20 DECEMBER 1856, Page 12

HENRY LESLIE'S CHOIR.

A choral concert of madrigals and part-songs was performed at the Hanover Square Rooms on Thursday evening, by a newly-formed asso- ciation which calls itself "Mr. Henry Leslie's Choir,' having been formed by that very distinguished young musician. The choir comprises about eighty voices, chiefly of amateurs—ladies and gentlemen belonging to fashionable society—who meet weekly for the practice of vocal har- mony under Mr. Leslie's direction. This was their first public perform- ance, and it attracted a great concourse of company, among whom were many eminent musicians and persons of rank, including the Duke of Wellington, the grandson of one of our best glee-composers. The concert was composed of madrigals by the great old masters, Gibbons Wilbye, and Walraent ; and part-songs by modern German and English composers, among which there was one by Mr. Waky, of singular grace and beauty ; together with two songs sung by Miss Sherrington and a sonata of Beethoven played by Mr. Waley and Mr. Sainton. l'he ma- drigal and part singing reminded us of the Vocal Concerts, which used some five-and-twenty years ago to afford so great a treat to the lovers of this beautiful species of music, but did not meet with that general en- couragement which they would have received at the present time when our fine English vocal harmony is better understood and appreciated. Henry Leslie's Choir deserves all success, and, we trust, will obtain it.