In no executive branch of the musical art has a more striking and general advancement been achieved in this metropolis [London] within the past quarter of a century than in that portion of theatrical entertainments which consists of orchestral performances, such as may be heard every night in any London theatre, agreeably prefacing the play or plays on the bill of the evening, and, in one or two instances, making the entr'actes or "waits," even more recreative to the audience than the stage business itself. A good band is nowadays well nigh as essential an attraction to a metropolitan playhouse as a good acting company; and the former may be counted upon by the public with even more confidence than the latter, taking one theatre with another.