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The amateurs, attracted to the Wednesday Evening Concert of this week by the announcement of a selection from Mozart's Idomeneo as its principal feature, were a good deal disappointed by the result. Though this opera has been laid aside as an acting piece, probably because sub- jects of classical mythology are no longer attractive, yet its music is acknowledged to be unsurpassed in grandeur and beauty by any other work of the composer. "This model opera," says Mr. Holmes in his excellent life of Mozart, "in which he rises on the wing from one beauty to another through long acts, was completed within a few weeks, and ever since has defied the scrutiny of musicians to detect in it the slighteat negligence of style. The impassioned melancholy which pervades the music in the first air of Ilia in the meeting between the father and the son when the consequences Of the vow are evident, and in the scene be- tween Ilia and 'clamant° in the third set, -when they are contending which shall die, is still entirely unscathed by time." " These pieces," Mr. Holmes adds, "are still the greatest attractions of classical perform- ances. The great dramatic scene which comprises 0 veto tremendo ' the solemn march, the prayer of Idomeneo, and the responses of the priests of Neptune and the voice of the Oracle, produces all its original effect when heard from time to time in private." If still so effective even in private, this music ought to be yet more effective in a great concert-hall, with the appliances of a strong orchestra, chores, and pro- fessional performers. But on the present occasion, though the choruses are the most striking portions of the opera, there was no chorus, probably because it was deemed too expensive ; except the first air in the part of Ilia, none of the pieces mentioned by Mr. Holmes as most effective off' the stage, were introduced ; and the performers employed, though good English concert-singers, were not fitted for the dramatic music of the opera stage. Hence the performance fell flat, and excited no interest.
What was really the great feature of the concert was Pauer's perform- ance of Beethoven's pianoforte concerto in E flat. That was in every respect most masterly, and drew from the whole audience prolonged and evidently heartfelt applause.
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