ANCIENT CONCERTS.
The season of the Ancient Concerts began on Wednesday evening, under the direction of the Duke of Cambridge. The music was partly of a fune- real character, in consequence of the recent death of the Archbishop of York, long a director of these concerts; and the pieces chosen being of a very familiar kind, this portion of the music was dull as well as melancholy. Mademoiselle Alboni's manner of singing Cherubini's beautiful but hack- neyed " 0 salutaris hostia " did not impart to it any new interest. Alboni was more successful in the theatrical pieces, " Non pin di flori," and the famous trio in the Afatrimonio Segreto. As a whole the concert was com- monplace as well as insipid; indicating neither research in selection nor pains in preparation. We never heard such slovenly performance from an orchestra consisting individually of such able members. Mr. W. Farren, a son of the eminent actor, made his vocal debut in the Count's scene from the Nozze di Figaro, containing the fine air " Vedrb mentr' io sospiro." He has good gifts, particularly an excellent baritone voice; but they stand in need of much cultivation. There was nothing else at all noticeable. Royal dukes are probably thinking just now of other things than directing concerts.
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