There have been several noticeable concerts this week. The first,
on Monday, was one of the monster-concerts, several of which are given every season at Her Majesty's Theatre. The whole strength of the esta- blishment—principal singers, orchestra, and chorus—was employed in the performance of a profusion of music, chiefly of an operatic character, and taken from the repertoire of the theatre. Some of the other pieces were rather out of place in a concert of this kind; such as Mozart's "To Deum," and the selection from Beethoven's Mass in C. Sivori played a concerto by Paganini, and that great violinist's famous "Witches Dance," which Sivori alone is capable of executing in Paganini's own style.
Mr. H. Cooper gave a performance of classical instrumental music on Monday evening, at the Concert-rooms in Mortimer Street. It consisted of quartets of Haydn, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn, played by Sainton, Cooper, Hill, and Rousselot; Mr. Cooper modestly taking the second violin in all but one, which he led in a manner that showed his equality as a quartet-player to any artist of the day. Mr. Cooper, it must be said, is one of those who hide their candle under a bushel. Last season, at the Philharmonic, he played Mendelssohn's arduous violin concerto in a style which created general astonishment and pleasure : he was then unknown, unless in a limited circle of amateurs; and, notwithstanding that great and deserved success, he has Continued to keep himself as much as ever in the background. Miss Dolby and Mr. Lindsay Sloper had their annual concert, which they are in the habit of giving jointly, on Wednesday morning. It was a varied and elegant entertainment, and attracted one of the most crowded and fashionable assemblies of the season.
We are glad to notice the revival of what was once a most popular species of entertainment—a concert of English glees and madrigals. A series of these has been begun at Willis's Rooms, under the direction of Mr. Francis of her Majesty's Chapel Royal. The singers are Lockey, Hobbs, Francis; Land, and II. Phillips. At their second performance, on Wednesday, several chefs-d'ceuvre of Webbe, Stevens, Attwood, and Horsley, were sung with the most perfect ensemble, purity, and spirit. The audience was large and fashionable.
The greatest concert of the week, and of the season, was Mrs. Ander- son's, in Covent Garden Theatre, yesterday morning. Not only were the whole resources of the Royal Italian Opera called into action, but almost every eminent singer and solo-player in London was employed to furnish forth a musical banquet of almost unparalleled sumptuousness and profusion.
Mr. Mullah has brought to a close his series of "monthly concerts" in St Martin's Hall : that of Wednesday evening was the last of the season. Like its precursors, it showed Mr. Mullah's determination to give these entertainments a high artistic character ; to guide, not follow, the public taste, by directing the attention of his audiences not only to the most truly classical works of the day, but to many productions of the great old masters, which have been swept into oblivion by the ceaseless influx of novelties; and to encourage young musicians of genius by giving them that most unattainable of all things, a fair opportunity of being heard. During the series, four young composers have enjoyed this advantage,— Gounod, whose Sap/b has since been performed at the French Academic, and is announced as forthcoming at the Royal Italian Opera ; and three of our countrymen, Fitzwilliam, Stegpll, and Mori. The cantata of this last-named gentleman, performed at the last concert, possesses great merit ; it is from Schiller's celebrated ballad of Fridelin, and is distinguished by melody, clear construction, and dramatic treatment of an interesting sub- ject.
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