THE VOCAL CONCERTS.
IN spite of the excessive severity of the weather, an audience far from inconsiderable assembled on Monday evening at the Hanover Square Rooms, to usher in the season of the Vocal Society. There was an excellent selection of ancient and modern compositions, of the Italian, German, and English schools; containing, indeed, a greater quantity of classical vocal music than we shall hear at any half-dozen of the best of the other concerts of the year. It was well and satisfactorily performed, too, especially the concerted music; but there was a defi- ciency of first-rate singers to give eclat to the solos. A very long Cantata by BEETHOVEN, called " The Praise of Music," performed for the first time in this country, occupied, to our feeling, too large • portion of the evening. To determine the precise merits of such work on a first bearing, is out of the question: BEETHOVEN must be studied to be understood. But it was obvious that its effects require a chorus of immense power, and that (like his Choral Symphony) it cannot be performed on a small scale. As it was, the cantata pro- duced little impression on the audience. The two Madrigals (one by BATF.SON, and the other by SRRIGGIO) were admirably sung, and re. ceivcd with the usual warmth, both of then bting loudly encored. BENNF.TT'S performance of MOZART'S Concerto was rich and sustained in tone, and full of the charming simplicity of the author. Among the other performances, the fine trio in the freivehutz, and Bisitoe's chef- ffteuvre, " Blow, gentle gales," were the most pleasing.
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