The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-03
ENGLAND.
From our LONDON CORRESPONDENT.
The Triennial Handel Festival-Details of the |
rrfrr. Great Musical Event.

The Triennial Handel Festfval-Details oil the
Efrr. Great Musical Event.
LONDON, June 20 1868. 4
Although the news OF the success of the nth trien-
NAL Handel festiya-which concluded yesterday
may have already reached you by cable, the affair
has been SO important in musical point of view as
to deserve brief historical notice in the HERALD.
In years to come when, we all hope there will be
American musical festivals upon a scale OF equal
magnincence such record may be valuable for con-
trasts or comparisons
The Handel Festival occurred on Monday, Wednes-
day and Friday of this week. and was held at the
Crystal Palace, as there is other building in or
near London large enough for the immense number
of performers and audience. How large that number
was may be estimated by the fact that the orchestra
consisted Of five hundred nstrumentasts and the
chorus Of three thousand five hundred singers en-
bracing the trained chors of London and the prov
inces, besides the professional leaders The number
of persons present are stated officially as follows,
but some deductions ought to be made on account
of the thousands Of employees of the Palace who
passed in on season tickets -
Rehearsal. ....... 1887 Second day...... q, $50
First day. 1927 Third day....... %, lO1
Total Observation-Disclosures. SO, 4s5
The railroads to the Crystal Palace ran special
trains every ten minutes on the festival days and oil
the trains were filed. special trains were also run
from all parts Of England and thousands Of country
people avaed themselves of the opportunity to visit
the metropolis. Taking of the trains from Lon
don you were landed at the Palace in about half
hour, and after weary walk up countless steps and
through long avenues OF glass you arrived at the
central transept, where the oratorios were per-
formed. An immense eXpanse Of sloping seats,
built from the floor to the roof before you, and
a magnificent organ crowned this amphitheatre,
Which was Sr the singers In the sses
for the audience, and opposite the singers three
private boxes reserved for royalty which, as usual,
did not make its appearance till the last day, and
was then represented only by the Prince and Prin-
| cess Louis OF Hesse.
If you can picture in your mind the airy space of
the Palace, with the vast audience in summer cos
| tunes crowding every inch OF room, and the four
you W Ill admit that even as spectacle the Handa
| Festival was well worth attending Indeed, any.
thing more beautiful than the masses of ladies In
| witnessed. But when music added Its magic to
the scene the effect was absolutely over
When the esniss sFann Handel wss Des
] displayed shook the audience like whrlwinds.
Think Of the tremendous rem volume Of sound from
| three thousand five hundred voices Itwas musical
thunder-there Is no other phrase for It, Yet under
the guidance OF Mr. Costa, who led throughout the
| festival the mammoth chorus was tractable as
single voice and obeyed as readily every wave Of the
baton.
on Monday the great Christian oratorlo 1.-THE Mes
siah," was perforlned on Friday the great Jewish
IN Egyp and ra wednesday
| works Of Handel Mr.. James Coward presided at
| the organ. The solo singers were Titens,
Mr.. Santley, Mr. Cummings signor Foil
Madame Radershor and Mile. Carloia. Adelina
Patti, the star OF the last festival engaged
at this. Nilsson sang admirably, but her light voice
will not bear comparison with that Of Madame
Titens, who fairly eclipsed herself: Miss Kellogg
praised by the London critics. although she did not
seem TO me to be quite at home in oratorio music
Sims Reeves reserved his voice until the last day.
and then produced great sensation by his solo,
1.-The Enemy Said" Mr. santley carried of the
| honors among the male singers, however and has
considerably Increased his already wonderful repu
taton All the artists were FAR above the average.
B r a as we're the 9o Il was
choruses In Interest and popularity. Now thunder.
| ing like the noise OF many waters; now murmuring
like soft zephyrs now full Of the clash and clang OF
battle; now initiating the song OF nightingales; now
realizing storm OF hailstOnes now rising TO SUBJ
chorises were so grand so precisely rendered and SO
thrilling in their effects as to the multitude
uous audience and make applause seem an insult.
From first TO last there IL not word OF
fault 20 ind with either orchestra or sing
ers. II there were moments weakness
| or shakness, Mr.. Costa at rallied his forces
| with master hand and the acutest ear thought IT
self deceived so instantaneous the remedy.
Hundreds Of Americans were among the audience,
and they might well say that they mad never heard
oratorio music before. Indeed IL is impossible 10
imagine anything more sublime this side Of paradise,
where according TO the popular belief all the angels
are harpists and ch0iristers, aud are perpetudlly
singing the glories or the Creator.
| OF course there were some characteristic British
features connected with the festival "God save the
Queen sung at the opening and close OF the fes-
tVa, the auuence rising out Of'TeSpect 10 tie tune.
During the performances were constantly handed
about by shabby walters and 'books OF the wOrds'i
hawked up and down the aisles much TO the dis.
comfort VI those who wished TO hear the music. The
Palace seemed Ike vast refreshment saloon. for
| even singing makes John Bull hungry and thirsty,
| and new system was introduced by which you are
obliged TO buy ticket for refreshments, ind your
own mug for ale or stout and convey the provisions
70 table Tor Yourself IL ought also 10 be mentioned,
| as proof that the Handel Festival is no cheap
| asaiT, that II cost about SIS for every person who
| had a stall Ticket On the whole the celebration was
| a credit 20 England and to Enplishmen and will
| hold a very hign place in musical annals.