140 THE MUSICIAN ABOUT TOWN. 



humbler citizens and tradespeople to partake of the performances. 

 We have little doubt that the committee will, on every account, con- 

 gratulate the result of their extended plan of accommodation. Miss 

 Clara Novello is engaged to make her first public appearance upon 

 her return to England at the Worcester Festival, which will com- 

 raencei on the 10th of September. 



THE MUSICIAN OUT OF TOWN. 



The following is a brief report of the late Diisseldorf Festival, 

 and which we happily were enabled to attend. Mendelssohn was 

 conductor, and the first morning's performance (I9th of May) con- 

 sisted of the " Messiah," the first time for twenty years since it has 

 been given at any of the Rhine festivals. The chorusses, taken alto- 

 gether, were very good, especially the trebles and basses. The effect 

 of female voices in the altos is not so powerful and piercing as when 

 that part is taken by men, but it is more agreeable. The band, ge- 

 nerally speaking, wanted unity ; but this is to be accounted for by its 

 being formed of amateurs as well as professors, who all assemble 

 from adjacent districts. 



We have heretofore spoken of Mendelssohn as a conductor. His 

 exertions upon the present occasion were gigantic. At the rehearsal 

 his unwearied patience, his vast orchestral knowledge, his playful, yet 

 firm and persuasive manners, were all conspicuous. He harangued 

 the bahd with admirable tact and humour, making them shout with 

 laughter and applause. On one occasion he told them, in some piano 

 passage, that doubtless each was anxious to hear his own individual 

 voice or instrument, and he was prepared to acknowledge that it was 

 very fine ; but that if they would each endeavour to listen to their 

 neighbours' beautiful execution, they would proportionately soften 

 their own, and this would produce exactly the piano effect he wanted 

 in that particular passage. Upon another occasion he requested some 

 ambitious performer to alter his style, which too closely resembled 

 the tone of a cat scratching a silk gown. Another time, with an 

 amiable playfulness, he said, " Gentlemen, am I never to hear that 

 passage again as charmingly done as you did it yesterday ?" and in 

 this way he hghtened the toil, of a strenuous rehearsal. He must 

 have been gratified with the honours he received, although, like all 

 true geniuses, he is so modest as rather to shrink from applause. On 



