A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Liverpool Musical Festivals
LIVERPOOL MUSICAL FESTIVALS. These have not taken place with regularity. The first was held in 1784, the next in 1790, and the next in 1799. They were then suspended till 1823, 1830, and 1836 (Oct. 4–7, Sir G. Smart conductor), when Mendelssohn's 'St. Paul' was performed for the second time, and for the first time in England. Up to this date the concerts had been held in churches, but the next Festival took place at the Philharmonic Hall in 1874 (Sept. 29–Oct. 1)—conductor Sir Julius Benedict. The St. George's Hall, containing rooms available for music, was opened in September 1854.
Liverpool has a Philharmonic Society, which was founded Jan. 10, 1840, and opened its hall Aug. 27, 49. There are twelve concerts every year, six before and six after Christmas. Sir Julius Benedict succeeded Mr. Alfred Mellon as conductor April 9, 67, and has been conductor ever since.—The Liverpool Musical Society, which formerly gave oratorio concerts in St. George's Hall, has been extinct since 1877. The St. George's Hall has a very fine organ by Willis, on which performances are given by Mr. W. T. Best on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons and evenings. Orchestral concerts are given by Mr. Charles Halle during the winter season in the Philharmonic Hall.
[App. p.704 "No festival has been held since 1874. Add that Sir Julius Benedict was succeeded as conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society in 1880 by Herr Max Bruch, since whose retirement in 1882 the post has been filled by Mr. Charles Hallé."]