Scena and Cavatina -- "Casta Diva. ' ' Swedish Melody -- "Herdsman's (Norma) Bellini. Song" (known as the Echo Song) ^I'lle Jenny Lind. Sung by M'lle Jenny Lind. Grand Duet for two Piano Fortes. Greeting to America -- Prize Com- Thalberg. position, byBayard Taylor, Esq. Messrs. Benedict and Hoffman. Benedict -- Composed expressly for Duet -- "Per Piacer." this occasion. (II Turco in Italia) Rossini. M'lle Jenny Lind. M'lle Jenny Lind and Sig. Belletti. Conductor -- Mr. Benedict.

Festivals and Pageants 45

Great excitement was caused by the auction sale of a choice of seats, Mr. Genin, the hatter, securing the first place on the opening night for what was then considered the very large sum of S225. A contemporary report pictures the scene at the Garden :

At four o'clock Jenny Lind arrived at the Garden, in order to pass quietly and unobserved through the crowd. She dressed there instead of at the hotel. At five o'clock the gates were thrown open, and from that time until eight o'clock there was a continuous tide of human beings passing into the capacious building. The numljcrs from the country were very considerable. They were from New Haven, Newport, Albany, Newark and various other cities; and when all were seated, it was indeed a splendid sight. The ladies' dresses were very magnificent, and such as the great mass of women in no other country in the world can afford to wear. The fair sex were not as numerous as might be expected, the gentlemen outnumbering them considerably; but those who were present seemed to enjoy the concert in the highest degree. It is very probable that many ladies were kept away for the first night by the fear of being crushed; but when they find that their apprehensions were groundless, they will doubtless take the Castle by storm to-morrow night.