THE SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY'S PERFORMANCE OF " KLUANE." MENDELSSOHN'S last
great work, the Oratorio of Elijah, was performed yesterday evening at Exeter Hall, under the direction of the author him- self, who had been engaged by the Sacred Harmonic Society to visit this country for the purpose. Our readers may recollect that this oratorio was composed for and first performed at the Birmingham Festival in August last; when we gave a particular account of the subject and its musical treatment. Notwithstanding the unmingled delight and admiration with which it was listened to on that occasion, the composer appears to have been far from satisfied with his work. He so expressed himself to some of his friends at the time; and he has subsequently bestowed much time and labour in revising and improving it. Alterations have been made in the poem as well as the music. In several of the principal passages the lan- guage has been rendered more dramatic; as in the scene in which Jezebel the Queen reminds the people of the crimes committed by Elijah, in a series of brief and rapid questions, each echoed by a choral shout of assent. Some recitatives, which retarded the action, have been removed; the beauti- ful duet of angels, "Lift thine eyes to the mountains," has been made a still more beautiful trio; and the grand choral fugue which forms the finale is entirely new. There are innumerable minute improvements besides; in- deed there is hardly a movement that has not been retouched. This is perhaps a solitary instance of such extensive changes made in a great mu- sical work after it had been not only completed but publicly performed. Its publication, so long retarded on this account, will now, we trust, imme- diately take place.
The performance last night was highly creditable to the Sacred Har- monic Society. Before the composer's arrival, many rehearsals had been bestowed upon it; so that, when he directed the general rehearsal on Wed- neSday, he found the orchestra and chorus by no means unprepared. The principal singers were Phillips, Lockey, Miss Birch, and Miss Dolby : they acquitted themselves very ably, especially Phillips, in the part of the Prophet. A :cvely air, very finely executed by Miss Dolby, was demanded a second time; and the same compliment was paid to one of the quartets, and to the striking " Baal" chorus.
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