The Philharmonic Society concluded its season on Monday. The eighth
concert presented only one novelty—a symphony by Ferdinand Hiller, a composer of considerable reputation in Germany, who has been in London for some months, and conducted the performance in person. The symphony is of the descriptive kind ; it is entitled "Impressions in the Country, and each movement is an endeavour to raise images in the mind similar to those produced by the view of rural scenery—the fields, the vallies, the woods, and the mountains. This is tasking music beyond its powers; and, it is hardly necessary to say, the attempt proved a failure. The symphony, however, is a musicianlike work ; not rich in original ideas, but symmetrically Constructed, clearly written, containing many agreeable passages, and showing much skill in orchestral combination. At an ordinary concert it would have given pleasure; but the Philharmonic audience are so accustomed to the masterpieces of Beethoven and Mozart, that works of an inferior class are always received with coldness and impa- tience, being regarded as intrusive substitutes for some old favourite which they prevent from being heard. The other symphony was Mendelssohn's in A minor—the "Scotch Symphony" as it is called. Vieuxtemps played Beethoven's only concerto for the violin, as no other violinist in Europe, we verily believe, could have played it. Spohr was present ; and, on the occasion of his overture to Jessonda being performed, the whole audience rose en masse, and, turning towards the illustrious veteran, cheered him loudly ; a mark of respect which he acknowledged by repeated bows. The vocal music was excellent ; Clara Novello and Gardoni being the singers.
The concerts of the season have been very successful ; and it is un- questionable that the most successful have been those most entirely com- posed of the great and known productions of the art.
The Musical Union had its usual extra matinee at the close of the sea- son, for the benefit of Mr. Ella the director, on Tuesday : and the Quartet Association had its concluding performance on Wednesday morning. Both these societies (as our musical readers are aware) are precisely eimilar in their plan and in the character of their concerts. Both have been carried on successfully this season ; and the encouragement given to both shows the increasing attention bestowed on the most refined descriptions of chamber-music.
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