The 1888 Crystal Palace recordings

The Handel Festivals and the Crystal Palace

Festivals in the 1880s

The Festivals in the 1880s began normally enough and the traditional programme structure was retained. But things were soon to change.

The Sacred Harmonic Society, which had worked with the directors of the Crystal Palace Company on the Festivals since their inception, was dissolved in 1882.

Sir Michael Costa, who, as conductor of the Sacred Harmonic Society, had conducted had directed all the Festivals. He had planned to conduct the 1883 Festival as usual, but in the event he was too unwell to conduct and his place was taken by the regular Crystal Palace conductor, August Manns. Costa remained unwell and died on the evening of Tuesday 29th April 1884.

The bicentenary of Handel's birth in the middle of the decade required a decision. By now it was accepted that he was born in 1685, so 1885 was the year for commemoration. But 1885 was only two years after the Eighth Triennial Handel Festival in 1883. The Crystal Palace directors agreed to bring the planned 1886 Festival forward by one year.

1880 : Seventh Triennial Handel Festival (Sir Michael Costa)

Monday 21st June - Messiah

Wednesday 23rd June - Selection

Friday 25th June - Israel in Egypt

1883 : Eighth Triennial Handel Festival (August Manns - Costa was ill)

Monday 18th June - Messiah

Wednesday 20th June - Selection

Friday 22nd June - Israel in Egypt

1885 : Handel Bicentenary Festival (August Manns)

Monday 22nd June - Messiah

Wednesday 24th June - Selection

Friday 26th June - Israel in Egypt

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