Adelaide Musical Association

Early in January a meeting was held at S. Marshall & Sons’ rooms to from a new choral society, the outcome of which was the formation of the Adelaide Musical Association. Mr C. J. Stevens was appointed conductor. The work chosen for performance was Gounods’s “Redemption”. Rehearsals were begun at once. ….The orchestral music of this work is rather difficult, and most of the orchestra being amateurs necessitated a large number of rehearsals. After three months the work was performed with an orchestra and chorus of 185 in the Town Hall on April 5 1887…leader of the orchestra, Mr W.J. McBride. The hall was packed in every part and many stood in the aisles. During the performance, which was of a most impressive nature, there was absolute silence, requests being placed on the walls asking the audience to refrain from applause. At the close, the conductor and the performers were greeted with prolonged applause, the general opinion being that it was the best performance of oratorios even given in Adelaide.