Annual Reid Concert 1849

Date: 
Tuesday, February 13, 1849
Time: 
7.45 pm (doors open 6.45 pm)
Season/No: 
1849

Programme chosen from the best works of the Italian Masters.

Participant(s): 

The Band of the Queen's Bays
M. Thalberg - pianoforte

Singers:
Mdelle Vera - soprano
Miss Bassano - contralto
Signor Vera - tenor, pianoforte
Signor N. Lablache - baritone
Signor Lablache - bass

Work(s) / Composer(s) / Opus No(s): 

Programme

March, "The Garb of old Gaul ... General Reid
  The Band of the Queen's Bays accompanied by Mr Lawrie on the grand organ

Quartetto, "Ah se giusto" from "Tancredi" ... Rossini
  Mdelle Vera, Miss Bassano, Signor Vera, Signor N. Lablache

Aria, "Se m'abbandoni"    Knight's ballad, "Oh, never heed" (from "Nitocri") ... Mercadante
  Miss Bassano

Duet of the Moorish maidens
  Mdlle Vera, Miss Bassano

Ballad, "Early May"
  Miss Bassano

Duos, "Se fiate in corpo avete" and "Un segreto d'importanza" from "Il matrimonio segreto" ... Cimarosa
  Signor N. Lablache (son); Signor Lablache (father)

Aria, "Non piu andrai" from "Figaro" ... Mozart

"La Danza": Neapolitan air from Soirees Musicales (No. 8) ... Rossini
  Signor Lablache accompanied by Thalberg

Grand Fantasia for pianoforte on airs from "Lucretia Borgia" ... Donizetti (arr. Thalberg)
Introduction, Adagio and Tarantella ... Thalberg
New Grand Fantasia on the favourite airs sung by Jenny Lind in "La Figlia del Reggimento" ... Donizetti (arr. Thalberg)

........................................

 

Programme Notes: 

No programme available, no indication of Part I & Part II.  Programme material gleaned from reports of the concert.

Publicity and Reviews: 

Again no public announcement of the concert was made.

Review in "The Scotsman, 17th February 1849 in which the critic resumes his complaining about the preferential treatment offered "for the especial delectation of the senatus [sic. small g] and their freinds." 
The "Edinburgh Advertiser" noted that "Inmates of Blind Asylums in Nicolson street were admitted through the kindness of Professor Donaldson to the area behind the screen around the organ".  Over 2000 people attended the concert.  
The "Musical Times" carried an article in its March edition and quoted from "The Atheneum".
Review in the Caledonian Mercury, Thursday, February 15, 1849; Issue 19859, noted that there were no orchestral items.
 

[Reid] Professor: 
Notes: 

Mme. Vera was "Prima Donna from Her Majesty's Theatre, London."  No "local talent" was attributed to this concert.
There were eight encores and nearly all remained until the conclusion beyond 10.30 pm.

Much the same programme, with the performers engaged for the Reid Concert, was given at a "Grand Morning Concert" next day, in the same venue at two o'clock.