SearchGetRecordOratorio Concerts (1813-29)
Collection Summary
Collection Title
Oratorio Concerts (1813-29)
Unique Identifier
Case 61.i.1.
Description
Bills and other material relating to various sets of Oratorio performances give at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the Theatre Royal Covent Garden between 1813 and 1829. Also, programmes for two concerts given in the Assembly Rooms, Cheltenham in 1818.
1.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Oratorios, 1813-21, given under the direction of Sir George Smart with Mr Henry Smart as leader.
Complete sets of programmes as follows:
1813: 30 January, 5, 12, 17 and 19 March, 2, 7 and 9 April and 5 June.
1814: 25 February, 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 and 30 March, 1 April and 28 May.
1815: 30/1, 10/2, 15/2, 17/2, 22/2, 24/2, 1/3, 3/3, 8/3, 10/3, 15/3, 17/3, 13/5
1816: 1/3, 6/3, 13/3, 20/3, 27/3, 3/4
1817: 30/1, 26/2, 5/3, 12/3, 19/3, 26/3, 21/11 and 22/11 (the last two to commemorate the death of Princes Charlotte).
1818: 30/1, 11/2, 18/2, 25/2, 4/3,11/3
1819: 30/1, 3/3, 10/3, 17/3, 24/3, 31/3, 29/5
1820: 17/2, 23/2, 1/3, 8/3, 15/3, 22/3, 20/5
1821: 30/1, 14/3, 21/3, 28/3, 4/4, 11/4, with an additional concert on 9/6, the last of this sort under Smart’s management.
Despite their title, these concerts were rarely made up of one single oratorio. In reality, they were 3 part miscellaneous concerts, the programmes for which promise a ‘Grand Selection’ of music. These programmes also contain a large amount of information regarding the introduction of readings into these performances, and about the inclusion of instrumental music, particularly concertos, between the acts.
The 2nd concert of the 1815 season (10 February) saw the first performance of Beethoven’s Battle Symphony, and the programme for this performance includes some extended notes on the work. The piece was quickly established as a mainstay of the repertory at these concerts.
The prospectus for each season lists the principal vocal and instrumental soloists, and notes the involvement of the choristers from the Chapel Royal, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
Occasional annotations in Smart’s hand refer to alterations to the printed programme. Most consist are comments regarding Smart’s advertising strategy.
2.
Concerts of Ancient and Modern Sacred Music, 1824. 6 concerts given by Signor Benelli at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket, under the direction of Signor Rossini.
Performance dates: 5/3, 12/3, 19/3, 26/3, 2/4, 19/4. An additional concert organised by W. H. Cutler was given on 5/6. The programme for this performance is accompanied by a letter announcing Cutler’s intention to foot the oratorio series for the forthcoming season.
The prospectus for these concerts lists the vocal and instrumental soloists and compares the series to the Concerts Spirituels in Paris. Leader: Paulo Spagnoletti
Some annotations, commenting on the performance standard and noting the works encored.
3.
Grand Selection of Antient and Modern Music, 1829. Concerts given alternately at Covent Garden and Drury Lane under the management and direction of Mr Hawes.
Performance dates: 30/1, 6/3, 11/3, 13/3, 18/3, 20/3, 25/3, 27/3, 1/4, 3/4, 8/4, 10/4, 6/6
4.
Additional material
a) Programmes for two concerts given at the Assembly Rooms, Cheltenham on 2 and 5 September 1818.
Vocal parts: Miss Goodall, Mr. Goss, Signor Ambrogetti
Harp by Miss Sharp
Sir George Smart (piano)
Mr Attwood
Accompanied by two letters to Smart regarding arrangements for these performances, the first from G. Sharp and the second from Ambrogetti.
b) Document detailing the donations/subscriptions made to the Covent Garden Theatre in 1821 in order for the institution to avoid financial ruin.
Note: this volume is prefaced by an index compiled by the author. This makes reference to a number of other Oratorio series for which no programme are included in this volume. These include three seasons of performances held at both Drury Lane and Covent Garden, run by Mr Bochsa and conducted by Smart (1822 and 1824). Smart also provides a lists of Oratorios which he did not conduct but which took place between 1824 and 1831 at the King's Theatre, Covent Garden or Drury Lane. Annotations to this list suggest that the bills may have been given to Sir Henry Rowley Bishop in 1853.
1.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Oratorios, 1813-21, given under the direction of Sir George Smart with Mr Henry Smart as leader.
Complete sets of programmes as follows:
1813: 30 January, 5, 12, 17 and 19 March, 2, 7 and 9 April and 5 June.
1814: 25 February, 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 and 30 March, 1 April and 28 May.
1815: 30/1, 10/2, 15/2, 17/2, 22/2, 24/2, 1/3, 3/3, 8/3, 10/3, 15/3, 17/3, 13/5
1816: 1/3, 6/3, 13/3, 20/3, 27/3, 3/4
1817: 30/1, 26/2, 5/3, 12/3, 19/3, 26/3, 21/11 and 22/11 (the last two to commemorate the death of Princes Charlotte).
1818: 30/1, 11/2, 18/2, 25/2, 4/3,11/3
1819: 30/1, 3/3, 10/3, 17/3, 24/3, 31/3, 29/5
1820: 17/2, 23/2, 1/3, 8/3, 15/3, 22/3, 20/5
1821: 30/1, 14/3, 21/3, 28/3, 4/4, 11/4, with an additional concert on 9/6, the last of this sort under Smart’s management.
Despite their title, these concerts were rarely made up of one single oratorio. In reality, they were 3 part miscellaneous concerts, the programmes for which promise a ‘Grand Selection’ of music. These programmes also contain a large amount of information regarding the introduction of readings into these performances, and about the inclusion of instrumental music, particularly concertos, between the acts.
The 2nd concert of the 1815 season (10 February) saw the first performance of Beethoven’s Battle Symphony, and the programme for this performance includes some extended notes on the work. The piece was quickly established as a mainstay of the repertory at these concerts.
The prospectus for each season lists the principal vocal and instrumental soloists, and notes the involvement of the choristers from the Chapel Royal, St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey.
Occasional annotations in Smart’s hand refer to alterations to the printed programme. Most consist are comments regarding Smart’s advertising strategy.
2.
Concerts of Ancient and Modern Sacred Music, 1824. 6 concerts given by Signor Benelli at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket, under the direction of Signor Rossini.
Performance dates: 5/3, 12/3, 19/3, 26/3, 2/4, 19/4. An additional concert organised by W. H. Cutler was given on 5/6. The programme for this performance is accompanied by a letter announcing Cutler’s intention to foot the oratorio series for the forthcoming season.
The prospectus for these concerts lists the vocal and instrumental soloists and compares the series to the Concerts Spirituels in Paris. Leader: Paulo Spagnoletti
Some annotations, commenting on the performance standard and noting the works encored.
3.
Grand Selection of Antient and Modern Music, 1829. Concerts given alternately at Covent Garden and Drury Lane under the management and direction of Mr Hawes.
Performance dates: 30/1, 6/3, 11/3, 13/3, 18/3, 20/3, 25/3, 27/3, 1/4, 3/4, 8/4, 10/4, 6/6
4.
Additional material
a) Programmes for two concerts given at the Assembly Rooms, Cheltenham on 2 and 5 September 1818.
Vocal parts: Miss Goodall, Mr. Goss, Signor Ambrogetti
Harp by Miss Sharp
Sir George Smart (piano)
Mr Attwood
Accompanied by two letters to Smart regarding arrangements for these performances, the first from G. Sharp and the second from Ambrogetti.
b) Document detailing the donations/subscriptions made to the Covent Garden Theatre in 1821 in order for the institution to avoid financial ruin.
Note: this volume is prefaced by an index compiled by the author. This makes reference to a number of other Oratorio series for which no programme are included in this volume. These include three seasons of performances held at both Drury Lane and Covent Garden, run by Mr Bochsa and conducted by Smart (1822 and 1824). Smart also provides a lists of Oratorios which he did not conduct but which took place between 1824 and 1831 at the King's Theatre, Covent Garden or Drury Lane. Annotations to this list suggest that the bills may have been given to Sir Henry Rowley Bishop in 1853.
Format
Date range of collection
1813 - 1829
Accumulation Dates
-
Suggested Audience
Not Specific
Associated People or Organisations
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Associated Times
This collection is about
Location Details
British Library
The British Library
St Pancras
,96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB United Kingdom Open Map
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Collections Overview
The Library's collection of song and piano sheet music is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, providing a valuable insight into Victorian society and culture as well as the music itself.
For details of other collections held at the same location: See the location record
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