Page "Royal Liverpool Philharmonic" Paragraph 4

Problems soon arose.

In 1850 the choir formed the Liverpool Philharmonic Auxiliary Society and were in conflict with their conductor.

Herrmann offered to resign, this was not accepted by the society.

By 1852 the financial problems of the society were deteriorating.

Membership of the society was exclusive and not all the seats on offer had been taken up.

Suggestions that the conditions for membership should be relaxed were refused.

In 1852 the society widened its activities from music by arranging theatrical performances, including Charles Dickens ' company and an appearance by William Makepeace Thackeray.

In 1855 it was discovered that William Sudlow, the Honorary Secretary had been stealing money from the society ; an amount of more than £ 2, 424 (£ as of ) had been embezzled.

Sudlow resigned from the society.

He was replaced by a paid secretary and the post was given to Henry Sudlow, a distant relative of William.

Henry was to serve the society for some 30 years without any similar problem.

Prominent artists appearing for the society in 1856 were Jenny Lind, Clara Schumann and Charles Hallé.

Dickens returned in 1858 and during that year the society was able to pay off the mortgage on the hall.