THE MUSICIAN ABOUT TOWN. 



315 



" Welcome back the sweet Spring-time I" are the most popular ; the 

 former having been encored at every performance. The songs " He 

 comes not yet" and " Scenes of my youth," are clear in outline, deli- 

 cate in construction, and expressive of graceful and gentle emotion." 

 Two other solos, sung by Phillips and Seguin, appear to have been 

 addressed to " the groundlings," and they did not fail in their aim ; 

 for, being noisy and vulgar, they were duly appreciated, and unduly 

 honoured. The same report may be made with regard to the over- 

 ture, which, although perhaps the least meritorious of all the music in 

 the piece, was tumultously encored at its first performance. 



In addition to his accomplishment in the theory of his art, Mr. 

 Benedict is not surpassed (we might say equalled) by any professor 

 before the public, in that rare but very valuable acquisition, the being 

 a judicious acconipanyist. He truly waits upon the voice, and with 

 such exquisite tact, keeping the instrument ever subordinate, and 

 watching the singer with so constant an assiduity, that the betrayal of 

 a blunder must be an act of wilfulness on the part of the latter. In 

 this delicate accomplishment we have never met with his equal, except 

 in the late William Russell, organist of the Foundling, and Mr. No- 

 vello, both of whom were consummate accompanyists. 



Having previously stated that only one " novelty" has been pro- 

 duced this season at Drury Lane, we were not unmindful of Mr. 

 Balfe's opera of " Diadeste," which, having been brought out in great 

 haste, and being, moreover, little better than a repetition of the com- 

 poser's reminiscences of modern Italian phrases, it can scarcely claim 

 the merit of novelty. Mr. Balfe's deficiency in original thought 

 being so palpable as to be universally acknowledged, it is to be re- 

 gretted that this clever and intelligent musician (which he certainly 

 is) should sacrifice his interests so far as to scramble together and 

 botch up, at a week's notice, the crudities of a flimsy school, however 

 fashionable. 



Mr. H. Phillips also produced, at his own benefit, an unpretending 

 opera, entitled " Harvest Home," the words and music by himself. 

 It was not favourably received ; but as a courteous tolerance is al- 

 ways observed towards the productions of an artist at his own benefit, 

 some of the critics in the daily press were doubly ungracious in treat- 

 ing with uncalled-for severity the praise-worthy attempt of a singer 

 whose appearance before the public is always attended with welcome 

 and approbation. 



Since the production qtf Rooke'a delightful opera of - Amitie" last 

 year, no work of importance has been brought forward at the Covent 



