DRURY LANE ORATORIOS.
Tnest Lenten exhibitions, which, after having sunk to the lowest pitch of musical degradation, expired a few years since, have been revived under the auspices of Messrs. BUNN and BOCHSA—a worthy fellowship. Having each in his turn and vocation successfully experi- mentalized upon the public gullibility, they have now clubbed their wits to see what could be achieved for their own advantage in " the Oratorio line." Something marvellous must be attempted, something that would outrage common sense and defy probability; something that would cover a double-sized play-bill with characters, names, and letters, large, novel, and strange, and appeal with success to the musical ignorance of the public. This notable scheme developed itself in an announcement that the public would hear "the History of Music for 2500 years " performed in a single evening. And on the first night the house was crowded ; but the success of the scheme does not seem to have answered the projectors' hopes, and " the History " has, this week, been curtailed. Here we think BOCHSA wrong, for we at- tribute its failure to a commencement at too late a period of the art. He began ashy at the music of the Greeks, instead of commencing With th it of the Antediluvians. Ilow interesting would have been the foal duet sung by Adam and Eve, and the chorus of men and beasts in the ark ! Let Mr. BocnsA profit by this hint, and we will answer for his success.
Previous page
