Page:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.djvu/171

Rh veteran and popular singer of later days, but who was then only in his 25th year), Signor Curioni (said to have borne a wonderful resemblance to Shakespeare in his figurehead and features), Signer de Begins, Mr. John Baptiste Cramer, C. G. Kiesewetter (who (lied the following year), Charles Augustus de Beriot (who married Madame Malibran-Garcia), and quite a host of local instrumentalists who were long chief among our Birmingham musicians. Receipts £10,104; profits £4,592

1829, Oct. 6 to 9. President, the Earl of Bradford. This was the Jubilee Year of the General Hospital, and conspicuous in the programme was the "Jubilee Anthem" in commemoration of the fiftieth year of its establishment, the words being adapted to the music composed by Cherubini for Charles X.s coronation. This was also the last year in which the Festival performances took place in St Philip's Church or (except several single nights of operatic selections) at the Theatre. Besides the "Jubilee Anthem," there were novelties in the shape of Zingarelli's "Cantata Sacra" (described in a musical publication as a "tame, insipid, heap of commonplace trash"), and the introduction of "operatic selections" at the evening concerts. Amongst the performers who made their debut in Birmingham were Madame Malibran-Garcia, Mdlle. Blasis, Miss Fanny Ayton, Signor Costa, Signor Guihelei, Mrs. Anderson (who gave pianoforte lessons to Princess Victoria), and Mr. Charles Lucas (violoincello). Receipts, £9,771; profits, £3,806 17s.

1834. Oct. 7 to 10. President, the Earl of Aylesford. This being the first Festival held in the Town Hall it may be noted that the prices of admission were for the morning performances, 21/- for reserved and 10/6 unreserved seats; in the evening, 15/- and 8/-; at the Theatre, boxes and pit, 15/-, gallery, 7/; ball on Friday, 10/6. There were 14 principal vocalists, 33 in the semi-chorus, 187 in the full chorus, 147 instrumental performers, 2 conductors, 2 organists, and 1 pianist. Besides the "Messiah," there was the new oratorio, "David," by Nerkomm (the first that was originally composed for our Festivals), selections from the same author's "Mount Sinai," from Spohr's "Last Judgment," from Handel's "Israel in Egypt," and an arrangement of Hummel's "Motet," &c. This was the first introduction to the Festivals of Miss Clara Novello (afterwards Countess Gigliucci), Madame Stockhausen and her husband (harpist), Ignaz Moscheles, Mr. William Machin (a townsman), Miss Aston and Miss Bate (both Birmingham ladies), Mr. George Hollins (the first appointed Town Hall organist), and others. Receipts, £13,527; profit, £4,035.

1837, Sept. 19 to 22. President, Lord Willoughby de Broke. Mendelssohn's new oratorio, "St. Paul" (oft mistakenly supposed to have been specially written for the occasion), was the most important production, but Neukomm's "Ascension," Haeser's "Triumph of Faith," and several other new compositions were performed on this occasion. In addition to Mendelssohn's first appearance here as conductor, there were other new faces, among them being Madame Ginla Grisi, Madame Emma Albertazzi, Mrs. Albert Shaw, Signor Antonio Tamburini, Mr. Alfred Mellon (in his 17th year, but even then leader of the band at the Theatre), Signor Regondi (concertina player), &c. Receipts, £11,900, but, as besides mote than usually heavy expenses, £1,200 was paid for building the recess in which the organ was placed, the profits were only £2,776.

1840, Sept. 22 to 25. President, Lord Leigh. The oratorio, "Israel in Egypt," by Handel, selections from his "Jephtha," and "Jesbua," and Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise," were the great features of this Festival, at which appeared for the first time Madame Dorus-Gras, Miss M. B.