To one who was able to stand the mental strain, the programme presented at the second concert last evening was simply magnificent, being made up as follows:

Schubert. Unfinished Symphony in [B minor.

Saint-Seans. Concerto in G minor, [No. 2, opp. 22.

Beethoven. Symphony in E flat. (Eroica,) No. 3, opp. 55.

The soloist was Mr. Alex. Lambert, of whom little seems to be definitely known. The concerto did not receive quite the treatment that it deserved. The performance was, on the whole, sufficiently brilliant, but the effect was marred by occasional carelessness, while all attempts at forte playing resulted in a surprising harshness of tone.

The orchestral work was exceedingly good, very few blemishes being noticed, and those very slight. The Unfinished Symphony, Schubert's most charming work, was played with great fire and passion. Considerable improvement was found in the tone of the oboe over what has been heard before, which contributed not a little to the general. As regards the Eroica, the writer certainly never heard a better performance. So perfectly was the comper's idea expressed that toward the close of the second movement the intensity of feeling became almost painful. The scherzo, following this, makes so much of a contrast that it hardly seems in keeping with the rest of the symphony. The fifth symphony of Beethoven presents a much better example of a consistent whole, resting on a psychological. In it the name scherzo, is omitted from the third movement, which is essentially tragic in character and thus sustains a proper relation to the other movements. In the Eroica the scherzo certainly affords needed relaxation, after the gloom of the funeral march, yet one would wish that the descent were not quite so rapid, and surely the title of scherzo is decidedly out of place in such a connection. The last movement sustains the heroic character, though in a somewhat lighter strain, and forms a fitting conclusion.

The audience was of good size and at times enthusiastic. Towards the end, however, there seemed to be some feeling of oppression, for the applause was not as spontaneous and hearty as the nature of the programme deserved.