' 311usir.
The second concert of the Musical Society of London,—considering the lofty pretensions with which this large association commenced its career,—ought to have been the great musical event of the week. But it has not ; and, indeed, was so poor and uninteresting that it has passed over almost without notice. We found it necessary to complain of the unsatisfactory character of the previous concert ; but this has been more unsatisfactory still. The first part was made up of sacred music, and seemed an imitation of the once famous Ancient Concerts ; with this dif- ference, that the Ancient Concerts had one of the noblest orchestras in London, whereas this concert of the Musical Society of London had no orchestra at all. There was an anthem by Purcell, grand and solemn in Westminster Abbey, for which it was written ; but this music, essentially ecclesiastical, loses all its Solemnity and power when transferred from the cathedral choir to the concert-room. Another anthem, by Mendelssohn, not only suffered from this cause, but from being really unworthy of the composer. It is an attempt to imitate the English cathedral style, and is unfortunately on the same words with the sublime anthem of Dr. Croft, "0 Lord, thou haat searched me out," with which it cannot for a moment be compared. The only really effective piece in this part of the concert was old Samuel Wesley's motet for a double choir, In exitu Israel," which was vigorously performed, and roused, for the time, the audience from their evident state of weariness. The second part of the concert was worse still ; for it consisted almost entirely of songs and ballads accompanied on the piano, such as one can hear at any ordinary benefit concert.
Such a concert calls for some notice, not on its own account, but as coming from a society which makes such mighty professions. We sus- pect that it is an illustration of the adage, "too many cooks spoil the broth." The Executive Council consists of eighteen members—a hete- rogeneous mixture of professional musicians, music-sellers, lawyers, di- vines, and other amateurs ; and the result seems to show that, in the multitude of such counsellors, there is not wisdom. Perhaps a "Reform Bill" brought into the society's legislature, might have some good effect in improving its constitution. There have been this week two better concerts than the above : the New Philharmonic, and that of the Amateur Musical Society. Dr. Wylde, alone and unassisted, gave an excellent and highly successful performance. It included Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony," Mendelssohn's Overture, "Fingers Cave," Auber's " Masaniello," Berlioz's Hungarian March," and Mozart's panoforte Concerto in E flat, magnificently executed by Miss Arabella Goddard. Several fine vocal pieces, too, were sung by Madame Sainton Dolby and Miss Augusta Thomson, a young lady who, it will be remembered, gained the highest honours at the Paris Conservatoire, and made her debilt here last season with distinguished success. The concert of the Amateur Society gave satisfactory proof of the great progress made by the orchestra under the able direction of Mr. Henry Leslie. A youthful pianist, Miss Fanny Howell, (the daughter of an eminent contrabassist) displayed much talent in the performance of one of Sterndale Bennett's Concertos; and Miss Rose, a young lady of family and fashion showed, by her brilliant and musicianlike execution of one
of Louisa fashion, most difficult bravuras, how thoroughly many of our female amateurs are instructed in music.
There was a performance of judos Illaceabeus at St. Martin's Hall on Wednesday evening, under the direction of Mr. Ilullah, which would have been an excellent one, but it was marred by the unexpected indis- position of Mr. Sims Reeves, who was consequently unable to sing ; and his airs in this oratorio are of such a nature that no one can supply his place even tolerably. The other principal parts were very well sus- tained by Miss Banks, Miss Palmer, and Mrs. Thomas.
The London Glee and Madrigal Union began on Monday last, at St. James's Hall, a new series of their delightful performances, which are to be given daily till the end of next week. The hopes of the recovery of poor Jullien have been disappointed. He died on Wednesday last, in the maison de sante where he had been placed. The subscription set on foot here for his benefit is continued for his widow and surviving relatives, who, it appears, stand in the ut- most need of relief.
Wagner's famous opera, Tannhausen about the merits of which there has been such violent controversy, is to be produced next season at Paris, with the utmost splendour. The preparations for its performance, says the Gazette Musicale, are actually begun. A grand opera on the subject of Byronta Don Juan, by Victor Masse, is about to be performed at the Theatre Lyrique. Flotow, the author of Martha, has obtained another success by his new opera on the subject of Shakespeare's Winter's Tale, brought out at Schwerin.
A Chair of Music has been created at the University of Leipzig, and Herr Langer has been appointed to the professorship.
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