The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-07 00:00:00

MONDAY' EVENING CONCERTS FOR

THE PEOPLE.

The committee have just issued their first annual
report, in which they state that the " Monday
Evening Concerts for the People" were commenced
during the summer of 1856, under the direction of
a committee of working men, who ware desirous of
providing musical recreation of a refining and ele-
vating character—the want of which had been long
felt by the sober and intelligent portion of the
working classes of the metropolis. The first series
of 10 concerts was given at the Philharmonic-
Rooms, Newman-street, Oxford-street ; but, in
order to carry out efficiently the views of the pro-
moters, it was found necessary to obtain a larger
room. Arrangements were accordingly made with
Mr. Hullah for the use of St. Martin's Hall, in
which the second series, consisting of 36 perform-
ances, took place ; making in all 45 weekly con-
certs, which have been given without intermission
from July 15, 1856, to May 18, 1857—a fact, it is
believed, altogether unprecedented in the musical
annals of the metropolis. From the commencement
to the close of the present season, the concerts
have been attended by 50,000 persons. The ave-
rage attendance at the second series has been. lap,-
wards of 1,200 ; and on one or two occasions as
many as 2,300 were admitted. The LordMayoric
and Lady Mayoress, the sheriffs, and other civic
dignitaries, and clergymen of various denomina-
tions, tions, have sanctioned the efforts of the commit_
..e
by their presence ; and the members of the pubic
press, press, of all creeds aid parties, have repeats -li
borne testimony to the high character a th
good order
per-
formances, as well as to the perfectly
that has invariably prevailed at these.
en
red ill
'Dents. The total ands:mut of expense terta;n-
incur_
and
carrying on these concerts is between ie3Uut
most
1,4001., of which the following are the threetof ball,
important items : viz., artistes, 5401.. ; re_n_sl. On
&c., 3471. ; printing and advertising,
be seen
t'lat
reference to the balance sheet, it will Ir
the expenditure has exceeded the receiptstincl. to June
ing subscriptions to the guarantee f (includ-
ing to have
Ist) by more than 2001.
been the case also with thell‘ll6lB appears
i
People's
they aie
in the provincial towns, which, 's Concerts"
now silt-supporting, almost. invariably:xperienced
a similar clitliculy at starting: Havingsurplu., should any
meucement announced
.that the.
el of the public hospi-
tals, would be applied
tals, the committee cannolbtnopawoissibly derive any pe en-
s accessful the prof. et
niary benefit, no
matter
ttlieerreforo, trust that those who
may become..
pt to supply an acknowledged
approve a thisTaanhiem
who have nut yet con!ributed,
public want,
will at. once exhibit their sympathy by becoming
subscribers to the "guarantee fund ;" and thus
,enable the committee to make arrangemeute fe.
resuming the conceits with increased efficiency
during the next season, and at the same time re-
lieve them from a responsiblity, which, consider-
ing their humble means, is felt to be a serious bur-
den. The committee, in conclusion, state that sub-
scriptions will be thankfully received by the t: ea-
surer, John Augustus Nicholay, Esq., church-
warden of St. Marylebone, 82, Oxford-strut, and
by other gentlemen whose Haines are mentioned.
seve trust their appeal will be heartily reepeneled to,
for their cause is a voted one.