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Leader (1850-1860), 1st September 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 21, BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. BASSETT.—...

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      "Eli" At The Birmingham Festival. {From,...

      "ELI" AT THE BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL . { From , a Correspondent . " ) .. . Birmingham , "Wednesday evening . T o-day , the 29 th of August , Mr , Costa ' s new oratorio , Eli , was performed for the first time . The interest of the entire festival was concentrated on this day , upon this one performance ; in fact , it may be said to have been the climax of the festival . It had been the sole topic of conversation in Birmingham circles for some time before its production ; it had been anxiously looked forward to by the musical public throughout England ; and , however great the attraction Offered to the lovers of music on the other days of the festival , by the performance of such works as Elijah and the Messiah , still it was Eli that brought to

      Birmingham the creme of the artists , professors , and amateurs of this countryit was Eli that gave to the Festival of 1855 a European importance . Need we wonder , then , that the greatest excitement prevailed—that it was , even to the uninitiated , an occasion of all-absorbing interest ? Whatever may have been the expectations of the most sanguine , they were Surpassed by the success of the . work . Never was a triumph more complete , never a verdict of the public more unanimous . No conventional rule of etiquette or custom could prevent the assembly from manifesting their feelings of approbation and admiration ; they applauded to the echo , and redemanded many pieces . The manner in which performers and audience joined in the ovation could ' only be the effect of spontaneous enthusiasm . The book of words is written by Mr . W . Bartholomew ; the subject is taken from the first four chapters of the Book of Samuel . There is great dramatic

      variety in it ; and though at times this dramatic variety is almost too dramatic to be sacred ( shall we say , too theatrical to be oratorio-like ?) , still there is no doubt that it affords ample room for the display of science and invention on the part of the composer— -and this , in a libretto of any kind , is a real merit . It seemed to us , nevertheless , that there was not a sufficient degree of variety in the separate characters—that , though there was individuality of character , there was not sufficient variety of feeling and emotion . Eli is always devotional ; Samuel remains always a child ; Hannah ( Samuel ' s mother ) is the only character for which we feel a lively , varied interest : she is sorrowful at first , happy and thankful in the end . To spea"k of the merit of each piece of music individually would , to say the least , be difficult ; and when , as in this case , the public has decided so favourably and so unanimously , it would be almost superfluous . The Birmingham audience

      —the same that on this day nine years ago ( 1846 ) decided the fame of Mendelssohn ' s Elijah—has now given its approval of Eli : what more need be said ? We hope to have an opportunity of hearing the oratorio performed during the winter season by the Sacred Harmonic Society in London , and we cannot doubt that it will there meet with equal success , and establish a classical renown . The principal parts were sustained by Madame Castellan ( Hannah ) , Madame Viardot ( Samuel ) , Herr Formes ( Eli ) , and Mr . Sims Beeves iEVtanah ) . Besides these , Mr . Weiss took the part of the Man of God , and Herr Keichabdt the part of Hophm , and a messenger . ¦ " It may be asked : could the production of Mr . Costa ' s work have been en trusted \ o worthier hands , or have been more perfectly executed ? Generally speaking , jlo ; individually speaking , yes . A little more precision and better intonation on the part of Herr Formes , and a little more singing and less vociferating Oft the part ot Mr . Reeves , would have contributed greatly to the general good

      effect of the concerted music . These two artists , great as their popularity is at present , and deservedly so , should remember what is due to the public ; and that a fine voice in one , and a few occasional outbursts in the other , are not sufficient to maintain them in that high position to wliich they very reasonably aspire . Already does Mr . Weiss , with his true and artistically-cultivated yoice , slowly , but steadily , progress in public favour , and threaten ultimately to unseat the great German basso from his somewhat arrogant supremacy . The two ladies were irreproachable . Madame Viardot had conceived the part of Samuel in a grandly simple and fervent spirit ; she entered deeply into the part , gave her whole soul to it , and may be said to have created the part of Samuel as Bhe has created all thoze great dramatic characters in which she has appeared . Madame Castellan ' s clear , silvery voice and perfect vocalisation were a treat indeed , and told remarkably in the fine hall ; nor do we know which to admire most , the mellow plaintiveness of her tones when she appeals direct to

      your heart , or the happy brilliancy with which she soars like a lark into the skies , carrying your spirit with her , and delighting the soul within you . The pieces repeated by desire of the President , and redemanded by the audience , were , in the first part , the air and chorus , " Let the people praise thee , sung by Herr Formes—a very devotional piece , the melody of which 1 frr , ? ° n T f . in th f , chorus , "God be merciful unto us ; " the chorus , « The Lord is good , ' with an obligate harp accompaniment , in which the sopranos lead the calm , tranquil melody , answered successively in the fugue style ; ^ and the war piece , sung by Mr . Sims Reeves , and the chorus , " Philistin ' Ifw' 6 trumPet sounding" with its trumpet flourishes , and fine , spirited coda , " War , war , war agamst the Israelites ! " which produced an immense sensation , and is certainly one of the most successful pieces in the whole work . In the second part , Samuel ' s morning prayer , " Lord , from my bed again I rise , " exquisitely delivered by Madame Viardot ; the Quartet , " We bless you in the name of the Lord , " sung by Mesdames Viardot and Castellan , Herr Formes and Mr . Reeves , an excellent specimen of four-part writing which was given with the most finished accuracy ; and the chorus of angels " No evil shall befal thee , " as peaceful and comforting to the soul as a beatific

      trance . Nor must it be supposed that these are the only good pieces in the work , or that they are very much better than many other pieces that were not redemanded . The whole oratorio is full of " points " and effects , as beautiful as they are new , as appropriate as they are noble , but which , at the first performance , are apt to pass unobserved , owing either to the profusion of beauty that surrounds them , or to the wise discretion of the public in not disturbing too often the general effect by indiscriminate applause . Among the pieces that pleased us particularly , we mention the first chorus , " Let us go to ipray before the Lord . " The subject is started by the female voices in thirds , and pleasingly and naturally worked in a fugue , finished with the very effective Stretta , " The Earth is the Lord ' s . " " The Ungodly Revel , " in which Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas are

      carousing with the women in the precincts of 'the temple , is a most characteristic composition ; it has an obligato tambourine accompaniment , and the imposing tones of the trombones accompanying the priests in their reproof , " Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning , " interrupting , though not arresting the revel , form , altogether , a picture as plainly and vividly drawn as the nature and limits of oratorio will allow . But the piece with which we were most delighted is that long scene commencing with the chorus * ' Hold not thy peace , " continuing to the fugue " So persecute them , " with its " battle " . of violins , and concluding with the chorus and former march to the words " God and King of Jacob ' s nation . " We are not afraid to say that this long and elaborate piece is one that would alone make the reputation of the oratorio—that it is a masterpiece of grand conception and immense effect . Another of the fine episodes is Samuel ' s air , " This night I lift my

      head to Thee , " so childlike and religious , such as befits the prayer of the child-prophet ; it is continued where Samuel lies down to sleep with the words " Blessthe Lord , O my soul , " with the soft sweet organ tone to the angel ' s words , " The Lord is thy keeper . " Here was an opportunity for inspiration to conceive , for invention to portray ; and wonderfully has the composer succeeded , for during the whole piece the illusion is complete . Nothing could exceed the delicacy with which Madame Viardot gave it f there is but one word for it—perfection . The chorus , amounting to 160 voices , and the band , numbering 340 , forming a total of 500 chosen performers , executed the whole of the music in a manner really marvellous . Admitting that the oratorio was written by Costa—by a man who , of all others , understands how to treat the voices and how to write for the orchestra , how to produce certain effects without overcharging any one instrument or part ; admitting that the whole had been studied under the the and also that

      superintendence and direction of composer ; admitting the composer was no stranger to either chorus or orchestra , still it was evident that something above the ordinary amount of attention and precision bestowed on general occasions stimulated each one of them with a desire to contribute his or her mite to the good effect of the whole , to sing and play their best , to do honour to the work of their respected Chief . This only can account for so consummate a performance , and such a tribute of esteem must be as dear a boon to Mr . Costa as the praise and applause of the multitude . - The hall was filled by a very fashionable audience , amounting to about seventeen hundred persons . The great event of the festival has now come offgloriously for all concerned in it , not omitting the Committee . Many visitors are already leaving Birmingham by the excursion trains ; two days more , and then we return again to the music of our steam-engines , and the poetry of our furnaces * F . B ,

      Treasury, Auqust 28. — Her Majesty Has B...

      Treasury , Auqust 28 . — Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint the Right Hon . Robert Lowe to bo her Majesty ' s Paymaster-General . The Anerley Poultry Show took place this weekl The collection of birds was extremely beautiful and interesting , and will no doubt have a beneficial effect upon the different breeds . A Firm " safe for any Amount . "—Messrs . Barratt and Wilson , calico-printers of Manchester , having been requested to furnish Messrs . J . P . Hall and Co ., shipowners of Liverpool , with goods to the amount of 647 / ., were referred to the North and South Wales Bank for a character as to solvency . The account given by the Bank was that the Messrs . Hall wore " safe for any business engagement they were likely to undertnke . " The goods were furnished , and , in leas than a fortnight , the firm stopped payment for 22 , 000 / , with assets not likely to yield 5 a . in the pound . It then came out that , at tho time tho testimony was given , the firm was largely overdrawn at tho bank ; that 630 / . subsequently raised on tho shipment of the goods , had been paid to the bank in diminution of their debt to it ; and that they owed two hundred pounds to a previous banker . An action for damages was brought against tho North and South Wales Bank ; but the jury , for some extraordinary reason , found a verdict in its favour , adding that they desired to " exonerate" it ! Thb Kino of Abyssinia has prohibited slavery , renounced polygamy , banished tho Jesuits , and is anxious that eomo European mechanics , particularly masons , printers , and gunmakoru , should settle in his country . Convocation having been adjourned to Thursday , Aujust 30 th , the two Houses mot on that day : but

      their proceedings were merely formal , and the Chambers were further prorogued till October the 24 th . Australia . —Tlte affairs of tho colony of Victoria are not in a satisfactory state . The budget of the Colonial Secretary for 1855 shows a deficit of 600 , 000 / ., and a proposal for additional taxes in the shape of a stamp duty and ten per cent , ad valorem on all imported goods at present free , has been defeated in tho Legislative Council by a resolution that no additional taxes shall be imposed this session . With regard to the Government Bill on the Chinese immigration question , it appears that the plan was to put a tax of 5 / . on each Chinaman imported , and to limit ships to bring only one passenger to every ten tons register . Tho latter clause has been adopted , but the Council has made an alteration in the former , raising tho sum to 10 / ., which tho Government has not confirmed . — Times , Islington Literary and Scientific Society . —Mr . "W . E . Jenkins , formerly Secretary of tho Marylebono Literary and Scientific Institution , has been elected Librarian of this Society , in tho place of Mr . Joseph Simpson , who has resigned in consequence of having embraced a favourable opportunity of going into business at Tunbridgo Wells . It is tho intention of tho Committee and Mumbers to express their very high sense of Mr . Simpson ' zealous , faithful , and valuable sorvices , during a period of eight years , by presenting him with a handsome testimonial on his departure .

      Fltom The London Gazette. Tuosday, Augus...

      FltOM THE LONDON GAZETTE . Tuosday , August 28 . [ BANKRUPTS . —George Sixto Bayley . Crown-court , Philpot-lano , commission agont - Joshi'H Milmsr , Piccadilly , ( lshinoMKoi '—John Wisr , Bournemouth , Hainpshlro , coal niorohant— Edward Firkin Er . Lia , | lato of Jlondon ,

      and Royal Exchange-buildings , stockbroker—TnoMAS Edward Shales , Brighton , llncndraper— Samuel Jennings , Iun ., Goswell-strect , carver and gildor— Robert Wall , 'iccadilly , saddler—Ellis Cutlan , Newport , Monmouthshire , cabinetmaker—Edward Roberts , Sfcrotford , Lancashire , lioensed victualler . SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS . —W . Skinner , Glasgow , builder—A . Morton , Kilmarnook , manufacturer—J ) . Smith , Leith , shipping agent . Friday , August 31 . BANKRUPTS . — William Taylor , Gloucester , hardware dealer—Andrew Dempster , Liverpool , stonemason and buildor- -John Strong , jun ., Birkonhcad , steamboat owner—Israel Cowan and Mark Braham , Aldgato Highstreet , waterproof clothing manufacturers — Benjamin Burlington Wale and George Charleb Da we , Chancery-lane , builders—JAMEB Burqui Gough , Bivor-torraco , Islington , timber merchant—William Mortimer . Morloy , Yorkshire , cloth manufacturer—Thomas Banks , Bradford , washing , wringing , and mangling machine maker— William Charles Holland , Lincoln , grocer—Thomas Adamson and Henry Hunter Bell , Sundorland , curriers and leather cutters . SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS . —Alexander Gumming , Inverncss-shiro , farmer—John Byan , Now Curonock , innkeeper .

      Births, Marriages, And Deaths. Bassett.—...

      BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS . BASSETT . —August 20 , at Loighton Buzzard , t / io wife of Francis Bassott , Esq .: tliroo dauglitora . ,, - « , „ , „„ Eao MOSWLEY .-Auguat 20 , tho lndy of Ocorgo Moaoloy , Laq .. M . B . O . S .: twins prematurely . ,, Augustus PEEL .-AugUHt 20 , at Starcrosa , Dovon , Mrs . Augustus Pool : a son , stillborn . . nTtT . s ¦ raEH ^^ SASSaS , J ^ r ^ UiuihhiN 7 bnT' -Aup : mt lfith . at Clonova , bog & Awk- r ^ AtQn . to Mario Ellao llufonaoht , of Oonova .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 1, 1855, page 21, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_01091855/page/21/