1864, Sept. 6 to 9. President, the Earl of Lichfield. Costa’s “Naaman,” Sullivan’s “Kenilworth,” Guglieml’s “Offertorium,” and Mozart’s “Twelfth Mass” were produced. Mr. W.H. Cummings made his first appearance. Receipts, L13,777; profits, L5,256.
1867, Aug. 27 to 29. President, Earl Beauchamp. The novelties were Bennett’s “Woman of Samaria,” Gounod’s “Messe Solonnelle,” Benedict’s “Legend of St. Cecilia,” and Barnett’s “Ancient Mariner.” The new singers were Mdlle. Christine Nilsson and Madume Patey-Whylock. Receipts, L14,397; profits, L5,541.
1870, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. President, the Earl of Bradford. The new works were Barnett’s “Paradise and the Peri,” Benedict’s “St. Peter,” and Hiller’s “Nala and Damayanti,” Mdlle. Ilma de Murska, Mdlle. Drasdil, Miss Edith Wynne (Eos Cymru), Signor Foli, and Mr. Vernon Rigby making their debut as Festival singers. Receipts, L14,635; profits, L6,195.
1873, Aug. 25 to 28. President, the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot. The most important of the novelties were Sullivan’s “Light of the World,” and Schira’s “Lord of Burleigh,” but the greatest attraction of all was the patronising presence of royalty in the person of the Duke of Edinburgh. Receipts, L16,097; profits, L6,391.
1876, Aug. 29 to Sept. 1. President, the Marquis of Hertford. Herr Wagner’s “Holy Supper,” Mr. Macfarren’s “Resurrection,” Mr. F.H. Cowen’s “Corsair,” and Herr Gade’s “Zion” and “Crusaders” were the pieces now first introduced, the artistes being all old friends, with the exception of Mr. E. Lloyd. Receipts, L15,160; profits. L5,823.
1879, Aug. 26 to 20. President, Lord Norton. The fresh compositions consisted of Herr Max Bruch’s “Lay of the Bell,” Rossini’s “Moses in Egypt,” Saint-Saens’ “The Lyre and Harp,” and Dr. C.S. Heap’s “Overture in F.” First appearances included Madame Gerster, Miss Anna Williams, Mr. Joseph Maas, and Herr Henschel, Receipts, L11,729; profits, L4,500.
1882, Aug. 29 to Sep. 1. President, Lord Windsor. On this occasion Madame Roze-Mapleson, Miss Eleanor Farnel, Mr. Horrex, Mr. Campion, and Mr. Woodhall, first came before a Festival audience. The list of new works comprised Gounod’s “Redemption,” Gaul’s “Holy City,” Gade’s “Psyche,” Benedict’s “Graziella,” Mr. C.H. Parry’s “Symphony in G Major.” Brahm’s “Triumphed,” with a new song and a new march by Gounod. Receipts, L15,011; profits, L4,704.
1885. Aug.25 to 28.—President: Lord Brooke. The principal performers were Madame Albani, Mrs. Hutchinson, Miss Anna Williams, Madame Patey, Madame Trebelli; Messrs. Edward Lloyd, Joseph Maas, Santley, Signor Foli. Herr Richter was the conductor. Works performed were:—Oratorio, “Elijah”; new Cantata, “Sleeping Beauty”; new Oratorio, “Mors et Vita”; new cantata, “Yule Tide”; Oratorio, “Messiah”; new Cantata, “The Spectre’s Bride”; new Oratorio, “The Three Holy Children.”
Music Halls.—Mr. Henry Holder is often said to have been the first who opened a public room of this kind, but there had been one some years before at the George and Dragon, corner of Weaman Street, Steelhouse Lane, which was both popular and respectably conducted.—See “Concert Halls.”