MORNING CONCERTS OF LONDON. TO THE EDITOR. OF THE SPECTATOSto
Few out of the vast multitude who compose what may be termed the felicity. hunting public, seem to exercise the privilege of reflecting upon the beggarly provision which is made for the lovers of music, as far as regards the balf-
guinea concerts of May and June. The patience and resignation displayed by an audience, of whom a friend and I lately formed a part, assembled to hear a "grand miscellaneous concert," was such that I cannot forbear commenting
upon it in connexion with the performances which took place. First, I was apprized, by the printed " affiches," that Signor ----'s concert was to begin at one. I was there a few minutes after one. On entering the great concert- room at the King's Theatre, I was excessively vexed to perceive that, contrary to general usage, there was not one bench furnished with a support to the back I The weather was warm, and both my friend and I are far from robust ; so that the discomfort of sitting unsupported was not trifling : yet, as no alternative offered, we sat down on these miserable benches. One whole hour silently elapsed, and no dispositions were made towards furnishing the seats, or desks, of the orchestra. There were about 100 persons assembled ; all poised more or less painfully upon the curvilinear spinal column, and waiting as though they had nothing to complain of. At two o'clock, a slight movement was discernible at the entrance of the orchestra ; and we imagined that the baud were going to distribute themselves over the vacant benches. But no; a gentleman slid across the front, and, establishing himself at a pianoforte, LABLACHE and TA NtnuniNt entered, and sang their everlasting duet, "Se un 6ato," zo this meagre accompaniment. Next a fantasia on one violin, with a here and there accompaniment by COSTA—the violinist, a M. ESIILIANI, playing on his instrument passably well, a composition which might have emanated from the junior student at the Academy. Now ensued vocal duets—Rearet and GIUSI, IVA witore and ASSANDRI- composers DONIZETT1 and COSTA—clarinet solo, accompanied by said Cosa.* on pianoforte; a sestett by all the great " stars" of the Italian Opera closed the first act—said sestett occupying about three minutes in the performance, and accompanied at intervals by a few feeble notes on the piano. here we could not resist the desire to relieve the dorsal muscles from their torture, and, having endured it two mortal hours, welch the good people assembled to enjoy the rest of this "grand concert," and to extract what they could of pleasure out of it is return for their half-guineas.
There was no pretence at an orchestra, or at aught instrumental but the two solos afore-named, from first to last. The thing really may be characterized as approaching to a fraud. For half-a-guinea, one can ate and hear a whole opera, ballet, &c. included ; lights, dresses, and a host of secondary expenses being incurred. Now, to demand this same sum for providing a few opera songs, to be sung in a room to a pianoforte by daylight, is very like an imposition on the dupes who submitted to it. The English rich-idle class assuredly appear to labour under a plethora of cash and an inability to spend their time, or they would not go through this kind of farce so tamely. I must in fairness admit, that Garet and her gifted associates sang charm- ingly, sach in their turn. RUBIN!, whose organ has declined, in puiut of volume, to the tone of a tolerably vigorous gnat in September, " tu Wiled "
away therewith, to the delight of the lieges, who indeed all but held their breath in order to hear it, becauoe the slightest rustle would have rendered RC BIN es
voice inaudible. Indeed, it savoured somewhat of a deception ; for I could have believed the sound came from out a large box under ground. Altogether, I do not know which was most remarkable—the impudence of the humbug, or the
tranquil submission to it on the part of its victims. H. (1.
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