The second Philharmonic concert, on Monday, was honoured with the
presence of the Queen and Prince Albert, the Duke of Wellington, and an audience which completely filled the room.
The programme contained nothing that was not well known to ama- teurs, yet it furnished the materials of a delightful concert. There was but one symphony, the Pastorale of Beethoven; but, en revanche, the three overtures were each a chef d'ceuvre,—Mendelssohn's Neerstille end Gliieklich Fahrt, Cherubini's Les Dear Iournees, and Weber's Ilukr of the Spirits. The fine scene of Fidelio, Florestan in his dungeon, was sung by Sims Reeves • the duet from the Zauberjlete, "La dove prende," by Cas- tellon and Ronconi; Mendelssohn's aria, " Ah ritorna, eta del' ore," sung by Castellan at the previous concert, was repeated by desire of the Royal visitors ; Ronconi sang the simple and pathetic.. air of old Straddle, "So i miei sospiri" ; and Rossini's charming and picturesque dad, "I mari- nari," was sung by Reeves and Ronconi. Piatti and Bottesini played a duet on the violoncello and double-bass,—marvellous fiddling, but that was all.
It was an animated concert, and evidently pleased everybody. It was about half an hour shorter than usual; which was all the better, for these concerts are often too protracted.
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