The Mendelssohn evening under the auspices of the Shanghai Literary and Debating Society on Tuesday at the Lyceum was participated in by one of the largest and most appreciative audiences that have ever filled the theatre.
The lecture on the great Masterby the Rev.
C, Hodges, M.A., who treated his sub: ject in a lucid, interesting, and sympathetic
and the lecturer proved himself quite manner, was listened to with great interest, as eloquent a platform orator as he is known to be in the pulpit. But the intel-Jectual and biographical portion of the programme although it was well dono, only served n excuse for the admirableselection from the instrumental and vocal music of the master which followed. The opening number of the musical part of the programme was the overture '*Meerestille und Gliickhehe Farht" Op, 27, by the members of the Philharmonic Society which was admirable in point of time, unison and balance. Indeed we think that the Shanghai public do not quite enough appreciate the high degree of excellence of the music which the society under the experienced and masterly tuition of Chev, Vela gives them with such willing readiness. The four-part songs Wem Gott will recite gurist erweisen" No. 1. Op. 75, and the '"Rheinweinlied," Op. 76, were well given by eight members of the Liedertafel, after which Mrs. Heemskerk Enown and beautiful spinning song, ex-played the duet No. 18 the well-
ceedingly well and with an excellent touch and finish. Mrs. Lavers' singing of Auf Fliigeln des Gesanges" was received with loud applause which no doubt was quite as much a personal compliment to the lady as to the artiste. The programme which contained fifteen numbers was too Long for us to go through it in detail to-day, and we will without intending invidious distinctions just mention two or three of the numbers which were the most striking, namely the string quartette by Messrs. Vela, Lundt, Danenberg, and Bichler the two-part' song, 'Greeting," No. 3, by Mesdames Lancaster and' Moutrie, both charming voices; the air for bass "Es ist Genug!" by Mr. Stepharius; the thought they could congratulate the share- pianoforte duet of two catchy movements, holders upon the successful business of by Messrs. Bichler and Vela, which was one of the bright pieces of the evening. Mrs. Lancaster's singing of '¢ Jerusalem from St. Paul was an ambitious effort, and wwe her an opportunity of showing both the strength and range of her voice, which though of good quality still needs training. Mr. Wedemeyer's fine voice was well heard in the Frihlingslied." Altogether the programme was immensely enjoyed by the large audience and shows how admirably the 8. L. & D. S. can carry out such a pleasant and grateful undertaking. We must not close without mentioning the extremely tasteful arrangement of the stage, and the indefatigable and valuable exertions of M. Vela, who took part in every number but two of the long programme
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.