THE MUSICIAN ABOUT TOWN. 141 



the second evening, a bouquet of choice flowers was placed between 

 the leaves of his score on his desk. 



The principal singers were — sopranos^ Miss Clara Novello, and 

 Madlle. Fassman, from the opera at Berlin ; alto, Madlle. Schloss, 

 from Cologne ; tenor, Herr Schmidt, from Leipsig, who undertook 

 the songs at a very short notice, in consequence of Herr Schmetzer, 

 from Brunswick (who was engaged as tenor) being prevented from 

 attending by his other engagements ; and the bass, Herr Hinze, from 

 Diisseldorf. 



The chorus was chiefly composed of amateurs ; and it was pleasant 

 to recognise amidst them some of the most celebrated painters of 

 Germany, among others, Hildebrandt, Schirmer, &c. Every re- 

 hearsal, which was crowded, may be said to have been a rehearsal to 

 both audience and performers, since it enabled them to become ac- 

 quainted with this grand music, and which requires thoroughly know- 

 ing to appreciate ; and, from not having been performed for so many 

 years, it must have been quite new to a large proportion of the 

 hearers. 



The opening recitative, " Comfort ye," was but an indifi"erent per- 

 fortnance in our judgment, who had so vivid a recollection of Braham 

 in the same piece. The bass singer, also, was somewhat out of tune 

 in " But who may abide," but he afterwards improved. " He 

 shall purify," " For unto us," and " His yoke is easy," were sung as 

 both quartett and chorus ; and not so those which are always taken 

 in that manner in England — " Their sound is gone out," and '' Lift 

 up your heads." We do not, however, like the efi^ect so well, espe- 

 cially in the " For unto us," where its majesty of character is totally 

 destroyed. The alto was rather tame in " O thou that tellest," and 

 the bass recitative and air, " The people that walked in darkness/' 

 was taken a thought too fast. " There were shepherds" was charm- 

 ingly sung ; as also " Rejoice greatly," which in Germany is usually 

 taken by the tenor : but the triumph of Miss Clara Novello's singing 

 was the " I know that my Redeemer," and which was so great a fa- 

 vourite at the court of Berlin that, whatever may have been per- 

 formed in the course of the evening, the crown prince always de- 

 manded that air of the singer. " He shall feed" is performed in 

 four alternate passages, and not two, as in England. We do not like 

 the effect of it. Madlle. Schloss's best song was " He was despised," 

 but her style is unfinished. Madlle. Fassmann sang " Behold and 

 see," and " Thou didst not leave." This is the artist so celebrated 

 for her performance in Gluck's operas. She was engaged from Berlin 



