Star.
London, England, 1823-10-09 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

This grand Festival, which is celebrated once in three
years, and the proceeds of which ate devoted towards
the support of the general Hospital of the town, com-
menced on Tuesday last, under circumstances which
promise a very favourable result to the benevolent exer-
tions of the Committee, by whom the arrangements are
superintended.
Amongst the vocal performers we noticed—
Madame Catalani, Mrs. Salmon, Miss Stephens, Albs Travis,
Miss Symonds, Miss Fletcher, Miss Heaton, &c. Mr. Braham,
Mr. Vaughan, Signor Placa, Messrs. Evans, Golding, Whale,
Grcatorex, Gattie, Blackburue and Thorne, and Air. Knyvett and
Mr. Bellamy.
The chorus singers are also upon the most extensive
scale.--The instrumental performers are—

Leaders, Alessrs. Cramer and Mori.; principal seconds, Messrs.
',Mountain and Griesbach ; and principal violas, Messrs: It. Ashley
and Daniels.

In the lists of violin and viola players, are thirty-one
from the King's Concert, Philharmonic, and King's
Theatre; four from the Conservatoire, at Paris; and the
additional performers, to complete the strength of the
orchestra, are leaders of concerts from various large
towns in the king,,!om.
111 r. GREATOR Ex is the conductor, and presides at site
organ and piano-torte. The nuniet ical sti ength of the
band is fully adequate to produce the finest musical
effect; and in the selection of the pieces, it will be seen
that every pains has been taken, not only to consult the
finest taste, but to produce such novelties as are likely
to prove grateful to the distinguished amateurs whose
presence is anticipated.
Early in the last week the different vocal and instru-
mental performers began to arrive in Birmingham, and
on Saturday they commenced their rehearsals at the
Free Church, which is extremely well adapted for that
purpose. These were ciintinued until Monday night,
when the necessary classifications were completed.
Tuesday morning the town of Birmingham pre-
sented a most lively and interesting appearance; groups
of well-dressed persons, including many women of
fashion and elegance, were seen proceeding in all direc-
tions towards the Church, which, from the favour:4ll2
state of the weather, they were enabled to do on foot
without any inconvenience. Every -inn and house of
public entertainment poured forth its temporary inmates,
while from the most obscute courts and alleys came
persons, who, under other circumstances, would have
been shocked, even for a moment, to have sojourned in
such situations. Perhaps on no former occasion did the
dingy, although fast improiing, streets of this extensive
town, exhibit a more pleasing or brilliant assemblage.
As the morning advanced, carriages and four, and
equipages of persons of consideration added to the ge-
neral bustle, and gave additional animation to the scene.
Detachments of the Enniskillen DI agoons were stationed
at the ends of the different streets, and assisted in
preserving those regulations which had been so pru-
dently adopted. In addition to those going to. the
Church, thousands of spectators were collected in the
Clint ch-yard and adjoining avenues, who remained till
the Service was concluded.

At half-pact nine o'clock the doors of St. Philip's
Church were opened, and the company immediately
began to assemble. At a quarter before eleven o'clock
every part of the Church, which is capable of contain-
ing 3,000 persons, was crowded. The interior of the
church, filled with so numerous an assemblage, com-
posed of persons of the highest respectability, of whom
a large proportion were beautiful and elegantly attired
females, presented at this moment a most splendid and
interesting appearance. At eleven o'clock the service
commenced with the full Anthem, " We have heard
with our ears," from Palestrina. The full Cathedral
Service was chanted in the most impressive manner by
the Rev. B. CLIFTON, Rector of St. Nicholas, Worcester.
PURCELL'S " Te Deum laudamus," was sung, with great
effect by Messrs. BELLAMY, VAUGHAN, and KNYVETT,
Miss TRAVIS, and Miss SYMONDS. Miss TRAVIS sang
in this, and in all the portions allotted to her in this
day's Selection, with great taste and sweetness. The
solo, " Vouchsafe, 0 Loan! to keep us this day with-
out sin," was given by Mr. VAUGHAN with a melody
and simple grandeur which were universally felt and
admired:" 0 LORD ! give ear unto my prayer," by Dr.
GREENE ; the Anthem selected for this occasion, was
sung by Messrs. VAUGHAN and KNYVETT. The solo in
this Anthem, " Ameong the Gods there is none like Thee,
0 LORD 1" was sung by Mr. KNYVETT, with dissolving
sweetness. A Psalm, from the Parochial Psalmody of
.Mr. Gactroaax, " How blest the Man whose tender
care," concluded the vocal selections before the corn-
.mencement of the Sermon.

The sermon was preached by Dr. GARDNER, Rector
of St. Philip's Church, in the absence of the Hon. and
Right Rev. the Bishop of OXFORD. occasioned by the
melancholy Occurrence of the death of he Countess of
DARTMOUTH. 'the text was taken from the fifth
chapter of St. John, v. 7 and 8, " The impotent man
answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is
troubled, to put me into the pool, but,' while I am
cowing, another steppeth down before me. Jams said
unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." The Re-
verend Divine enforced, with great eloquence and
ability, the general objects of thetharity, and adverted,
with much feeling, to the onfortunate circumstance
which had rendered him its unexpected advocate. The
service concluded with HASSUCCA Funeral Anthem,
which was performed by the Whole strength of the
Orchestra, with asrandeur and pretislon which' pro-
duced a sublime effect.

Among the distinguished persons who were present,
we noticed--

The Earl of Bradford, Lord Calthorpe, Lord Viscount Newport,
Frauds Lawley, Esq. M.P. for the County, the Hon. Captain
Bddgoman, the Hon. Mr. Ger, Sir Edward C. 'Hartopp, M.P.
Sir T. B. Winnington, Sce. ace. &c.
The money taken for tickets was . £304 17 6
And the subsctiptioas at the doors (of, this sala t 424 8
ti
Lord Craven subscribed MOO.)

Disking 's total - . 29 5 t

In order to shew that the present Festival maintain/
the character of progressive improvement, we haven)
state, that at the last meeting, the sum taken for ad.
mission to St. Philip's Church on the first day, We
£271. 25.6 d. and the collection at the doors 1:34.1.155.2id,
making a total of £612. 17s. sid. So that this sum,
compared with that which we have just quoted, she*,
an excess of £ll6. 7s-
The performances began precisely at half-past sere;
with a grand symphony (No. 5, HAYDN), which war
executed with- admirable taste, and drew down a just
tribute of applause. All the principal vocal performer,
then came forward and sang the National Anthem ei
" Goa save the King," which was received with entba.
siastic applause. The two first verses were sung by
Madame CATALAN'. The Tempest recitative and air,
by HORSLEY, was next sung by Mr. BELLAMY, and re.
ceived with applause. A ddet by CIANCIIETTINI--.
" Ecce di Palo it tempio," between Madame CA7A.
LANI and Mr. BRAHANI, followed. The effect produce,'
by this duct was to be ascribed rather to the power of the
singers than of the composer, and it required all the e/.
traordinary powers of Madame CATALANI to elevate
the character of the music.

MISS STEPHENS gave the Recitative and Air, " Hush!
ye pretty warbling choir," from Acis and Galatea,
with exquisite sweetness and playfulness. This charm.
ing singer was greeted on her first appearance with the
warmest demonstrations of delight. A Trio for three
French Horns, composed expressly for this meeting,
by Signor Puzzt, was performed by Messrs.
PETRIDES, and TULLY. The excellence of Signor
Puzzi's performance on this instrument is hell
and was never more conspicuous than on the present
occasion. He was well supported by the two latter
artists, who are engaged, we believe, ft orn the Conser-
vatoire at Paris. :the Buffo Song, from Rossisi's
Barbiele di ,‘!'eviglia," Largo al factotum della citta,"
Was sung with considerable !tumour by Signo: PLaect.
A Glee by ‘Vebbe, " When winds breathe soft along the
silent deep," was next sung by Miss STEPIIE`;S, Messrs.
KNYVETT, VAUGHAN, T. GREATOUEX, and lsera.aarv,
and was much applauded. A Recitative and Air,
" itegno piu grato, ' from Pucitta, by Madame CATA•
LA xi, followed. The manner in which she executed the
commencement of the air was exquisitely tender anti
affecting. it was a beautiful illustration of the effect
with which the language of the passions may be con-
veyed by musical expression. Rcnrsirces Terzett, "Alt!
qual colpo inaspettato," by Mrs. SA Lmos, Mr. BRA H AN,
and Signor PLacct, terminated the first act of the per-
formance. The second act commenced with BRETHO.
VEN> Overture to Egmont. A Song, by BACHE, " Midlt
silent shades and purling streams,' was sung by Miss
TRAVIS with the sweetness which distinguished her
efforts in the vocal performances. of the morning,
and was very warmly applaueed by the audience;
as was also the duet, " Ah se de' mali mici," from
Tancredi, by Miss STEPHENS and Mr. VAUGHAN.
" Cease your funning," newly arranged by Mr. BOCISSA,
was sung in a very superior style by Mrs. SALMON, and
was rapturously encored. Mr. LINDLEY displayed his
unrivalled powers in a concerto on the violoncello, and
Mr. BNAHAM delighted the audience by the taste and
energy with which lie executed a recitative and air by
RAUZZINI. Tile next piece was a glee by KNYVETT,
" There is a bloom that neve rfadesi which was sung,
with piano-forte accompaniment, by Miss STEPHENS,
Messrs. VAUGHAN and BELLAMY. Madame CATALAN!
sang an air from RoDa's Variations, abounding in par-
ages of great difficulty, which she executed with
astonishing facility. The performance of this evening
concluded with the Finale to Figaro,in which the vocal
parts were performed by Mrs. SALMON, Miss STEPHENS,
MISS TRAVIS, Messrs. BRAHAM, VAUGHAN, BELLAMY,
and Signor PLACCI. • The whole Concert went off with
the greatest eclat, and it is universally observed that
the Birmingham Festival never commenced more auspi-
ciously than on this occasion.

MISSIONARY INDUSTRY.