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 vibe
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
" 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
w
hich it offers for the display of every singer's abi"
lities, render it also a favourite with performers'
The principal singers were Madame Suchet
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 first
part, " Baal, we cry to thee," " Hear our cry, °
Baal," and " Baal, hear and answer," were
given with vigour and effect. The fire
descends," which follows after the recitative,
" Oh, thou, who makest," was also very
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 filled
and though the singers towards the close shove t
some signs of fatigue, they gave them for the 11
part with good effect. "Be not afraid," indeed'
was one of their especial successes ; and " Behold
God, the Lord," a chorus demanding no small care'
went off well. " Then did Elijah," however, was less
satisfactory, and did not come up to the standard
Madame Suchet Champion was the principal soprano
and sang very fairly. Miss Lucy Franklein has
pure voice, but wants practice and confidence. Si!
will, with a little time and experience, be an aeclul.
,
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
obtained an encore—the only one granted
the course of the evening. The trios and quailo
tettes did not go so well as the solos. 5' 13
first quartette, " For he shall give his angels
charge," was a comparative failure. '6 Holy, holy
holy" went better, but even " Lift thine eyes,
y
though applauded, as it always is, was net .verho
successful. We should suggest to Mr. MARTIN, ',oil
able and efficient conductor, a little closer attenfrtibe
to this department at the next rehearsal.
g
tenor was scarcely equal to the occasion, t--%
he sang carefully and with some expression'
Mr. Santley was of course the principal
bass, and sang with all his accusteta
a"
ability-. The music of "Elijah" did
ded
justice to his powers, and he ivas warmly aPP•ail ot
throughout. In the fine declamatory air, "fs
this world like a fire " he sang with a vigour
energy that elicited a universal encore. In aeeerha-
o
ante with the wise rule now generally observeci
did not comply with the request, but simply it
ledged the compliment paid him. In the air
is enough, 0 Lord," he also made a favourable
pression. We are glad to see that Mr. Martin
a'
secured his assistance for the Christmas Perfor •
antes, which, we have no doubt, will be as lathe
factory to the society and to the audience as
first rendering of " Elijah."

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.—The Lord Child;
collor attended in state yesterday in the House of
"
for the purpose of further proroguing the Imperial I:ri;j
ment. His lordship, who was attended by his
Sir
ordered the House of Commons to be summoned, gristhe
-
Denis Le Marchant, Bart., the Chief Clerk, appeared at
by
bar. The writ authorising the prorogation was rose
o-
the Hon. Slingsby 13ethell, the clerk, after which tlio,o
Chancellor, in the name of the Queen, declared the P'r;-67.
ment adjourned until Tuesday, the loth cf January' 1
-
Nothing was said about meeting on that day for tae 0f
spatch of business, and it is the opinion of the oilicers
the house that Parliament will not actually meet 1111
about three weeks later.
pf our

MADAME TUSSAUD'S.—As there are many °I -00
country friends who usually visit the metropolis 00 or.
occasion of the Smithfield Club Cattle Show, whiell 15
ova
nounced to be held next month, we would recolol3l-.,,
them to pay a visit to Madame Tussaud's most attlseniti re-
fold interesting exhibition in Baker-street, where inn/1-":4
able additions have been made since last year of 111°-ers
life size, of the most distinguished men of the daY'
likewise many of England's fair and noble daughterjgg
ibl
—f
stylelro`hme fo• etf
the
st
eh
eawcduee
well-known
nud
onwi
LEAMINGTON AND WARWICKSHIRE WO tbi9
yearlwNhcf:c
hi 1118
are6th6e.frano rp
manufactory
Benson, of Bond-street and Ludgate-hill. great1
Autumn Welter Cup is an exceedingly graceful tazza
rid
cover, with foliated handles, with enrichments of a fin° is
Italian character repousse. The body of the cu'roi,
otavtriehumifsean, t of
divided into panels, containing groups of flowers' e:0105
sitely chased in high relief, while the centre panel °, relief'
a representation of " The Start," also chased in I,cl
od,
The cover is s •ut mounted by a group of race horses, In oct
meeting'
nogf' N/
from life. The base is of ebony, with silver ornatfien'oo of
bears two shields, on one of which is engraved the ns/
the winner, and on the other a list of the stewards.
0
Guy Cup, which is also in the Italian style, bears a o.L's yew.
resemblance to one iu the I'arnese Collection, and /
borately chased and decorated with parcel gilding:so ;tad
cover is surmounted by a group, representing a 11.°,11,00y,
jockey prepared for the race. The base a this is oit: end
with silver ornaments bearing the name of the eroP_ 0,0
winner. The Hunt Cup differs in every respect
two preceding, and is in the shape of an old
,Viiiti7oll
tankard and cover. The body of the cup is be',azeppo,
wrought with figures illustrating the story of
while the cover, handle, and foot are richly decoraie
1100,
festoons of flowers. An ebony base ,with silver ear
13111.0;gato
gives height and importance to the cup• Tile ~T„lter
Cup, but smaller in size, is richly decorated with f')llln.ttilli
Cup, a very beautiful tazza, in the same style as the,
of
fruit and flowers in repoussd. The cover is
bolo
tbl`efoi;
chased, and surmounted by a racehorse, the w
raitied vu an ebony brio, eruamoutol with oihrer.