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London, England, 1842-11-03 00:00:00

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ST. Jagn THEATRE.
RAND CONCERT— ROSsiNrs STABAT
MATER. V 441,64.
This theatre was opened last evening for the
of a series of concerts; "under the direction of a ,t
of professors, whose object is to perform woi ks of the
highest order, both choral and instrumental." The
principal vocalists engaged are Miss Birch, Mimi
Dolby, Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Giubilei and Mr. H. Phillips.
The band and chorus consist of 140 performers,
with Messrs. C. Lucas and H. Westrop as con-
ductors, Mr. Willy as leader of the band, and
Mr. Green as director of the choruses. The follow-
ing programme of the concert of last evening will
show that in this their first concert the Directors of
these performauces have fully redeemed their pledge
of presenting to the public works of the highest
orc er, both choral and instrumental?'
PART I.—STABAT MATER., Rossini.
Introduction, Quartett, and Chorus, " Stabat Mater."
Air, " Cujus animam," Mr. llobbs.
Duet, " Qnis est homo?" Misses Birch and Dolby.
'
Air, " Pro peccatis " Mr. Giubilei.
Solo and Chorus, "Vidit suum," Mr. Giubilei.
Quartett, " Sancta Mater," Miss Birch, Miss Dolby,
Mr. Hobbs; and Mr. Guibilei.
Air, " iac me were tecum flere," Miss Dolby.
Air, with Chorus, " Inflammatus et accensus,"
Miss Birch.

Quartett, " Quando corpus," Miss Birch, MiPs
Dolby, Mr. Hobbs, and Mr. Giubilei. Finale, Amen.
PART 11.

Overture, " Ruler of the Spirits."—Weber.
Song, "a beauteous Daughter," Mr. Hobbs.--
Beethoven.

Madrigal, full choir, " My Mistress is as fine as
fair" (1610).—Bennett.
Song, " 0 Araby," Miss Dolby (Oberon).—Weber.
Se Lett, for Flute, Oboe, two Clarionets, Horn, and
two Bassoons, Messrs. Carte, Barrett, Lazarus, Mac-
donald, Platt, Baumann, and C. Keating.—Lucas.
Song and Chorus, " Haste thee," Mr. Phillips.._
Handel.
Song, " Sweet Bird," Miss Birch ; Flute Obligato,
Mr. Carte (Il Penseroso).— Handel.
Trio, Miss Birch, Mr. Hobbs, and Mr. Phillips.
Grand March and Chorus, from " The Ruins of
Athens.—Beethoven. _ _ _

We have before had occasion to speak of the beauties
of that sublime composition, the Stabat Mater of
Rossini. On the present occasion those beauties
were fully developed. The magnificent 5010,..`.' Vidit
sewn," with the chorale, without instrumental
accompaniment, was given with exquisite taste and
propriety by Guibilci. This solo and chorus was
encored, as was the " Inflammatus et accensus " of
Miss Birch, which was given with great power
and exquisite feeling. The succeeding . quartet,
" Quando corpus morietur," the music of which
is most touchingly expressive, was given with
exquisite taste, feeling, and correctness. The effect
of the passage " Paradisi gloriam," was soul-thrilling.
Weber's•magnificent overture " Ruler of the Spirits,"
with which the second part commenced, was per-
formed with admirable propriety and correctness,
and was rapturously encored. The oboe solo, par-
ticularly, was given with exquisite taste. Bennett's old
Madrigal, which conjured up to our imagination
visions of Crosby Hall—the olden time, when England
was a music-loving and music-understanding nation,
and when the lords of that splendid old hall assembled
round the composers of those melodious madrigals
which formed the delight of our forefathers in the
days of the good Queen Bess-L-, Bennett's old Ma-
drip' was performed in a style which would have
delighted their ears, and have made them imagine that
they were again living in the ‘days of " a courtier
of the olden time of the Queen s old courtier."
The repetition of .the Madrigal was. -called
for, as was the repetition. of Weber's beautiful
song, "Oh ! Araby,' by 'Miss Dolly. The lovers
of scientific harmony had a rich treat in the septett,
and Handers glorious laughing song and chorus,
' Haste thee, Nymph," came a seasonable relief to the
more serious performances. This was not only sung,
but acted by H. Phillips in excellent style. He
seemed the very personification;of
" Sport that wrinkled care derides,
And Laughter holding both hiS sides."
He was rapturously applauded, and loudly encored. It
is a curious circumstance that in this concert, while
the serious and sacred. portion was the compo-
sition of Rossini, the only buffo song in-
troduced should be by Handel. This shows
the universality of genius, and how little those who
would fain have it " cribbed, cabined, and confined "
within the narrow limits of their own powers, are
capable of understanding its nature or appreciating its
works. Nevertheless, it is a curious coincidence that,
in this concert the composer of the Barbiere should
have furnished the serious portion, and the composer
of the Messiah the comic ; that the humour of Handel
should relieve the gravity of Rossini. The triumph
of the evening was certainly the song " Sweet bird,"
by Miss Birch, with the flute obligate. by Mr. Carte.
Her tones, like those of the sweet bird of which she
sang, were indeed " most musical," and 'beautifully
melodious also was the accompaniinent of Mr. Carte.
We have never heard this most beautiful specimen of
" music married to immortal verse" more beautifully
given than it was last evening. We observe that
during the course of these concerts we are to have
Beethoven's " Mount of Olives," and Spohr's "Fall
of Babylon ;" the latter oratorio to be produced under
the direction of Professor Taylor. We hail the un-
dertaking as a proof of the progress of the restora-
tion of musical taste in England, and as a means of
forwarding that progress. Ten years since a series of
popular concerts of such high order would not have
been dreamt of. Music such as that of last evening
was then confined to the Ancient Concerts and the
Philharmonic. Such, however, is not the case at pre-
sent. Music, like painting and literature, is po-
pularizing itself, and as painting and literature
have succeeded, so will music succeed. Mu-
sical professors are beginning to find out the
secret, that the public is tlt best patron. The Di-
rectors of these concerts are sowing the good seed
which will hereafter bear fruit. llonour,to them for
their exertions, and success to the praiseworthy un- .
dertaking.