The Philharmonic Society has begun its Forty-Ninth Season with one
of the most brilliant and successful performances ever given by a body which, for half a century, has been pre-eminent among the musical institutions of Europe. It was a fine selection of master- pieces of the greatest composers, including orchestral symphonies of Mozart and Beethoven, overtures of Spohr and Mendelssohn, Hummers Septuor in I) minor for the pianoforte, with stringed and ' wind instruments, and vocal pieces of Rossini, Weber, and Meyer- beer.
. Much curiosity had been excited respecting the orchestra by a circumstance which has made some noise in our musical world—the compulsory secession of nearly fifty of the performers, who, being also members of the Royal Italian Opera Band, were refused permis- sion to. accept their usual engagement with the Philharmonic Society on pain of losing their places at Covent Garden. In the course of half a century such an interference with the society's arrangements had never taken place before. In this emergency the directors exerted themselves so successfully that the audience found, with snrpnse and pleasure, that the baud was fully equal to what it had ever been, both in strength and quality—a remarkable proof of the wealth. of this metropolis in professional talent. Under the control of their able chief, Sterndale Bennett, the new troops were com- pletely amalgamated with the old; and the great symphonies of Mo.zart and Beethoven were executed with a power and beauty which have never been exceeded. In Hummers Septuor our young pianist, Cusins, maintained the honour of the English school; and the admirable singing of Louisa Pine and her clever sister greatly heightened the pleasure of the evening.
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