CONCERT BY THE PUPILS OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
THE annual concert, at which the prizes are distributed to the pupils of the Academy, was given at the Hanover Square Rooms on Thursday morning. The object of this institution, as stated in its prospectus, is to "enable those who pursue music, to enter into competition with, and rival the natives of other countries." Now, judging from the performance of Thursday, the attainment of this object, as far as the vocal department of the Academy is concerned, has wholly failed. Twenty young ladies appeared in the orchestra, and three young gentlemen, not one of whom exhibited either natural or acquired powers beyond a bare mediocrity ; those to whom the principal parts were allotted acquitting themselves no better in any respect than hundreds of amateurs, having the same music to sing, would have done. And yet the Directors, in their report, congratulate the subscribers on the complete success of the undertaking. If with such a measure of success they are content, we Can only hope, for the sake of these poor girls and boys, to whom such, flattering prospects are held out, that the public will be as easily satisfied : but we cannot, in common bonesty, echo such a delusion. Of the instrumental performances we have a very different tale to tell. BLAGROVE, SEYMOUR, LUCAS, PATEY, and DANIELS, are already excellent performers. The Concertante Quartet for four violins, by MAuasa, was admirably played ; and DANIEL'S Horn Concerto did him great credit. The other wind instruments are but feeble. The vocal music was (with the exception of " Sento, o Dio," and the compositions of the pupils) from the most hacknied pieces of Rossixr and MaacanaNre. With the style Of MOZART the singers did not appear to be very familiar ; we scarcely believed it possible for his exquisite Quintet to assume so dull a character. A Quintet and Chorus by LUCAS received the deserved tribute of an encore. It was one of the best pieces of the scheme.
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