The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-22 00:00:00

MR. BENEDICT'S CONCERT.

The great concert of the season, that given an-
nually by Mr. Benedict now for three and thirty
years, took place on Saturday afternoon at St.
James's Hall, on which occasion an audience of the
most distinguished character assembled. The doors
of the great hall were opened at 1 o'clock, and from
that hour until the commencement of the musical
banquet the arrival of the company occasioned the
greatest curiosity at both the entrances of the spacious
building. The toilette of the ladies was elegant in
the extreme, and the appearance of the interior of
the hall at the opening of the concert, filled as it
was by the aristocracy of the land, was highly
attractive. The programme was a perfect musi-
cal curiosity, as it embraced the names of all the
most distinguished artists known to fame. With-
out attempting to enumerate the brilliant corps, we
may mention that Mdlle. Christine Nilsson, Madame
Titiens, Mdlle. Kellogg, Mdlle. Adelina Patti,
Madame Trebelli-Bettini, Signor Mario, and Mr.
Santley headed the gigantic list of vocalists. No less
than twenty-five pieces composed the first part of
the concert, whilst the second amounted to the
extraordinary number of twenty-nine, making in
all fifty-four pieces—a number hitherto unprece-
dented even at the concerts of the great maestro,
remarkable as each of the preceding ones have
invariably been. It would be an impossibility to
notice separately each of the musical gems that
made up this extraordinary concert ; therefore we
must content ourselves with merely particularising
those which produced more than ordinary pleasure.
Passing over the opening part-song, excellent
though it was, the quintett from " Cosi fan tutte,"
the andante from the Kreutzer Sonata for piano
and M. Sainton's violin, we come to Miss Edith
Wynne's contribution to the great musical melange ;
it was Benedict's lovely ballad, " Rock me to sleep,"
which she sang in the most charming manner.
Piatti then followed with a brilliant violoncello
fantasia, executed with the most remarkable taste,
and this was succeeded by Madame Enequist sing-
ing Ganz's song, "The nightingale's trill," accom-
panied by the composer. Madame Carola greatly
distinguished herself by her singing the air, " I will
extol thee," from Costa's Eli, and Madlle.
Kellogg sang one of the most bewitching ballads it
has ever been our good fortune to hear, entitled
" Beware, she is foolin g thee," accompanied by herself
on the pianoforte. A request had been made to re-
frain from encores, but the audience were so en-
raptured that all appeal was vain, and silence could
not be restored until the accomplished artiste re-
peated the ballad, which she did in the most genial
and pleasing manner. Madame Goddard and Mr.
Cowen having performed a brilliant fantasia, ar-
ranged by Benedict, from " Der Freyschutz,"
Christine Nilsson appeared and sung a portion of
M. Ambroise Thomas's grand opera " Hamlet," the
madness of Ophelia, and a more remarkable display
of vocalization has certainly never taken place
within our recollection. The fair Swede threw
such an amount of pathos into the scene
coupled with such a faultless execution of the score,
that it fairly enraptured the entire audience, and a
perfect hurricane of applause. followed its termina-
tion. Madlle. Patti next appeared, and sang
charming new song of Benedict's, entitled " The
Rose of Erin," with such exquisite taste that the
rule was again broken through, and she hal to re-
peat it to the delighted audience. Madlle.
Nilsson then sang one of Auber's brilliant French
chansons splendidly, but the vast assemblage
refused to part with her until she had sung them
one of her native melodies—a request she complied
with in the most charming manner, and which eli-
cited the most enthusiastic applause. Mr. Benedict,
who had accompanied the accomplished lady, now
advanced to lead her from the platform, when she
took his hand in such a frank and friendly manner
that the- audience perceived the gratifying recogni-
tion, and joined their congratulations with those of
Madlle. Nilsson, and thus a performance not in the
programme became one of the most pleasing events
of the concert. The first part was brought to a
brilliant conclusion by the singing of a spirit-stirring
national song by Mr. Santley, and the duo from
"Le Nozze di Figaro," " Sull' aria," by Aldine.
Titiens and Mdlle. Adelina Patti. In the second
part Mdlle. Patti sang Eckert's Echo song with
wonderful execution. She positively surpassed all
her former efforts, and secured a triumph of no
ordinary description. Mr. Santley sang a fine,
bacchanalian song, "When my thirsty soul I steep,
to the immense delight of the audience.; and Signor
Gardoni gave Blumenthal's romance, "Le chemia
du Paradis," with the most refined taste ;
Trebelli Bettini following with another by Durand,
entitled" Commeh vingt ans," which she sang in her
own irreproachable manner. Herr Leopold Auer and
Mr. Lindsay Sloper next performed Ernst's " Aire
Hongrois," for violin and pianoforte, each artiste
vieing with the other to show the capabilities Of
their respective instruments. It was a most delight'
ful competition, as the effect of the wonderful tone
produced by Auer had not passed away ere it we°
recalled by the magnificent execution displayed by
the great and accomplished pianist. The last vocal
piece we have space to notice was Schubert's duo
" Dis le moi," by Mdme. Trebelli-Bettini and Signor
Bettini, and great as had been all the other per'
formanees this duet was equal to rank
with the moat successful. Just previous t°
the close of the concert M. Benedict cam°
to the pianoforte and performed the waif
solo of the concert, an arrangement of his °lv?.
of Dr. Arne's lovely air, " Where the bee sucks,'
in the most brilliant manner. The fingering wasre-
markable, and the entire execution of the piece
showed his marvellous command over the instru-
ment. It is almost needless to say that the ap-
plause was enthusiastic, and a more fitting term''
nation to this very remarkable concert could not
have been desired.
The entire arrangements for the comfort of the
visitors were again entrusted to the untiring, almost
übiquitous, Mr. Nimmo. Everything that could
conduce to the thorough enjoyment of the concert
was done ; and so successful were the effor.ta
of the very clever manager that :the immense auth;
ence were seated with the greatest politeness and
attention ; each one :in the proper place, and OP
without the slightest confusion or interruption. gr'
Nimmo may rest perfectly satisfied that his made!'
yours to secure the comfort of the vast assembly
were appreciatad as highly as they deserved to he'
and also that he may add the concert for 1868 ,0
his long list of successes.

Prussiahas sent to Copenhagen 6,000,000 thalo'
first instalment of her share of the Schleswig-10-
stein debt.
BATTLE BETWEEN A WOMAN AND A LYNSI.--
German woman named Jansen, living near White f
Bay, Wis., Lad a battle with a lynx a few days since, l'l3
succeeded in disabling it. Hearing a disturbance and
the fowls in her chicken-coop she went to it, and ell 'a
covered what she supposed to be a dog, inten up
securing some of them. She walked boldly in and COII.L
mantled the brute to go home." It did not seem di',
posed to obey, but at once showed its teeth, deterinia&
V) fight it out on that line, and Mrs. Jansen, seizing a lic3e•Y
made a bold charge on the enemy's front. She strucic
several times, and finally, by a well-directed blow, bi.o I‘t.
the creature's back. This conquered its spirit, and it t.
tempted to escape, dragging its Lind-quarters after to
Mrs. Jansen pursued, and her husband, coming on the tie j
of action, procured his gun and shot it. The beast measteet
four and a half feet long, and stood three and a half
high.