T H E M E L B O U R N E H A R M O N I C SOCIETY.
The first musical combination in the colony was established under the above designation in 1841, with the folloyving office-holders :—Leader, Mr. Charles Beswicke ; Conductor, M r . William Clarke; Treasurer, Mr. John Jones Peers ; Secretaries, Messrs. Benjamin, Heape, and William Dredge. They met every Thursday evening in the Wesleyan Chapel, Collins Street, but the effort did not come to much.
A PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
Was started in 1843, but was not successful. Amongst the most prominent names yvere Messrs. William Clarke, John Pridham Smith, Frederick L. Clay, John J. Peers, C. J. Sanford, Charles Vaughan, and Joseph Megson. At rare intervals some artiste would take a flying trip from Sydney, and for a performance or two met with a fair share of support. After the Mechanics' Institute was erected, the principal concerts were held there, and sometimes at the large rooms of the Exchange and Royal Hotels (both nearly opposite) in Collins Street. In May, 1846, a Mr. Ravac, from Adelaide, a violinist of high repute, presented some unusually superior musical entertainments at the Pritice of Wales, a fashionable hotel in Little Flinders Street East. H e was assisted by a Mr. Imberg, a pianist of eminence, both were Germans, and en route to Calcutta. The Old Charities of Melbourne owed a large debt of gratitude to the Amateur Concert-mongers, through whose instrumentality a considerable amount of money ffoyved in for the excellent purposes in yvhich every one had a c o m m o n interest. Appended is a copy of the Bill of one of these entertainments in 1845 :— GRAND AMATEUR CONCERT, In aid of the funds of the Melbourne Hospital. PROGRAMME. P A R T IST.
Overture.—" Zampa"—Herold. Duet.—" Comrade, Your Hand " (from the " Bohemian Girl ")—Balfe. Song. — " D e a r Maid" (from "Joan of Arc")—Balfe. Glee.—"Discord, Dire Sister"—Webbe. Duet.—Violoncello and Pianoforte. Song.—" The Heather Hills "—Geiki. Scena. — " For Thee Hath Beauty " (from " Oberon," yvith orchestral accompaniments)—Weber. Song. — " Wanted a Governess "—Parry. Overture.—" Semiramide "—Rossini. PART
2ND.
Overture.—" Men of Prometheus"—Beethoven. Song.—"Non PiuAndrai"—Mozart. Glee.—" Return Blest Days "—J. T. Smith. Song.—" Sister Dear" (from " Masaniello ")—Auber. Fantasia.—Pianoforte—Kalkbrenner. Song.—" Some Love One Day" (from " Der Freischutz," with orchestral accompaniments)—Weber. Glee.—" Come Live With M e "—Webbe. Duet.—" When a Little Farm W e Keep" (with orchestral accompaniments)—Parry. Overture.—" Masaniello "—Auber. Boxes—Single tickets, 7s. 6d. ; Family Boxes (admitting four), £1 4s. Pit—Single tickets, 4s. ; Family Pit (admitting four), 12s. Gallery—Single tickets, 2S. 6d. To be obtained at the offices of the Pat) lot, Gazette, Herald, Standard, and Courier newspapers ; at Messrs. Pullar's, Pittman's, and Clarke's Music and Stationery Warehouses ; at the Royal Hotel, Collins Street ; and of Mr. Smith, at the Theatre. N.B.—The Concert will commence at half past seven o'clock p.m. precisely.
THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL CONCERT.
Towards the termination of 1840, Monsieur and Madame Gautrot arrived from Sydney, and took up their residence in a brick cottage in Little Collins Street, whereon the Bank of Australasia commenced business in 1838 (now Henty's stores). They gave a concert on the 17th December in the large room of the Adelphi Hotel, Little Flinders Street, and it was pronounced a success. Mr. Superintendent Latrobe and his wife yvere present, and a gushing scribe ecstatically wrote of it, " That the music, both instrumental
