CopenhagenAndItsEnvirons

106

tain ing ab o u t 8 0 0 persons. It is su pp orted out of the K in g ’s Civil L ist, and chiefly used for C oncerts given by foreign artists to w hom it is allow ed gratis. D u rin g the reign o f C hristian V III. this th eatre w as granted to an Italian O p era C om pany, w h ic h , thou gh none o f the b e s t, afforded an agreeable recreatio n to the M usical p u b lic , p a r­ ticu larly to the foreign residents. The Casino , in Am alieg ad e, built in 1846, from plans and ideas suggested b y , and through the exertions o f, Georg Carstensen, plays an im portant p art in the W inter amusements of the Copenhageners. Originally the building, arranged w ith great taste, was planned for the most varied diversions, among w hich, how ever, dram atic p er­ formances were to act a subordinate p a rt: the ground floor was therefore laid out as a Bazar, Refreshment R o om , &c. ; the Pergola, on the first floor, was arranged as a w inter garden ; and the two Saloons were appropriated partly for Concerts and M asquerades, partly, when opportunity offered to dram atic and similar performances. But this plan proved a failure ; the establishment became deeply involved; the capital raised by shares was regarded as lost ; a n d , to escape entire ru in , it was placed under Administration. It was soon seen that the theatre must be relied upon as the