26 NOVEMBER 1853, Page 9

ORATORIO MUSIC.

In the performance of Samson by the Sacred Harmonic Society, last evening, the new feature was the appearance of Madame Viardot Garcia ; who sang the music of the part of Micah, and showed how much a performer of genius can do with things which in inferior hands appear of little im- portance. Except the two fine airs "Return, 0 God of Hosts," and "Ye sons of Israel,"—which she sang with profound feeling and with con- summate artistic finish,—the music of this part consists of brief fragments of recitative, that seem merely to serve as connecting links in the dialogue, and some of them are not unfrcquently omitted. On this oc- casion they were all replaced ; and Madame Viardot, by her dramatic and beautiful declamation, made them the most impressive passages of the whole performance. The other solo parts were taken by Miss Birch, Mr. Lockey, Mr. Lawler, and Mr. Weiss ; all of whom sang correctly, and Weiss gave the fine song "Honour and Arms" with considerable energy. The choruses were sung with power; and Costa's additional ac- companiments were very effective.