The Sun.
London, England, 1828-09-27 00:00:00

YORK MUSICAL FtSTIVAL.

(FROM Olf,R, OWN CORRESSIN DEN f.)

YORK, FAIDAY, ONE O'CI.O K, A. fit.
Yorkshire musical prejudices appear to be ra-
pidly on the wane—ter what individual, that was
aware of the nature of them, nine years ago, could
have anticipated tat Handel's Messiah would, in
the year 1828, be conducted by Mr. Greatorex, and
with the additional accompaniments for the wind in-
struments be permitted to be played ? Of a verity,
it is nevertheless a remarkable fact, and almost merits
to be considered amongst the Red Letter Days of
our Almanack !—The result of this liberal arrange -
ment was eminently successful. And, we now
presume, that the last vantage. ground of the
bigotted opponents having been surrendered at dis-
cretion, " March of Music" will proceed as it ought
to do, towards that perfection in Britain, which its
innocent, intellectual, as well as charity-diffusing
spirit, claims at the hands of every lover of the Fine
Arts. They were majieally, nay deliciously per-
formed by Messrs. Nicholson, \Wotan, Ling, Mack-
intosh, Platt, Harper, &c. The former gentleman
imparted a bewitchingly soothing effect to that
charmingly instrumental air, " Oh ! thou that idlest
glad tidings," which we never retnember him to
have excelled; perhaps, at no time of his valuable
professional life, to have at all equalled.
The entire performance, (with one melancholy
exception) was by turns majestic, pathetic, agitated,
and consoling. Brehm maintained the superiority
.he had so eminently acquired at the two previous
morning performances. Miss Paton has added an-
other leaf to her brilliant Yorkshire wreath of tri-
umph. Mr. H. Phillips never distinguished himself
more nobly, than by the embodying of the grand
and solemn ideas which Handel has so diffusely
thrown together in this his most stupendous corn-
poSition. We are more than inclined to think, and
to feel, that that gentleman is something more than a
worthy succksor of the admired Bartleman. The
vocal .organ i 3 immeasurably superior, and his judg-
ment having stood the severest ordeal, it is not ex-
travagant praise to add, he is one of the noblest
bass singers England ever called her own. Mrs.
W. Knyvett took her friends by surprise, in a contra
alto song, " Oh ! thou that tellest." It was eminently
successful. Madame Caradori was really delightful
in the beautiful recitative and aria, " He was cut
off," and " But thou didst not leave his soul in
hell." We have nought that is at all pleasant to say
of the six hundred guinea vocalist! therefore, we
pass the odious task. We cannot, without feelings
of indignation, treat with lenity a shameful para-
graph in one of the York prints, wherein this link,
tunate destroyer of musical notes is so extravagantly
lauded as to excite feelings of pity for the dissension
that such absurdly injudicious laudation must ex-
cite in every honest breast. They may pos-
sibly fancy themselves Madame's friends. It is
not very remote from truth to say that they
certainly (vet may be unintentionally) are her bit-
terest enemies. The very paragraph in question
contains in itself one of the most biting sarcasms
that ever escaped the pen of even a hired scribe.
Miss Stephens was infinitely more successful in her
vocalization this day, and, added to the proofs of
how eminently qualified are British- females to up-
hold the musical reputation •f our country. The
time is rapidly approaching when Englishmen will
form opinions, as well as singers, they can honestly
call their own. Mr. Cramer led the vast band
with as much ease as he would have headed a quar-

tette, every one appeared to be so much inspired
by the novelty of their several situations, and the
congregated grandeur of the whole mass. The
Minster was literally crowded, and presented a coup
d'euil to the astonished gazer, such as cannot be soon
forgotten. The lights occasioned by a brilliant sun
darting its beams through the richly painted glass
of the windows, upon the • gay head-dresses and
countenances of the thousands of females assembled,
produced a never-ending variety of splendid tints,
which it is utterly impossible to pourtray in any
thing approaching to adequate terms of admiration.
The third • and last Concert was well attended,
and the selection appeared to impart the most deeply
rooted attention and approbation. The fine sym-
phony in D, by Mozart, was executed with a 'preci-
sion and grandeur that has rarely been excelled.

The orchestra consisted of about fifty of the Phil-
harmonic Band, aided by about fifty more of the

elite of provincial professors. Mr. W. Penson,
Edinburgh, was selected by the Committee to sup-
port Mr. Mori, the Leader, and various other men
of eminence from the provinces were judiciously
blended with the more experienced professors in
practice, of the metropolis. The entire combination
was magnificent, and the new Concert Hall being
remarkably favourable to musical resonance, the
general effect was admirable, under the guidance of
one of the most vigorous of modern musical Gene-
rals. Mori's successful talent in the guidance of one of
Mozart's most unique effusions has raised him in
the estimation of his Yorkshire friends to au height
at once unprecedented, and truly gratifying to his
feelings. We cannot spare room for much detail.
Madame Stockhausen received the honour of an
encore to one of her exquisitely managed simple
Swiss Melodies ; it afforded an interesting re-
lief to the elaborate works of art that pre-
ceded and followed it. Braham (start not
reader) actually forbore to sing a ballad ! The
Aria " Qual Numce" of Zingarelli, - was charm-
ingly given. In truth, the unusually chaste
style he
.has thought it right to adopt during
the whole week's performance, furnishes a happy
feature in the history of his long and popular
professional life. Long may he live and continue to
charm all tasteful lovers of art, by such judgment and
truth. It is scarcely requisite to add, that whatever
Caradori.attempts is, more or less, happy and success-
ful. Miss Stephens was Very much in her own sphere,
in a ballad, and took a part •in the comic duet with
De Begnis, " Con Pazienza," very effectively. How-
ever, the prime favourite, or Prima Donna, at the
present meeting, is beyond all question,—Miss
Paton; her reception at this concert, was most ex-
pressive of the hold our" Queen of Song" has ob-
tained upon her northern friends. The ballad "Oh
no we never mention her," was bespoke, and re-
ceived a breathless attention, and an encore that
shook the walls to vibration; it :was extatic. She
awl-sith gave the bravura of the " Gentle Lark," and,
the union of Nicholson's obl:gato accompani-
ment on the flute, furnished a satisfactory proof o:
the immense superiority of our native artists in this
peculiar branch of the art. The Overture to Ana-
creon, Cherubini, formed the commencement of the
second act, and it was really overwhelming in its
effect. There was a closeness, solidity, and neatness
of articulation in the 48 violins that perfectly as-
tounded the audience. The pianos and crescendos
NNere superbly managed indeed. In short, the en-
tire entertainment was that of. the most varied, sa-
tisfactory, as well us occasionally spleinlid descrip-
tion, tvid must be seen and listened to, to lona an