Besides the fashionable London season, there is another 'towards the
close of. he year, when the more popular kinds of musical entertainment are begun. The various choral societies commence their operations at this time; M. Julien draws his annual crowds to Drury Lane ; and if there is any attempt to revive the expiring English opera, it is always in November or December that it is made. Such an experiment, we are assured, will again be tried this year. Overtures have been made to eminent English performers; -and it is even contemplated to produce Meyerbeer's new opera E Etude Au Hord, adapted to our stage with the author's sanction. After so many failures, 'one 'cannot now be sanguine about the xesult Among the Along performances, those of Mr. Hullah have taken the lead this season. Judas Maeoabanis was performed at St. Martin's Hall last week ; this week the same oratorio has been given by the London Sacred Harmonic Society ; and next week the Sacred Harmonic Society is to commence with Deborah, the score of which bas been newly enriched with wind-instrument parts added by Mr. Costa. Judas Aftweabeeus-was written to celebrate the'victory of-Culloden. The Duke of Cumberland was the first "conquering hero " who was wel- comed by Handel's inspiring strain ; though There is small resemblance between that personage and the last of Judah's heroes, who sustained so nobly the falling fortunes of his country. Nevertheless, the character of the music, in which martial fire is so finely blended with devotion, makes it very suitable to the present frame of the public mind. On both the 'above oecazions it was performed to immense audiences, -and received with marked feeling. Mr. Hullsdi's comparatively small but -compact and 'chosen hand and 'chorus acquitted themselves so well as to produce a greater impression of real power, than the mixed and half-trained multi- tude, nearly three times their number, assembled in Exeter Hall. Judas Maceaberus, however, being written (with a view, no doubt, •to popularity) in a style of studied sinaplizitztand plainness, is of all Handel's ora- torios the easiest to execute ; and its performance on Monday, on the whole, was one of She most satisfactory we.have heard from this society.
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