Requiem in C minor. This is undertaken by
the " Aucouta," a new musical society, the object
of which is to give the public an opportunity of
works of the great masters, hitherto seldom or
never performed. It is well known that our
Sacred harmonic and other choral societies have
only a limited round of compositions which they per-
form year after year, while there is an immense
quantity of equally fine music they never think of
bringing forward. A society like the present, which
proposes to remedy this defect, does a spirited thing,
and deserves every support. The performance
takes place at the Hanover-square Rooms. We
should add that the " _Requiem" is published by
Novell° at a cheap rate.

Letter of the Emperor Napoleon.

PARIS, June 12.

In the Corps Legislatif to-day M. Rouher read
a letter from the Emperor Napoleon to M. Drouyn
de Pliuys, in which his Majesty, after detailing
the efforts made in common with England and
Russia to prevent an armed conflict, says :
" llad the Conference assembled my Government
would have declared that France repudiated all idea
of territorial aggrandisement, so long as the Euro-
pean equilibrium remained undisturbed. France
could only think of an extension of her frontiers in
the event of the map of Europe being altered to the
profit of a great Power, and the bordering provinces
expressing by a formal and free vote their desire for
annexation. In the absence of these circumstances
the French Government prefers to any territorial
acquisition a good understanding with its neigh-
bours, resulting from its respect for their indepen-
dence and their nationality. (Cheers.) We should
have desired for the Germanic Confederation a
position more worthy of its importance ; for Prussia,
better geographical boundaries ; for Austria, the
maintenance of her great position in Europe after
the cession of Venetia to Italy, in exchange for
territorial compensation.

"The Conference has failed. Will France be led

to draw the sword ? The French Government thinks
not. Whatever may be the result of the war which
may break out, no question affecting us will be re-
solved without the assent of France.

" France, therefore, will continue to observe an
attentive neutrality, confident in her right and calm
in her strength." (Cheers.)

M. Rouher said—" I think that after this decla-
ration the Corps Legislatif will understand the in-
advisability of a debate upon the affairs of Germany
and Italy." (Shouts of " Yes, yes.")

MM. Thiers, Favre, Alfred, and Leroux endea-
voured to prevent the closing of the debate, but the
subject was declared to be closed by 202 against 34
votes, and the Chamber passed to the vote on the
amended budget, which was adopted by 232 against
18 votes.
The sitting then terminated.