MR. MONTAGUE PHILLIPS'S CONCERT. The concert of his own compositions given by Mr. Montague Phillips at Queen's Hall on May 17 firmly established his claims as a composer to be considered. It served the important object of introducing to the public his new Symphony in C minor-his first effort in this momentous form. His previous preparation for the task was revealed in the performance of his tone-poem 'Boadicea,' his Pianoforte concerto (with Miss Irene Scharrer as soloist), and his Symphonic Scherzo. Its benefit was clearly shown in the firmer and more experienced constructive workmanship of the Symphony, and the ease with which the composer has built upon his ideas. These are often of great beauty, and their treatment passes from grave to gay in a constantly varied series of moods and colours. It is open-air music, recognizably English without recourse to a folk-song idiom. The only other new work in the programme was the attractive song, 'A soul's anguish,' sung by Mr. Wilfrid Douthitt. Several of Mr. Phillips's lyrics were heard for the first time with orchestral accompaniment, gaining an additional effect that was heightened by the sympathetic singing of Miss Clara Butterworth. The audience was very large and enthusiastic. London Concerts. THE HANDEL SOCIETY. With Beethoven's 'Mount of Olives' and Humperdinck's 'Die Wallfahrt nach Kevlaar' in the programme of their concert at Queen's Hall on May 13, the Handel Society kept up their reputation for independence of choice. The share taken by the choir in the performance of 'The Mount of Olives' had all the merits which its rather scant opportunities allowed. The choralists had a wider scope for their abilities in Humperdinck's charming work, and showed the benefits of their training at the hands of Mr. S. Coleridge-Taylor. The solo parts in the above works were taken by Miss Marietta Amstad, Miss Mary Strangways, Mr. Wilbur Reed, and Mr. Bevington Rosse. The orchestral numbers were Beethoven's 'Egmont' Overture, Bizet's L'Arlésienne' Suite, and the programme concluded with Schumann's Requiem for Mignon.' The audience, as is usual at these concerts, was very numerous. It is not often that an important orchestral work is produced by an amateur orchestra, and Mr. J. D. Davis is to be congratulated upon securing the first performance of his Suite Cleopatra' at the hands of the Strolling Players, under Mr. Joseph Ivimey's direction, on April 23. Based upon Rider Haggard's story, and originally conceived as incidental to a stage version, the work is full of picturesque suggestiveness and facile colouring. The soloists of the concert were Miss Carmen Hill and Mr. Percy Grainger. Mr. Donald F. Tovey has given this season's series of Chelsea' Concerts at Eolian Hall, but has wisely retained the name that has become associated with their artistic value. The first programme, given on April 24, contained Pianoforte trios by Brahms and Schubert, and was varied with songs contributed by Dr. Georg Henschel. The second, on May 1, was devoted to chamber works by Mr. Tovey. The third, on May 6, consisted of a Clarinet and Pianoforte sonata by Mr. Tovey, the Trio for the same instruments and violoncello by Brahms, and Bach's Suite in D minor for violoncello. The violoncellist was Señor Casals. The fourth concert, on May 15, consisted of a Chopin recital by Mr. Tovey. At the fifth, on May 22, it was arranged that Señor Casals and Mr. Tovey should play Beethoven's four Sonatas for violoncello and pianoforte. Mr. Hubert Bath's 'The Wedding of Shon Maclean' was performed attractively by the Central London Choral and direction of Mr. David J. Thomas. Orchestral Society at Portman Rooms on May 3, under the Miss Helena Spicer the solo vocalists. and Mr. F. Proctor-Brown were Bantock's clever choral arrangement of The Cruiskeen Lawn' was in the programme. Señor Casals gave a concert at Queen's Hall on May 4, with the help of the Queen's Hall Orchestra under Sir Henry Wood, which served to introduce M. Maurice Ravel's new orchestral suite, 'La mère l'oie' (Mother goose), a series of some of the composer's most characteristically delicate fancies. Señor Casals's playing in Violoncello concertos by Tartini and Dvorák, and in the C major Suite of Bach, was as usual beyond description. The Wilhelm Sachse Orchestra, not behindhand in ambition or fifth attainment, played Tchaikovsky's Symphony with confident and efficient execution and high expressive meaning at Queen's Hall on May 8, under the direction of Mr. Sachse. The amateur instrumentalists also supplied helpful accompaniment to the refined interpretation of Schumann's Pianoforte concerto given by Mr. Frank Merrick. The vocalist was Miss Dorothy Silk. Mrs. Margaret Meredith gave a concert of her works at Eolian Hall on May 9, with the assistance of the London Glee Club under Mr. Arthur Fagge. The simple dignity of her style was exemplified in settings of Kipling's Recessional' and Owen Seaman's The passing of King Edward,' and in her 'Sursum Corda.' Miss Phyllis Lett and Miss Fannie Goldsborough interpreted groups of Mrs. Meredith's songs, and instrumental support was given by the composer at the pianoforte, Mr. G. Parkington (violoncellist), and by Mr. Julius Harrison at the organ. The performance of a Symphony by Mr. Frederic Lamond at Queen's Hall on May 9 served as a reminder that he is an able composer as well as a distinguished pianist. It is a genial, easily intelligible work, in a style that was not advanced at the period of its composition, which occurred in 1889. Sir Henry Wood conducted the Queen's Hall Orchestra in the Symphony and in the accompaniments to Beethoven's G major Pianoforte concerto, finely played by Mr. Lamond, and Brahms's Violin concerto, played by M. Szigeti. Bach's third 'Brandenburg concerto,' Dvorák's E major Serenade, 'A dream pageant,' by Mr. Frank Merrick, and other works were played by the Woltmann Orchestra at Bechstein Hall on May 9. Miss Evangeline Livens, a small pianist, played her own 'Impromptu.' An interesting programme of music in which the harp is concerned was given by Mr. Alfred Kastner at Steinway Hall on May 10. A Suite by Julius Wachsman for harp, violin, viola and violoncello was given for the first time in England, as was also a Fantasie by Galeotti for harp alone. A new Suite by Hilse for flute and harp, and Liszt's 23rd Psalm for soprano (Miss Elisabeth Munthe-Kaas), harp and organ, were performed, and twelve harps were heard together in an arrangement of the 'Rakoczy March.' Mr. Kastner's chief assistants were Mr. F. B. Kiddle (organ), Mr. A. Fransella (flute), Mr. S. Dyke (violin), Mr. R. Jeremy (viola) and Mr. John Mundy (violoncello). A bright-toned Ladies' Choir of twenty to thirty voices, formed by Mr. E. van der Straeten from the chorus of The Miracle,' was heard under his direction at Clavier Hall on May 10. The occasion served to introduce the conductor's pleasantly-written part-songs, 'Maids are simple,' 'The curfew,' and 'Crabbed age and youth,' among which the last was specially attractive. The selections from Herr Siegfried Wagner's operas played by the London Symphony Orchestra under his direction at the Albert Hall on May 12 were inevitably subjected to damaging comparisons. To some extent these are invited by the frank or perhaps unconscious echoing of the father's music in the son's. Herr Siegfried's works cannot claim depth or striking inspiration, but they have undeniable technical merit and often considerable artistic refinement. The operas represented were 'Bruder Lustig,' 'Sternengebot,' Banadietrich,' 'Der Kobold,' Herzog Wildfang, and 'Schwarz-Schwanenreich.' Frau Hafgren-Waag and Herr Kirchoff were the vocalists. The programme also included excerpts from Richard Wagner's works. A Suite for flute and small orchestra by the pianist, Mr. F. S. Kelly, was played at Queen's Hall by Mr. A. Fransella and the orchestra under Sir Henry Wood's direction on May 15. It is refined, subtle, and simple. Mr. Kelly played Beethoven's G major Pianoforte concerto. The Smallwood-Metcalfe Choir broke little fresh ground for their concert at Queen's Hall on May 15. Mr. G. A. Alcock's When I am dead, my dearest,' the only novelty in the programme, proved agreeably melodious. The famous St. Petersburg Quartet gave a Tchaikovsky concert at Bechstein Hall on May 17. On May 21 they were joined by Mr. Hans Ebell in an ideal performance of Arensky's Pianoforte quintet, and were heard separately in quartets by Beethoven and Schubert. At both concerts they showed the qualities in which they are unsurpassed. The Misses Adila, Jelly and Hortense Arányi, assisted by Madame Fanny Davies, Mr. Frank Bridge, and Mr. Percy Such, gave a varied and interesting concert at Eolian Hall on May 17. The programme included Dvorák's Pianoforte quintet. A concert was given by the students of Trinity College of Music on May 20, when several capable vocalists and instrumentalists appeared. The former were Miss Augusta T. Tromp, Miss Margaret E. Gibson, Miss Evelyn Goudie and Mr. Rodolphe Gaillard. Among the latter, Master Alfred J. Tyler showed promise as a pianist of technical attainments. Mr. Sydney H. Sheppard (organist), Miss Blanche Laughton, with a movement from Lalo's "Symphonie Espagnole' for the violin, and Miss Edna Purdie, a pianist of some advancement, made agreeable contributions. At the end Misses Edith Bird, Aileen Butler and Kathleen Thompson were heard in a movement from a Pianoforte trio in B minor, by Edward Cutler, K.C. VOCAL RECITALS. Miss Kathro Bentincke, Bechstein Hall, April 23-Three songs from 'The bard of Dimbovitza,' Liza Lehmann. Miss Speranza Calo, Bechstein Hall, April 24-Six sacred songs, Beethoven. Mr. Leon Rains, Bechstein Hall, April 25-' Der Wanderer,' Schubert. M. Zareh Tiratzian, Queen's Small Hall, April 26—Russian and Armenian Songs. Mlle. Johanna Fèrina, Bechstein Hall, April 30—‘Batti, batti,' Mozart. Mr. Roland Jackson, Æolian Hall, May 1-'It was a lover and his lass,' Morley. Mr. Paul Reimers, Bechstein Hall, May 3- Alte Laute ’ and Der Soldat,' Schumann. Mr. Vernon d'Arnalle, Eolian Hall, May 6-Four serious songs, Brahms. Miss Leila Duart, Bechstein Hall, May 7-Songs by Erich Wolff. Mr. Ernest Groom, Eolian Hall, May 9-'O nuit Déesse Madame Lavalle, Steinway Hall, May 9-Songs by du mystère,' Piccini. A. von Fielitz. Miss Kathleen Bruckshaw, Æolian Hall, April 30-' Tragic' and Keltic' Sonatas, MacDowell. Herr Johan Wysman, Bechstein Hall, April 30—Fantasia in F sharp minor, Mendelssohn. M. Raoul Pugno, Queen's Hall, May 1—' Faschingsschwank aus Wien,' Schumann. Mr. Arthur Rubinstein, Bechstein Hall, May 1 and 6— Mr. Ernst von Lengyel, Bechstein Hall, May 4 and 14- |