Posted 01 January 2005
The Lachenal Sisters Visit Edinburgh, 1865–1866
Robert Gaskins
Introduction
Clippings from the archives
of The Scotsman newspaper, Edinburgh,
tell the story of the visit to Edinburgh of three teenaged daughters of Louis Lachenal for
three months over the Christmas season of 1865–1866. They apparently
introduced to Edinburgh the playing of "concerted music" on multiple English
concertinas. When playing as a trio, the three ladies are recorded as playing “treble,
tenor, and bass concertinas”. They extended their trio to a quartette by the addition of a
popular local Edinburgh concertinist, with a second treble.
They appeared in at least four “Saturday
Evening Concerts” held about once a month at the Music Hall behind the Assembly Rooms in
George Street, Edinburgh. This is a very large domed hall (added in 1843), capable of holding
several hundred people and still in use; Regondi had performed here earlier, Dickens gave readings in this hall at the
same period (between 1858 and 1867), and more recently so did J. K. Rowling. They
also appeared at some very large concerts organized as charitable benefits.
It appears from the reviews of their performances that the star soloist
was the first-born Lachenal child, Marie Lachenal.
Marie was born 13 August 1848, and so she was just 17 years old
when she appeared in Edinburgh in October 1865.
Marie received top billing, above her younger sisters Eugenie
(or “Janie”, aged 16) and Josephine (aged 14).
Their father, Louis Lachenal, had died in 1861 at age 40 but the
Lachenal concertina manufacturing business continued under the management of their
mother, Elizabeth Lachenal, during this period. 1
Stephen Chambers has begun to reconstruct the manufacturing career of Louis Lachenal.
According to Chambers, Lachenal had done the production engineering for Wheatstone and
had manufactured the great bulk of the concertinas sold by C. Wheatstone & Co. since
1848. But about 1858 Lachenal had begun to make and sell concertinas under the
brand “Louis Lachenal” as well. This dual production continued after Lachenal’s own
death, until a date that Chambers identifies as “late 1865/early 1866”, when
Wheatstone & Co. arranged for its own independent manufacturing
and no longer relied on Lachenal & Co. to supply its
instruments. 2
Thus, at exactly the same time as the daughters’ visit to Edinburgh,
it was becoming very important for the Lachenal company to
raise the visibility of Lachenal-branded concertinas as alternatives to the better-known Wheatstone-branded
concertinas: they would in the future receive revenue only from sales of their own Lachenal brand.
The three young Lachenal sisters with their elegant French names would have been the perfect celebrity endorsers,
whose mere appearance on a programme could put the Lachenal company name into the newspapers.
We have the testimony of an eyewitness to one of these concerts. Randall C. Merris
has pointed out to me that W. Cawdell, in his booklet A Short Account of the
English Concertina, published at London and itself dated 1865,
quotes at length from the review published in The Scotsman on 23 October 1865
(reproduced below). Elsewhere in his booklet, Cawdell also says that he attended a concert
given by the Mlles Lachenal in Islington in June of 1865, and in yet a third place he writes:
“I must not omit to speak of lady
concertinists; I have heard of the dangers of Croquet to young men of a susceptible
turn of mind, but I think that those perils cannot be compared to the fascination of a group
of young ladies in a magic semicircle practising selections on several concertinas. I
remember once being present at such a scene, and I went home suffering from heart affection
and Concertina on the brain combined. I recovered entirely from the first, but
the effects of the latter have not quite disappeared.”
[page 17] 3
Taken with Cawdell’s quotation from the review of the Lachenal sisters,
it is very likely that he was describing Marie, Eugenie, and Josephine, whether
he had seen them in Edinburgh or (more probably) in London a few months earlier.
4
18 October 1865
In mid-October of 1865, the first notice that the Lachenal sisters
have been “brought from London especially for this concert” in
order that Edinburgh audiences might have an opportunity to hear
"this fashionable instrument" (the concertina) played in "concerted music".
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
18 October 1865, page 1.
(Click to enlarge.)
The Saturday Evening Concerts
Conducted by Mr. Duncan McLaren
Under the patronage of
The Right Hon. The Lord Provost
...
In Addition to the above Talented Artistes, an Engagement
has been effected with
MDLLE. MARIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. EUGENIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. JOSEPHINE LACHENAL,
The Celebrated Performers on the ENGLISH CONCERTINA
who will in conjunction with
MR. F. W. BRIDGMAN
Perform a Variety of Quartetts, Trios, Duets, and Solos.
These Talented Ladies have been brought from London
specially for this occasion, to afford the Patrons of
these Concerts an opportunity of hearing this fashionable
Instrument in Concerted Music.
Admission, 1s. and 6d; Reserved Seats (numbered), 2s.
...
Doors open at 7; Organ Performance at 7.30, Concert at 8.
Carriages may be ordered at 10.15.
19 October 1865
The notice was repeated the following day, again introducing
the "Talented Ladies".
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
19 October 1865, page 1.
(Click to enlarge.)
The Saturday Evening Concerts
Conducted by Mr. Duncan McLaren
Under the patronage of
The Right Hon. The Lord Provost
...
In Addition to the above Talented Artistes, an Engagement
has been effected with
MDLLE. MARIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. EUGENIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. JOSEPHINE LACHENAL,
The Celebrated Performers on the ENGLISH CONCERTINA
who will in conjunction with
MR. F. W. BRIDGMAN
Perform a Variety of Quartetts, Trios, Duets, and Solos.
These Talented Ladies have been brought from London
specially for this occasion, to afford the Patrons of
these Concerts an opportunity of hearing this fashionable
Instrument in Concerted Music.
Admission, 1s. and 6d; Reserved Seats (numbered), 2s.
...
Doors open at 7; Organ Performance at 7.30, Concert at 8.
Carriages may be ordered at 10.15.
21 October 1865
On Saturday 21 October 1865, the day of the concert,
the notice is repeated once more, along with an editorial mention.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
21 October 1865, page 1.
(Click to enlarge.)
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
21 October 1865, page 2.
(Click to enlarge.)
Saturday Evening Concert.--The programme for to-night
contains a novelty--viz., the performance of a movement from
Mozart's Quartett in F major, played on four concertinas.
The artistes are the Mdlles. Lachenal, of London celebrity,
and Mr. Bridgman.
23 October 1865
The initial appearance of the Lachenal sisters was reviewed on
the following Monday, noting that it was “the first occasion, we
believe” on which music arranged for three and four concertinas
had been heard in Edinburgh. “The effect was exceedingly good … .”
Other artistes on the same programme are styled as “Miss”, but the
Lachenal sisters are invariably referred to as “Mademoiselle”:
“Mdlles. Lachenal are unquestionably proficients on their respective
instruments, and the music public of Edinburgh are indebted to Mr. M'Laren
for his enterprise in affording them an opportunity of hearing a performance
both novel and interesting.”
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
23 October 1865, page 2.
(Click to enlarge.)
Saturday Evening Concerts.--The second of the series of
these concerts took place on Saturday evening, in presence
of an audience not quite so numerous as that of the previous
week, yet sufficiently large to fill the Music Hall without
overcrowding. The artists engaged were Miss Grace Armytage,
Master Sanders, Mr H. C. Sanders, and Mr Cooper, vocalists;
and Mdlles. Lachenal, and Mr F. W. Bridgman,
instrumentalists. The great novelty in the programme was
the concerted pieces, arranged for three and four
concertinas--the first occasion, we believe, in which such a
combination has been heard in Edinburgh. The effect was
exceedingly good, more especially in the operatic selections
and the national airs. The movements from Mozart's Symphony
were scarcely so satisfactory; not because they were less
charmingly played, but because the structure of the music is
not so well adapted for the instrument. The first quartett,
on themes from "Semiramide," "Sonnambula," and "Lucrezia
Borgia," played by the sisters Lachenal and Mr Bridgman, was
the most satisfactory both as to its arrangement and
performance. Mdlle. Marie Lachenal's solo on airs from
"Faust" was also worthy of all praise for the tasteful and
artistic manner in which it was rendered. Not less
effective was the duet on subjects taken from "Les
Huguenots," played by Mdlles. Marie and Eugenie on treble
and tenor concertinas. The trio on national melodies, as
might have been expected, met with an enthusiastic reception
and was re-demanded. The last quartett, on English airs,
which had unfortunately been placed at the end of the
programme, was marred by the noise occasioned by a large
portion of the audience rising to depart. Mdlles. Lachenal
are unquestionably proficients on their respective
instruments, and the music public of Edinburgh are indebted
to Mr M'Laren for his enterprise in affording them an
opportunity of hearing a performance both novel and
interesting. ...
25 October 1865
After the successful concert on Saturday and the good review
on Monday, the impressario Duncan M'Laren inserted an advertistement
two days later addressed to “managers of concerts, soirees, &c.”
with the news that the Lachenal sisters were available for
further engagements, and with their local concertinist they were
the “Concertina Quartette”.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
25 October 1865, page 1.
(Click to enlarge.)
Mr Duncan M'Laren, St Andrew Hotel, Edinburgh, can negotiate
Engagements for the "CONCERTINA QUARTETTE"--MDLLES. MARIE,
EUGENIE, and JOSEPHINE LACHENAL, and Mr F. W. BRIDGMAN,
whose success at the Saturday Evening Concerts has been so
decided. First-Class Artistes in all Branches of the
Profession are also open to Engagements.
28 October 1865
Mr. M'Laren repeated his offer the following Saturday, a week
after the first concert.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
28 October 1865, page 1.
(Click to enlarge.)
Mr Duncan M'Laren, St Andrew Hotel, Edinburgh, can negotiate
Engagements for the "CONCERTINA QUARTETTE"--MDLLES. MARIE,
EUGENIE, and JOSEPHINE LACHENAL, and Mr F. W. BRIDGMAN,
whose success at the Saturday Evening Concerts has been so
decided. First-Class Artistes in all Branches of the
Profession are also open to Engagements.
07 November 1865
The next Saturday Evening Concert by the Lachenal sisters was three weeks after the
first. In the first brief advertisement he sisters are
listed as “the Misses” Lachenal.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
07 November 1865, page 1.
(Click to enlarge.)
Saturday Evening Concerts
Under the patronage of
The Right Hon. The Lord Provost
Saturday, 11th November.
...
The Misses MARIE, EUGENIE and JOSEPHINE LACHENAL,
The Celebrated Performers on the ENGLISH CONCERTINA
MR. F. W. BRIDGMAN
the Eminent Accompanist.
11 November 1865
By the time of the full announcement on the day of the second concert, the sisters have once again
regained their usual French titles. This announcement includes the highlights of the
material they will play, mostly in trios and quartettes. The bulk of the music has
been arranged by George Case.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
11 November 1865, page 4.
(Click to enlarge.)
...
In addition to the above Talented Artistes, Mr McLaren has
much pleasure in announcing the Re-Engagement of
MDLLE. MARIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. EUGENIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. JOSEPHINE LACHENAL,
The Celebrated Performers on the ENGLISH CONCERTINA
who, in conjunction with
MR. F. W. BRIDGMAN
will Perform the following:--
Quartett on Airs from "Elisire d'Amore" (Two Trebles,
Tenor, and Bass Concertinas), G. Case.
Concertante Duet on Airs from "Le Domino Noir," "Fra
Diavolo," and "Masaniello" (Treble Concertina and
Pianoforte), Sydney Smith and R. Blagrove.
Trio on Scotch Airs, Introducing "Logie o'Buchan,"
"Comin' thro' the Rye," "Within a mile o' Edinburgh toon,"
"The Birks o' Aberfeldy," and "Whistle and I'll come tae ye,
my lad" (Two Trebles and Bass Concertinas), G. Case.
Quartett on English Airs, introducing "Rule Britannia,"
"Home, Sweet Home," and "God save the Queen" (Two Trebles,
Tenor, and Bass Concertinas), G. Case.
Mr. F. W. Bridgman, Accompanist.
13 November 1865
The review of the second concert again appeared on the following
Monday, and was again very favorable. A quartette was praised as
“cleverly arranged, and … most tastefully interpreted
by Mr Bridgman and his fair co-executants”. “The duet
on airs from Le Domino Noir, &c., was also most charmingly
given by Mdlle Marie Lachenal and Mr Bridgman. The trio on Scottish
airs by the three sisters was equally satisfactory, and received an
encore, which, however, was gracefully declined.”
“Their concluding number was the quartette introducing ‘Rule
Brittania,’ ‘Home, sweet home,’ and ‘God save the
Queen.’ During the performance of the National Anthem the audience
remain seated—a phenomenon we never saw exhibited in any concert-room.”
Mr. M'Laren's attempts to arrange more concerts had apparently been
successful, because the Scotsman was able to add that “We are glad to learn
that these accomplished artistes intend to remain
some time in Edinburgh, so that we may hope to have frequent opportunities of
hearing them.” A policy of appearing at charity concerts has begun,
with the note that the performers have entertained at the Royal Asylum at Morningside
and that “the inmates appreciated the provision so considerately made
for their entertainment.”
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
13 November 1865, page 2.
(Click to enlarge.)
... The concertina playing of the Mdlles Lachenal and Mr
Bridgman formed a most important feature in the concert.
The quartette on airs from L'Elisir d'Amore was exceedingly
effective. It is cleverly arranged, and was most tastefully
interpreted by Mr Bridgman and his fair co-executants. The
duet on airs from Le Domino Noir, &c., for treble concertina
and pianoforte, was also most charmingly given by Mdlle
Marie Lachenal and Mr Bridgman. The trio on Scottish airs
by the three sisters was equally satisfactory, and received
an encore, which, however, was gracefully declined. Their
concluding number was the quartette introducing "Rule
Britannia," "Home, sweet home," and "God save the Queen."
During performance of the National Anthem the audience
remained seated--a phenomenon we never saw exhibited in any
conference room. We are glad to learn that these
accomplished artistes intend to remain some time in
Edinburgh, so that we may hope to have frequent
opportunities of hearing them.
...
By the kindness of Mr M'Laren, the artists who were engaged
for Saturday evening gave a concert at the Royal Asylum at
Morningside in the afternoon. The performance, which lasted
fully two hours, was listened to with marked attention, the
hearty applause which was liberally bestowed on every artist
alike showing how deeply the inmates appreciated the
provision so considerately made for their entertainment.
18 November 1865
Following the successful second concert, Mr. M'Laren inserted
another advertisement again offering the availability of the Lachenal
sisters.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
18 November 1865, page 6.
(Click to enlarge.)
"The Concertina Quartett," consisting
of the MDLLES. MARIE, EUGENIE, and JOSEPHINE
LACHENAL, and Mr F. W. BRIDGMAN, the celebrated
Performers on the English Concertina are OPEN to accept
ENGAGEMENTS for Concerts, Soirees, and Private
Entertainments. For terms, &c., apply to
Mr Duncan M'Laren, St Andrew Hotel.
09 December 1865
A third major concert was announced for Wednesday the 13th of December,
not in the same Saturday series as the two preceding ones. This concert was
for the benefit of the Edinburgh Lifeboat Fund charity.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
09 December 1865, page 4.
(Click to enlarge.)
GRAND CONCERT
Under the Patronage of
Right Hon. The LORD PROVOST.
EDINBURGH LIFEBOAT FUND.
The COMMITTEE beg to announce that a CONCERT of
Characteristic Music (in Behalf of the above Fund)
will be given on
Wednesday Evening, the 13th Instant,
In the Music Hall.
Artistes--
Mdlles. MARIE, EUGENE, and JOSEPHINE LACHENAL;
Miss C. H. LINDLEY; Miss E. SEAGER; Mr W. KERR;
The EDINBURGH GLEE UNION; a SELECT and
EFFICIENT CHORUS; The BAND of the EDINBURGH
RIFLE VOLUNEERS; Grand Organ, Pianoforte, and
English Concertina--Mr F. BRIDGMAN.
...
PROGRAMME
Quartett on Airs from "Elisire d'Amore", G. Case
(Two Trebles, Tenor, and Bass Concertinas) Mdlles. Lachenal
and Mr Bridgman
...
Trio on Scotch and Irish Airs, introducing -- "We'll gang nae
mair to yon Toun," "Oft in the Stilly Night," "My Boy
Tammy," and "The Campbells are Comin'"
(Treble, Tenor, and Bass Concertinas) Mdlles. Lachenal
...
Solo--On Airs from Gounod's "Faust" -- R. Blagrove
(Treble Concertina) Mdlle. Marie Lachenal.
...
Quartett on English Airs (G. Case), introducing "Rule Britannia,"
"Home, Sweet Home," and "God Save the Queen"
(Two Trebles, Tenor, and Bass Concertinas) Mdlle Marie Lachenal,
Mr Bridgman, Mdlles. Eugenie and Josephine Lachenal.
...
Tickets, Reserved Seats (Numbered), 2s. 6d.; Side Seats, 1s. 6d.;
Under Gallery, 1s.; Galleries and Orchestra, 6d., to be had of
Messrs Wood & Co., George Street; and at the Working Men's
Institute, Writer's Court, High Street.
Doors open at 7.30; Concert to Commence precisely at 8.15.
Carriages may be ordered at 10.15.
14 December 1865
A review of the Lifeboat Fund concert appeared on the following day, again
with praise for the Lachenal sisters and their concertinas.
“The concertina, played by Mddles. Lachenal and Mr Bridgman,
was worthy of all praise, and loudly applauded, the quartette
from L’Elisire d’Amore and the trio on
Scotch and Irish airs being re-demanded.”
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
14 December 1865, page 2.
(Click to enlarge.)
CONCERT.--Last night, a concert for the benefit of the
Edinburgh Lifeboat Fund took place in the Music Hall. For
the sake of the benevolent object to which the profits of
the concert are to be devoted, we were sorry to see the room
so poorly attnded, many of the centre seats being wholly
unoccupied. The artists engaged for the occasion were--
Miss Lindley, Miss Seager, Mr Kerr, the Edinburgh
Glee Union, and a select chorus, for the vocal department;
and for the instrumental--Mdlles. Lachenal, Mr Bridgman, and
the Band of the Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers. The song
selected my Miss Lindley, "The Sailor Boy's Mother,"
though feelingly rendered, is not well adapted for her
voice, consequently she did not appear to such advantage as
we have been accustomed to hear her. In the concerted
music, however, she sung with her usual ability. Miss
Seager achieved an unmistakable success in "The Three
Fishers," which, notwithstanding the request that no
encores should be insisted on, she had to repeat.
The other songs were "The Bay of Biscay," which Mr. Geoghegan
gave without the traditional shouts of "A sail, a sail," &c.,
or the vocal cheers at the last verse. Neukomm's "The Sea,"
by Mr Rutherford, and "The White Squall," by Mr Kerr.
Bishop's fine glee, "Blow, Gentle Gales," was satisfactorily
rendered by Misses Lindley, Seager, and the Glee Union; so
also was "When Winds Breathe Soft" and the "Venetian
Boat Song." The part songs went very steadily, but the
voices were not well balanced, the sopranos being too weak,
except in the concluding chorus of the first part, and the
tenors too loud throughout. The most effective was a
setting of Campbell's noble song, "Ye Mariners of England,"
by Henry Leslie, which was excellently sung. The others
were "See our oars" (encored), "The Hardy Norseman," "The
Boatie Rows," and "Rule Britannia." The concertina,
played by Mdlles. Lachenal and Mr Bridgman, was worthy of
all praise, and loudly applauded, the quartette from
L'Elisire d'Amore and the trio on Scotch and Irish airs
being re-demanded. Mr John Bishop officiated as conductor,
and Mr Bridgman as accompanist. The Lord Provost, who
was on the platform, referred briefly to the object for
which the concert was got up, stating that the working
classes of Edinburgh had already raised £300 in
shillings and sixpences. He paid a well-merited
compliment to Mr Ballantine, who had laboured so zealously
in the cause. It would appear that about a hundred pounds
are still wanting to complete the boat to be presented
to the Institution, and other two hundred pounds for
carriage and boathouse. ...
15 December 1865
The next Saturday Evening Concert with the Lachenal sisters was on 16 December 1865, five
weeks after the previous one, with the “re-engagement” of the “Celebrated
Performers on the English Concertina” featured in the advertisements.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
15 December 1865, page 1.
(Click to enlarge.)
Saturday Evening Concerts,
Under the patronage of the Right Hon. the
Lord Provost.
Saturday, 16th December.
...
Re-Engagement of
MDLLE. MARIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. EUGENIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. JOSEPHINE LACHENAL,
The Celebrated Performers on the English Concertina.
18 December 1865
A review of the third Saturday Evening Concert with the
Lachenal sisters showed that the press was still very happy with the concertina
performances.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
18 December 1865, page 2.
(Click to enlarge.)
Two concertina solos, the one on national airs and the
other on themes from William Tell, were tastefully played by
Mdlle Marie Lachenal, and met with immense applause. Not
less satisfactory as performances were the trio, by the
three sisters, and the quartett, "Invitation a la Danse," in
which they were assisted by Mr Bridgman.
27 December 1865
The sisters Lachenal appeared at a “Musical Soiree” for children, held
“under the auspices of the Total Abstinence Society and Band of Hope”
just after Christmas. It must have been very different from their Saturday
Evening Concert series, with over 400 children attending, and a programme
featuring addresses by clergymen. The music by the three sisters was judged to be “the
most attractive feature in the evening’s proceedings.”
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
27 December 1865, page 2.
(Click to enlarge.)
DALNEITH. -- Musical Soiree. -- A grand musical soiree took
place in the Corn Exchange Hall, Dalkeith, on Monday evening,
under the auspices of the Total Abstinence Society and Band
of Hope. The hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion
with flags, banners, and festoons of evergreens. At each end
of the well arranged platform was placed a handsome Christmas
tree, loaded with prizes for the juveniles. The meeting,
which numbered not less than 800 persons, the half of whom
were juveniles, was presided over by Mr George Blair of
Eskbank. The proceedings commenced with a service of tea,
cake, and fruit, followed by an address from the chairman.
During the evening, the Rev. Joseph Brown, D.D., of Glasgow,
and formerly of the East United Presbyterian Church, Dalkeith,
the Rev. William Arnot, and Mr J. S. Gibb delivered addresses.
The most attractive feature in the evening's proceedings was
the musical portion of the programme, which included a variety
of excellent quartetts, trios, and solos for the concertina,
which were admirably performed by Madlles Marie, Eugenie, and
Josephine Lachenal. Miss Isa Robertson, of Edinburgh, sang
a number of songs in a pleasing and tasteful manner. Mr F. W.
Bridgman, of Edinburgh, performed the duties of accompanist
in his well-known superior style. The proceedings, which had
been throughout of a highly agreeable character, terminated
at half past eleven. The drawing for the prizes on the
Christmas trees took place last night in the Corn Exchange Hall.
20 January 1866
The final Saturday Evening Concert for the Lachenal Sisters
was on 20 January 1866, “last appearance this season”.
No review of this concert could be found in the Scotsman
for the following Monday as usual.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh),
20 January 1866, page 4.
(Click to enlarge.)
Saturday Evening Concerts,
Under the patronage of the Right Hon. the
Lord Provost.
...
Last appearance this season of--
MDLLE. MARIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. EUGENIE LACHENAL,
MDLLE. JOSEPHINE LACHENAL,
The Celebrated Performers on the English Concertina, who
will perform the following:--
Overture--"Il Barbier al Siviglia." Duet--from
"Guillaume Tell." Trio--on Scotch and Irish airs (by
request) Solo--"Il Trovatore," and Solo on Scotch airs.
Afterword
Concerts such as these by the three Lachenal sisters lasted only a short time.
By 1868, Marie was married and by 1869 she had her first child. We find later
notices for the two younger sisters without Marie, as this one from 1871:
The Penny Illustrated Paper (London),
6 May 1871, page 283.
The sweet liquid notes of the concertina are
generally so welcome whenever a performance on
this melodious musical instrument forms an attrac-
tion of a concert that it is strange it is not heard
more frequently. In our Exhibition report the
concertina is recommended as one of the most
melodious enliveners of the home circle; and
our opinion of its value has been strengthened
by the charming airs lately played in public on
the concertina by the two accomplished young Swiss
artistes, Mdlles. Eúgénie and Josephine Lachenal.
The concertina was the specialty of a con-
cert recently given at the Acton Lecture Hall
by Madame and Mdlle. Piedra; and at another held
by Mr. Mason (an expert young violinist), at Barns-
bury Hall. Themselves practised musicians, Madame
and Mdlle Piedra performed with no little skill;
and the facile manipulation exhibited by the latter
and by Mdlle. Josephine Lachenal, in a duet from
“Les Huguenots,” deserves recognition as examples
of mastery over a difficult instrument. Whether
playing solos or duets, Mdlles. Lachenal show a
marked talent for eliciting the sweetest notes of the
concertina, which we yet hope to see more popular as
a musical instrument.
