Crystal Palace, 1857

In the 1850s orchestral concerts were founded in a number of cities that offered low prices to a new middle-class public, performing some classical music along with opera selections and virtuoso numbers. The Crystal Palace sponsored such an orchestra after relocating to Sydenham. We see an overture beginning the concert and the symphony just after intermission — a subtle change from the symphony opening each half, focusing more upon the symphony:

Programme 8 Crystal Palace Concert, 28 November 1857

Programme from the Centre for Performance History, Royal College of Music

Note that the format of this concert was similar to those we have seen: a variety of different vocal and instrumental genres, some more serious than others. The famous violinist Bernhard Molique (1802—69) was the star of the concert, doing a concerto and a solo fandango of his own, along with pieces from operas by Meyerbeer and Rossini, and the concert following the usual practice of opening with an overture in the classical style. The placing of the Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in the middle became typical for concerts of this kind. And notice that a march from a comic opera by the English composer Charles Horsley closed the concert — most of these programmes included one piece by a British composer, usually a glee or part-song.