At the Sacred Harmonic Society's performance of Elijah, on Thursday,
the entire part of the Prophet was sustained by Signor Belletti ; who showed that he had studied it deeply, and had now thoroughly mastered it both in a dramatic and a musical point of view. His manner was noble and commanding ; he had acquired (for a foreigner) a remarkable propriety and clearness of elocution ; and in vocal power and style of ex- ecution he left all rivalry behind. Mr. Sims Reeves was to have sung the principal tenor part, but it seems he was prevented from crossing the Channel from Boulogne that same day, by the stormy weather. This apology showed that Mr. Reeves had not been called upon or expected to attend any previous rehearsal ; a condition from which neither he nor any other performer should over be exempted. Had he been engaged to sing at a Philharmonic concert, his attendance at the rehearsal, two days before, would have been expressly stipulated. The soprano part of the oratorio was sung for the first time by Miss Louisa Fyne; very beautifully in parts, but as a whole her performance lacked breadth and greatness of style. With these exceptions, Elijah was performed as usual.
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