1845
Julius Benedict Becomes Director
A four day music festival, as part of a run of triennial events.
Julius Benedict, a German conductor who had made England his home, was appointed festival director. He became known for his very long programmes, which often stretched into the late evening, as well as his fondness for ‘ballad concerts’ – performances of drawing room songs which were popular with the crowds, but not the critics!
Benedict was also a close musical associate of Swedish superstar soprano Jenny Lind, who held benefit concerts in Norwich in the 1840s, and he accompanied her on her tour of America in the early 1850s.
The 1845 festival made use of the new train line from Norwich to Yarmouth and special trains were put on to bring people to the festival.
Below is an example of Julius Benedict’s own piano compositions:
St Andrew’s Hall, 1845. Image courtesy of Norfolk County Council Library and Information Service.