Silk programme for a concert at Balmoral Castle, 1898
Silk Programme
1898 (manufactured), 1898 (printed)
1898 (manufactured), 1898 (printed)
| Place of origin |
This satin programme was produced for a concert at Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, on Friday 4th November 1898 Despite the fact that Queen Victoria did not go to the theatre after the death of Prince Albert in 1861, she was always happy to attend private performances at her royal residences. This evening featured the baritone Alec Marsh and the soprano Alice Esty (1864-1935), both performers with the Carl Rosa Opera Company before they married in 1892; the Czechoslovakian pianist and composer Natalia Janotha (1856-1932), and the American pianist Herbert Van Vleet (b.1868). The so-called Esty-Marsh Concert Company had performed their 'Sixth Grand Concert' in Adelaide Town Hall in 1895, so we know that Alec and Alice Marsh had their own concert company by 1895. This evening at Balmoral may well have been a command performance while they performing nearby.
Queen Victoria wrote in her journal about the concert, which took place after dinner:
'Only the ladies to dinner. Afterwards Janotha played quite beautifully on the piano and Mr and Mrs Marsh sang. The Clanwilliams and their daughter Katie, Mme de Arcos, Mrs Vaughan and her daughter, Mr Sibbald and the gentleman of the Household joined us'.
The fourth item in the concert was the song' The Sunny Month of May' written by Queen Victoria's youngest child Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) who probably also attended the concert. She was her mother's secretary, and her companion after the death of her husband Prince Henry in 1896.
Queen Victoria wrote in her journal about the concert, which took place after dinner:
'Only the ladies to dinner. Afterwards Janotha played quite beautifully on the piano and Mr and Mrs Marsh sang. The Clanwilliams and their daughter Katie, Mme de Arcos, Mrs Vaughan and her daughter, Mr Sibbald and the gentleman of the Household joined us'.
The fourth item in the concert was the song' The Sunny Month of May' written by Queen Victoria's youngest child Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) who probably also attended the concert. She was her mother's secretary, and her companion after the death of her husband Prince Henry in 1896.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Silk programme for a concert at Balmoral Castle, 1898 |
| Materials and techniques | Printed silk |
| Brief description | Silk programme produced for a concert at Balmoral Castle 4 November 1898, featuring Mr. Alec Marsh, Miss Alice Esty, Mlle Natalia Janotha and Mr. Herbert Van Vleet. |
| Physical description | Cream silk programme with raw edges produced for a concert at Balmoral Castle, 4 November 1898. The programme is headed with the royal crest and printed in black ink with a list of the items starting with the Recititive and Aria O Star of Eve from Wagner's Tannhauser sung by Alec Marsh; Chopin's Polonaise in A Flat and Schubert-Liszt's Hark Hark the Lark played by Natalia Janotha; the song The Sunny Month of May by H.R.H. Princess Henry of Battenburg sung by Alice Esty; Janotha's Gavotte in E played on the piano by Janotha; A. Goring Thomas's A Summer Night and Marzials' My Love is Come sung by Alec Marsh; Pastoral by A.L., and Goodbye by F. Paolo Tosti sung by Alice Esty; Janotha's Morceau Gracieux and Chopin's Tarantelle played by Janotha, ending with Donizetti's duet Io resta fra le lacrime sung by Alice Esty and Alec Marsh. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Acquired with the support of the Friends of the V&A |
| Summary | This satin programme was produced for a concert at Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, on Friday 4th November 1898 Despite the fact that Queen Victoria did not go to the theatre after the death of Prince Albert in 1861, she was always happy to attend private performances at her royal residences. This evening featured the baritone Alec Marsh and the soprano Alice Esty (1864-1935), both performers with the Carl Rosa Opera Company before they married in 1892; the Czechoslovakian pianist and composer Natalia Janotha (1856-1932), and the American pianist Herbert Van Vleet (b.1868). The so-called Esty-Marsh Concert Company had performed their 'Sixth Grand Concert' in Adelaide Town Hall in 1895, so we know that Alec and Alice Marsh had their own concert company by 1895. This evening at Balmoral may well have been a command performance while they performing nearby. Queen Victoria wrote in her journal about the concert, which took place after dinner: 'Only the ladies to dinner. Afterwards Janotha played quite beautifully on the piano and Mr and Mrs Marsh sang. The Clanwilliams and their daughter Katie, Mme de Arcos, Mrs Vaughan and her daughter, Mr Sibbald and the gentleman of the Household joined us'. The fourth item in the concert was the song' The Sunny Month of May' written by Queen Victoria's youngest child Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) who probably also attended the concert. She was her mother's secretary, and her companion after the death of her husband Prince Henry in 1896. |
| Bibliographic reference | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1662-2014 |
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| Record created | September 5, 2014 |
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