COVENT GARDEN PROMENADE CONCERTS
(excerpt)

Messrs. A. and S. Gatti began their annual series of Promenade Concerts on Saturday night at Covent Garden Theatre, where a crowded audience assembled…

The concert on Saturday offered a fair example of what is to be expected on ordinary occasions in the course of the series. Mr. Sullivan, on reaching the conductor’s desk, was honoured by the cordial greeting due to the position he enjoys among our native artists. The man who has given us not only Cox and Box, the Contrabandista, Trial by Jury, the Sorcerer, and H.M.S. Pinafore, each in its way unsurpassed, but also the Tempest music, Kenilworth, the Symphony in E minor (sic), the overture, In Memoriam, the Anthem (sic) to commemorate the recovery of the Prince of Wales, and, last not least, such an oratorio as the Light of the World, is no common labourer in the field of art, and merits all the distinction that may be conferred upon him…

Mr. Edward Lloyd carried the whole audience with him in Frederic Clay’s pretty ballad from Lalla Rookh, “I’ll sing thee songs of Araby,” and Mr. Arthur Sullivan’s plaintive “Once again,” in both of which he was encored. In lieu, however, of singing “Once again,” again he substituted another song from the same pen, “Oh, take this flower, my love,” [Sweethearts] which met with no less favour, and was accompanied on the piano by the composer.

We must be brief in our remarks upon the second part of the concert which began with a very showy selection from Mr. Sullivan’s comic opera, The Sorcerer, for full orchestra, associated with the band of the Coldstream Guards, under the able direction of Mr. Fred Godfrey. Among the themes comprised in this selection were the Bridesmaids’ chorus; Aline’s song, “Oh, happy young heart;” the tender apostrophe of Constance, “When he is here I sigh with pleasure;” the quintet, “I rejoice that it’s decided;” the chorus, “Now to the banquet we press” – which forms part both of the first and last finales, &c., The whole is put together by Mr. George Jacobi (of the Alhambra) with ingenuity and happy effect, and the melodies are so frank and telling that the fantasia sounds bright and catching from end to end.

Page modified 4 August 2011