THE PROFESSIONAL CONCERTS.
THE second of these excellent concerts was given at St. James's Theatre last night. It is a high gratification, and a rare one, to hear so admir- able a band engaged in an occupation more worthy of their talents than accompanying an opera of DoanzErrr. The concert began with an anthem by MENDELSSOHN, written after the model of HANDEL's Chandos Anthems, and of considerable merit. It is a style of composition which MENDELSSOHN likes, and in which he usually succeeds. BEETHOVEN'S scene, " Christ on the Olive Mount," followed—absurdly entitled in the books " an oratorio." This composition has been long known to amateurs, although for some years it has been almost laid aside. In- deed, where, except at such concerts as these, is there a chance of having it effectively and correctly performed in London ? The genius of its author is conspicuous in many parts of it, as well as his eccentricity : the style is essentially operatic—too much so for the subject. The second part consisted chiefly of a selection from Oberon, (in which the overture was encored.) and BARNETT'S Mountain Sylph—two operas which, banished from our theatres, we are always glad to wel- come in the concert-room. PHILLIPS sang a song of considerable ex- cellence by E. LODER, the words by Mr. CARPENTER—the subject "Rome." The other principal singers were Miss RLINFORTH, Miss DOLBY, Miss LIICOMBE, and Mr. HOBBS.
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