Charles Phillipe Lafont’s Benefit Concert
London: King’s Theatre
Time: Evening
Boxes: 3 Guineas
Programme
| Part I | ||
| Act I of Don Giovanni | Mozart | |
| Part II | ||
| Overture | Cherubini | |
| Violin Concerto | M. Lafont | Lafont |
| Aria | Mlle Cinti | Puccini |
| Piano Fantasia | Mr. Moscheles | Moscheles |
| From Armida: Duet | Mlle Cinti, Mr. Begrez | Rossini |
| Airs Suisses Varies | M. Lafont | Lafont |
| Ballet, Le Petit Chaperon rouge | All principal performers of Kings’ Theatre | M. Anatole & F. Venna |
| Ballet, Pas de Deux with a Polonaise Violin Accompaniment | Mlle Noblet, M. Paul; Violin: M. Lafont |
| Principal Vocalists: MlleCinti; Mr. Begrez andall the principal performers of Kings’ Theatre |
| Principal Instrumentalists: M. Lafont, Mr. Moscheles |
| Dancers: Mlle Noblet, M. Paul |
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Charlotte: Moscheles gladly joined Lafont (whom he shortly afterwards met at Boulogne), in giving three brilliant concerts, and afterwards went to Paris, in order during the quiet time in autumn to devote all his leisure hours and strength to study and composition. In winter these labours were continued, and many concerts given. [RMM, 47.]
Advertisements
The Morning Chronicle (June 20, 1822): 1.
KING’S THEATRE. —Monsieur LAFONT Premier Violon de sa Majeste le Roi de France, respectfully begs leave to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, that honoured with the Patronage of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, her Serene Highness, the Prince Esterhazy, the Marchioness of Salisbury, the Excellency Countess Lieven, the Countess of Jersey, the Countess Cowper Viscountess Ossulston, the Countess of St. Antonio Lady Fitzroy Somerset, and Lady Vane Stewart, he will take a BENEFIT at this Theatre, on Thursday, July 4, when will be presented the Second\ Act of Rossini’s celebrated Opera of PIETRO L’EREMITA will be followed by one Act of a VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT, wherein Monsieur Lafont will perform a Concerto on the Violin, and some “Airs Varies Suisses.”—The Vocal Department will be filled by the principal Performers of the King’s Theatre.—End of the Opera. THE FAVOURITE BALLET, in the course of which will be introduced, for the last time, the much admired new Chaperon Rouge PAS DE DEUX, by Madamoiselle Noblet and Monsieur Paul, with a Polonaise Violin Accompaniment, by Monsieur Lafont.—Monsieur Lafont, at the suggestion of his Friends, will, on this occasion, return to the former custom of placing the Boxes at Three Guineas each, which may be had of Mons. Lafont, 10, Duke-street, Portland-place; of Messrs. Clementi’s, Cheapside: and of Mr. Ebers. Bookseller to his Majesty, 27, Old Bond-street.
The Morning Post, (June 24, 1822): 1.
KING’S THEATRE.—Monsieur LAFONT, (Premier Violon de sa Majeste le Roi de France,) respectfully begs leave to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, that he will take a BENEFIT at this Theatre on THURSDAY, the 4th of July, when will be presented One Act of a Favourite Opera. To be followed by one Act of a VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT, wherein Monsieur Lafont will perform a Concerto on the Violin, and some “Airs Varies Suisses.”—The Vocal Department will be filled by the principal Performers of the King’s Theatre. End of the Opera, the favourite Ballet of LE PETIT, in the course of which will be introduced, for the last time, the much admired new Chaperon Rouge PAS DE DEUX, by Madamoiselle Noblet and Mons. Paul, with “a Polonoise” [sic] Violin Accompaniment, by Mons. Lafont. Monsieur Lafont, at the suggestion of his friends, will, on this occasion, return to the former custom of placing the Boxes at Three Guineas each, which may be had of Mons. Lafont, 10, Duke-street, Portland-place; of Messrs. Clementi’s, Cheapside: and of Mr. Ebers. Bookseller to his Majesty, 27, Old Bond-street.
The Morning Chronicle (June 29, 1822): 1.
KING’S THEATRE.
Monsieur LAFONT. Premier Violon de sa Majeste le Roi de France, respectfully begs leave to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, that he will take a BENEFIT at this Theatre on Thursday next, when will be presented, the First Act of the celebrated Opera of DON GIOVANNI. Music by Mozart—To be followed by One Act of a VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT. Overture; Cherubini—Concerto, Violin, Monsieur Lafont; Lafont—Aria, Madame Cinti, Pucini—Fantasia, Pianoforte, Mr. Moscheles, Moscheles—Duetto, from ‘Armide,’ Mr. Begrez and Madame Cinti; Rossini—‘Airs Suisses Varies.’ Violin, Monsieur Lafont; Lafont—Finale—End of the Concert, the favourite Ballet of LE PETIT CHAPERON ROUGE, by all the principal Performers of this Theatre. Composed by M. Anatole; Music by F. Venna. In the course of which will be introduced, for last time, the much admired new Pas de Deux, by Madamoiselle Noblet and Monsieur Paul, with ‘A Polonoise’ Violin Accompaniment, by Monsieur Lafont.—Monsieur Lafont, at the suggestion of his Friends, will, on this occasion, return to the former custom of placing the Boxes at Three Guineas each, which may be had of Monsieur Lafont, 10, Duke-street, Portland-place; of Messrs. Clementi, Cheapside; and of Mr. Ebers. Bookseller to his Majesty, 27, Old Bond-street.
The Morning Post (July 1, 1822): 3.
The amateurs of music will experience a great on Monsieur LAFONT’S approaching Night. This celebrated Violinists, whose talents delighted Aix-la-Chapelle, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, and Paris, has catered the greatest variety that the Metropolis could afford without dwelling on MOZART’S Giovanni, by the principal performers of the Opera, and Ballets wherein some of the most celebrated dancers in Europe will assist, the has procured the aid of the fascinating Madamoiselle CINSI, and of Mr. MOSCHELLES, the unrivalled Pianist. The airs Suisses, announced to be played by Mr. LAFONT, are those delightful Melodies performed by him at his Concerts at Paris. in which that famed simple tune called “Le rans des vaches,” is so happily introduced.
The Times (July 2, 1822): 4.
KING’S THEATRE.—Monsieur LAFONT (Premier Violon de sa Majeste le Roi de France) respectfully begs leave to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, that he will take a BENEFIT at this Theatre, on Thursday next, 4th July, when will be presented, the first act of the celebrated Opera of DON GIOVANNI. Music by Mozart. To be followed by one act of a Vocal and Instrumental Concert, wherein Monsieur Lafont will perform on the Violin a Concerto, and some Airs, Suisses; and Mr. Moscheles a fantasia on the Pianoforte. End of the concert, the Ballet of LE PETIT CHAPERON ROUGE, in the course of which will be introduced, for the last time, the much admired Pas de Deux by Mademoiselle Noblet and Monsieur Paul, with “A Polonoise” Violin Accompaniment, by Monsieur Lafont. Mademoiselle Mercandotti will introduce the “Guaracha.” Monsieur Lafont, at the suggestion of his friends, will on this occasion return to the former custom of placing the boxes at 3 guineas each, which may be had of Monsieur Lafont, 10, Duke-street, Portland-place; of Messrs. Clementi, Cheapside; and of Mr. Ebers, bookseller to his Majesty, 27, Old Bond-street.
The Morning Chronicle (July 3, 1822): 1.
KING’S THEATRE. Monsieur LAFONT. Premier Violon de sa Majeste le Roi de France, respectfully begs leave to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, that he will take a BENEFIT at this Theatre, TO-MORROW, when will be presented, the First Act of the celebrated Opera of DON GIOVANNI. Music by Mozart—To be followed by One Act of a VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT. Overture; Cherubini—Concerto, Violin, Monsieur Lafont; Lafont—Aria, Madame Cinti, Pucini—Fantasia, Pianoforte, Mr. Moscheles, Moscheles—Duetto, from ‘Armide.’ Mr. Begrez and Madame Cinti; Rossini—‘Airs Suisses Varies.’ Violin, Monsieur Lafont; Lafont—Finale—End of the Concert, the favourite Ballet of LE PETIT CHAPERON ROUGE, by all the principal Performers of this Theatre. Composed by M. Anatole; Music by F. Venna. In the course of which will be introduced, for last time, the much admired new Pas de Deux, by Madamoiselle Noblet and Monsieur Paul, with ‘A Polonoise’ Violin Accompaniment, by Monsieur Lafont.—Monsieur Lafont, at the suggestion of his Friends, will, on this occasion, return to the former custom of placing the Boxes at Three Guineas each, which may be had of Monsieur Lafont, 10, Duke-street, Portland-place; of Messrs. Clementi, Cheapside: and of Mr. Ebers. Bookseller to his Majesty, 27, Old Bond-street.
The Times (July 3, 1822): 3.
KING’S THEATRE.—Monsieur LAFONT (Premier Violon de sa Majeste le Roi de France) respectfully begs leave to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, that he will take a BENEFIT at this Theatre, TO-MORROW EVENING, July 4, when will be presented, the first act of the celebrated Opera of DON GIOVANNI. In the Finale will be introduced a grand Pas de Cinq, by Mons. C. Vestris, Mad. R. Vestris, Mad. de Varenne, Mad. Roland, and Mad. Hullin: and the celebrated “Guaracha,” by Mademoiselle Mercandotti. The Music by Mozart. To be followed by one act of a Vocal and Instrumental Concert, wherein Monsieur Lafont will perform a Concerto on the Violin, and some Airs varies, Suisses; and Mr. Moscheles a fantasia on the Pianoforte. End of the concert, the favourite Ballet of LE PETIT CHAPERON ROUGE, composed by M. Anatole; music by F. Venua. In the course of which will be introduced, for the last time, the much admired new Pas de Deux by Madamoiselle Noblet and Monsieur Paul, with “A Polonoise” Violin Accompaniment, by Monsieur Lafont. Mons. Lafont, at the suggestion of his friends, will on this occasion return to the former custom of placing the boxes at 3 guineas each, which may be had of Monsieur Lafont, 10, Duke-street, Portland-place; of Messrs. Clementi, Cheapside; and of Mr. Ebers, bookseller to his Majesty, 27, Old Bond-street.
The Morning Chronicle (July 4, 1822): 1.
KING’S THEATRE. Monsieur LAFONT. Premier Violon de sa Majeste le Roi de France, respectfully begs leave to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, that he will take a BENEFIT at this Theatre, THIS EVENING…[the rest is the same as advertised in The Morning Post on July 3]
The Times (July 4, 1822): 2.
KING’S THEATRE.—Monsieur LAFONT (Premier Violon de sa Majeste le Roi de France) respectfully begs leave to announce to the Nobility, Gentry, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, that he will take a BENEFIT at this Theatre, THIS EVENING, July 4, when will be presented, the first act of the [the rest is the same as advertised in The Times on July 3]
Reviews
The Morning Post (July 5, 1822): 2.
KING’S THEATRE.
Mr. LAFONT’S Benefit last night was very numerously and splendidly attended—a due tribute to acknowledged superior talent. There was very little novelty in the performances; but the whole went off with infinite eclat. Most of the songs in the Opera were rapturously encored; and the Concerto on the Violin by M. LAFONT (which was one of the finest performances we have ever witness) was most deservedly crowned with universal and reiterated burst of applause.
The Times (July 5, 1822): 3.
KING’S THEATRE.—The first act of Don Giovanni was performed last night, for the benefit of M. Lafont, and succeeded by a concert, in which he executed several pieces on the violin in the most admirable style. What principally characterizes his performance is, that while his execution is the most extraordinary, the taste and genius of the composer is never for a moment forgotten, nor the spirit of the music sacrificed, as is too frequently the case, to the admiration sought to be excited by the performer’s skill and address. The upper tones were the highest and truest we have ever heard extracted from this instrument; and his shifting was so exquisitely adroit as to render his cadences incapable of being surpassed in brilliancy and case. He executed two concertos of his own, the first, a spirited and masterly composition, and the second, a medley of Swiss airs, full of sweetness and expression, with particular effect. His performance was altogether most, excellent, and was enthusiastically applauded by a numerous, but not a crowded, audience.
The London Magazine, vol. 6 (August 1822): 183-184.
Since our last there have been three Concerts of the first class, one for the benefit of Mr. Moschelles, the second for Mr. Lafont….Mr. Lafont is a most extraordinary player, and his genius is united with a degree of perseverance that belongs to very few professors of liberal art. We are told, by person well acquainted with his habits, that he has been known to retire into the country, to seclude himself wholly from society for months together, and employ himself literally from sun-rise till bedtime in the practice and perfecting of a single concerto. To such patient labour and unwearied enthusiasm all difficulties must yield; and his execution is masterly in proportion. Nor is his good taste inferior to his command of the instrument, for he never forgets what is due to the composer. His intonation is perhaps more true than that of almost any performer, and his cadences are remarkable for their variety, beauty, and consistency with the general design. This Concert was curiously constructed; it was given at the King’s Theatre, and consisted of the first act of Il Don Giovanni, an orchestral performance, and a ballet. The audience was not numerous.
Ignaz Moscheles' Concert Life 