THE BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL.
The arrangements for the approaching Birmingham Festival, the greatest of all our provincial music-meetings, are now in so forward a state that a brief notice of them may interest our musical readers. It will be held on the 31st of August, and the 1st, 2d, and 3d of September next. The first morning will be devoted to Mendelssohn's Elijah, which was composed expressly for Birmingham, and first performed at the Fes- tival of 1846. Costa's Oratorio of Eli, also composed for Birmingham and produced at the Festival of 1855, will be performed on the second (Wednesday) morning. On the third morning (Thursday) the Oratorio will be The Messiah ; and on the last morning (Friday) a new Oratorio, Judith, by Mr. Henry Leslie, will be produced for the first time. We speak with a knowledge of the merits of this work, when we foretell with confidence, that it will put the seal on the rising re- putation of the young composer. The evening concerts also present objects of interest. At one of them, Handel's serenata, Ads and Galatea, is to be performed with new orchestral accompaniments by ensta. The original score of this charming work is meagre, and was evidently written in haste. It has been said that Mozart enriched it, as he did that of The Messiah; and it was actually performed at one of our
provincial festivals a few years ago, with additional accompaniments, called Mozart's. But there was no proof that they were Mozart's, and very strong intrinsic evidence that they were not. Costa has already shown, by his beautiful additions to the score of Samson, with which this oratorio is always performed at Exeter Hall, how competent he is to execute such a task ; and Avis and Galatea will unquestionably derive new beauties from his skilful and delicate treatment. At another of the evening concerts, Mendelssohn's Festgesang an die _Kindler is to be performed ; a most remarkable work, unknown to the English public. As it demands an immense choir of male voices, which are accompanied by a band entirely of wind-instruments, it can be performed only on some such great occasion as a Birmingham Festival and in a vast locality like the Birmingham Town Hall, The engagements of performers are not yet completed ; but Madame Clara Novelle, Madame Viardot, Miss Dolby, Miss Victoire Balfe, and Mr. Sims Reeves, are among the singers whose services have already been secured.
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