Bericht über das Konzert von C. M. von Weber in London am 26. April 1826

Benefit Concerts
FOR THE SEASON 1826.

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Carl Maria von Weber’s, ‒ Friday, May 26th, at the Argyll Rooms.

On the present occasion a Cantata, entitled The Festival of Peace, by M. von Weber, was performed, with English words written and adapted to it, by Hampden Napier, Esq. This, it should be known, was composed for the King of Saxony, and the poetry, which does not seem very appropriate to our country at the present moment, is, we are informed, translated from the German. There are some fine effects in this Cantata, in two of the chorusses particulary; but it was so imperfectly performed for want of necessary rehearsals, that we cannot pretend to have formed an accurate judgment of its merits. It occupied the whole of the first part of the concert. In the second part a new air, composed for and sung by Miss Stephens, was introduced*), the poetry from Lalla Rookh, and accompanied by M. von Weber himself on the piano-forte. The following are the words to which this composition was set: ‒

Only the melody had been committed to paper. The composer when it was performed supplied the accompaniments from a memory of his design, for the short interval allowed him previously to the concert prevented their being set down in any shape; and it may perhaps become a problem among the musicians of the present day how that can be best filled up which M. von Weber left unfinished.

Mr. Braham sang a scena from the Freischütz, and Miss Paton one from Atalia, by Weber. Mr. Kiesewetter executed a Fantasia on the violin; Mr. Moscheles performed extemporaneously on the piano-forte, and M. Fürstenau gave a Theme from Oberon, with variations, on the flute. Besides these now named, Madame Cardori, Miss Cawse, an Mr. Phillips assisted at the present concert; but we regret to add, and blush for our country when we announce the fact, that the room was not much more than half full, and among the company were very few of the highest class. M. von Weber had scarcely strengh enough left to get through the business as conductor: at the conclusion he threw himself on a sofa, and was so exhausted as to create a considerable alarm in the by-standers. Ten days afterwards he was a corpse!