THE MUSICIAN ABOUT TOWN. 130 



The solo singers upon the present occasion were. Miss Wyndham, 

 Miss Cawthorn, 3Iessrs, Bennett, Young, and H. Phillips. The 

 soli movements in the mass were not equally satisfactory ; and with 

 truth, although with regret we say it, they were injured by the in- 

 tractable violence of the second lady just named. So overpowering 

 were her tones, that the several movements were solos for Miss 

 Cawthorn, accompanied by the other singers. 



We witnessed with pleasure the fulfiling of one suggestion in our 

 last report of this society, by the engagement of Sig. Dragonetti. 

 This circumstance induces us to hope that the committee will not 

 lose sight of another thrown out about a year ago, viz. that in their 

 miscellaneous performances they will introduce some of our national 

 choral anthems; above all, for an audience like that at Exeter 

 Hall, where effect naturally makes the strongest appeal, that famous 

 anthem of Dr. Blow, " I was in the spirit." Phillips's fine decla- 

 matory style will tell admirably in the solos, and these responded by 

 the " Hallelujahs" (piano and pianissimo), of the heavenly host, 

 can scarcely fail to produce a strong impression upon the audience. 

 The present article will have gone to press before the next revival 

 will have taken place, which will be the oratorio of " Joshua." 



The benefit concerts have been very numerous, but, we hear, not 

 equally remunerating this season. The most interesting that we 

 attended were, Sig. Benedict's, on account of his rich assemblage of 

 vocal talent, for he was assisted by almost every artist of repute, 

 foreign and native, in the country ; and Mr. Cipriani Potter's, 

 which, for the instrumental division of his programme, was precisely 

 the concert which should be given by the principal of the Royal 

 Academy. This consisted of his own excellent symphony in b flat, 

 and the Pastoral Symphony of Beethoven. Mr. Potter himself 

 performed Mendelssohn's second pianoforte concerto ; a Prelude and 

 Fugue of Sebastian Bach with Dragonetti, who played the pedale 

 part; and some very clever Bravura variations from a theme in his 

 own dramatic composition of " Coradino." Herr David also per- 

 formed a solo ; and the overture to " Der Freischiitz" closed the 

 concert. Mr. Potter, we think, never played in a more masterly 

 manner than upon the present occasion, the more surprising from 

 his having added to his fatigue and anxiety the arduous duty of con- 

 ducting a three hours' performance. 



We notice, by a paragraph in one of the Worcester papers, that 

 the directors of the approaching festival have handsomely considered 

 the suggestion we threw out at the close of the last festival season, 

 with regard to the erection of seats at such prices as to enable the 



