Record

Performance TitleRoyal Albert Hall Choral Society (Fifteenth Season 1885-1886) - Gounod's 'Mors et Vita'
Performance Date26 February 1885
Performance DayFriday
Performance Time15:00
Main PerformersMadame Albani,
Madame Patey,
Edward Lloyd,
Mr Santley - vocals,
Dr Stainer - organ
ChoirsRoyal Albert Hall Choral Society (Royal Choral Society)
ConductorsJoseph Barnby
Set List'Mors et Vita', Gounod
Royal PresenceHM Queen Victoria,
HRH The Prince Henry of Battenberg,
HRH The Princess Henry of Battenberg,
HRH The Princess Louise (Marchioness of Lorne),
HRH The Prince of Leiningen,
HRH The Princess of Leiningen,
HRH The Princess Christian
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh,
HRH The Duke of Connaught,
HRH The Duchess of Connaught
Performance NotesSpecial extra performance.

There were some attempts to enable the conductor Gounod to be present but he was unable to enter the country because of an outstanding legal dispute with Georgina Weldon, an amateur singer.

'Yesterday the Queen visited London to attend a representation of Mr Gounod's Oratrio 'Mors et Vita', at the Royal Albert Hall. In the expectation of the Queen's arrival, a large number of persons gathered soon after 2 o'clock in the roadway opposite the hall, lining the railings of Hyde Park and the steps of the Albert Memorial, and the day being fine, the crowd rapidly increased. An unusually large police force was employed to preserve the line of communication between the hall and the park and to marshal the carriages: while a large number of mounted police patrolled the roads in the vicinity. The royal carriage was a closed landau, with postillions. An outrider preceded it, and two of the Queen's personal servants, in Highland costume, sat on the box behind.'
(The Times, 27 February 1886)

'Since its erection the Albert Hall has not seen a more numerous and more brilliant audience than that which filled every part of the building from floor to gallery yesterday afternoon'.
The Times, 27 February 1886)
Related Archival MaterialHandbill (RAHE/6/1885/1),
Illustrations from London Illustrated News
URLhttps://thirdlight.royalalberthall.com/pf.tlx/lSelWyTlSGFzHH
https://thirdlight.royalalberthall.com/pf.tlx?hshAIvhLXOsY
Work
Ref NoTitleNo of Performances
Work9532Royal Albert Hall Choral Society (Fifteenth Season 1885-1886)12
Performers
CodeName of Performer(s)
DS/UK/3848Albani; Dame; Emma (1 November 1847-3 April 1930); DBE; Canadian-British operatic soprano
DS/UK/5413Patey; Janet Monach (1842-1894); British oratorio contralto
DS/UK/3929Lloyd; Edward (1845-1927); British tenor
DS/UK/3982Santley; Sir; Charles (1834-1922); British opera singer
DS/UK/6695Stainer; John (1840-1901); English composer, organist
DS/UK/49Royal Choral Society (RCS); 1872-; English choir
DS/UK/5412Barnby; Sir; Joseph (1838-1896); English musical composer, conductor
DS/UK/170Victoria; Alexandrina (24 May 1819-22 January 1901); Queen, Empress of India; British Queen of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
DS/UK/1123Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert (1850-1942); British Duke of Connaught and Strathearn; British Royal Family - seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria
DS/UK/4315Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia/Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn; Louise Margaret Alexandra Victoria Agnes (1860-1917); Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn; German princess, British royal family member, wife of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
DS/UK/2224Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll; Louise Caroline Alberta (1848-1939); British royal family member - the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and her husband, Albert, Prince Consort
DS/UK/6842Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia (later Duchess of Edinburgh and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Maria Alexandrovna (1853-1920); Russian royal family member, wife of Prince Alfred
DS/UK/5507Colonel Prince Henry of Battenberg; Henry Maurice (1858-1896); British royal family member
DS/UK/4177Princess Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg; Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore (1857-1944); British royal family member
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