Snit.
The departure of the Queen will bring the London season to an earlier termination than usual. The two Italian Operahouses are preparing to close their doors. At Her Majesty's Theatre, last Tuesday was an-
nounced as " the last night of the subscription and of the season ;" but a series ofextra nights, at greatly reduced prices has begun, and Madame
Marie Cabel, Of the Opera Comique, has been brought over to increase their attraction. At the Royal Italian Opera, Mr. Gye has announced that the present week is the last but three of the season. He, we believe, gives no extra performances at reduced prices ; so, we presume, both houses will close about the same time, at the beginning of next month. The Propheie was performed on Thursday evening, for the first time in the present Covent. Garden Theatre, with Tamberlik (who is just arrived from Madrid) as John of Leyden, and Madame Csillag as Fides, and with a degree of splendour not inferior to that with which it was origi- nally produced in the old house. It is to be repeated this evening and on Monday next.
There has been a " monster " competition of Brass Bands at the Crystal Palace. One hundred and fifteen bands, numbering above two thousand performers, gathered from all parts of England, have played against each other, for prizes given by the Crystal Palace Company and by the prin- cipal musical-instrument makers in London, and have likewise played together, united in one enormous body, which filled the great Handel Festival orchestra. These proceedings have constituted the amusement of the Crystal Palace visitors for three days of this week. The effect produced by the combination of two thousand brazen instruments was something beyond the power of imagination to realize-it was astound- ing and overwhelming. Many of the bands, in their separate perform- ances, showed a great deal of talent; and the competition was, on the whole, calculated to promote the improvement of a grand and imposing description of music.
Mr. Balfe gave a Concert at the Surrey Gardens on Wednesday even- ing, which (the price of admission being a shilling) attracted an immense concourse of visitors. The music was chiefly vocal, and consisted almost entirely of his own compositions, which were exceedingly well performed by a number of our best singers. One noticeable incident occurred. Mr. Sinisiteeves,having sung a song, was loudly called upon-not to repeat it, but to sing something else. This was a species of encore which he very properly refused to obey, and the consequence was an outrageous tumult which lasted the best part of an hour. The favourite tenor can scarcely appear at a popular concert without being exposed to attacks of this kind ; and the thing has become a nuisance which the more reason- able part of the public ought to join in abating.
The Worcester Muskat Festival-" the meeting of the Three Choirs of Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester"-takes place during the second week of September. Unusual efforts have been made this year to give novelty and variety to the Festival. There will be four morning per- formances at the Cathedral: the first will consist of St. Paul and part of ne Creation ; the second, The Last Judgment and a selection from Judas Maceabeus the third, Elijah ; and the fourth, 'The Messiah. The three evening concerts at the College Hall will include Bennett's May Queen ; a selection him 'Dinarah ; a new Cantata, The. Eel King's Daughter, by Gade, a Danish composer of continental reputation, but as yet unknown in England; and a selection from Wallace's .Lurline. The principal singers engaged are, Madame Clara Novello, Madame Rudersdorff, Mrs. Weiss, Madame Sainted. Dolby, Mr. Montem. Smith, Signor Belletti, and Mr. Weiss. The band and chorus will be 300 strong. We may add' that, as this will be. the first appearance of Madame Clara Novelle at "the meeting of the Three Choirs," so it will be her last. Our great eountrywoinan return* to England in order to fulfil some engagements in the provinces (this among others) in the autumn, and then retires into private life in the country of her adoption. A magnificent Concert was given at Genoa, on the. 25th of Jun; by the Mutual Aid Society of Musicians, in the Teatro Paganini. One half of the receipts was contributed to the national cause. Great interest' was excited by the appearance of the veteran Tamburini, so long one of the great stars of our Italian opera. He sang some of his favourite pieces 'of former days-the cavatina from La Sonnalltbula;the air from Maometto &condo, the duet from the Pa,biere di Siviglia, and others, with as much effect as ever. At Milan, Sivori and Bottesini have joined in giving a
great concert for the benefit of the national. cause. -
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