A collection of 280 programmes from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, from 1893 to 1939. The programmes contain analytical programme notes as well as illustrations, such as sketches of composers.

The collection contains volumes from the following seasons: 1893-1894 (1 vol.); 1921-1922 (1 vol.); 1930-1939 (9 vols.). The 1893-1894 season was the 13th season of concerts.

The concerts took place at the Music Hall in the 1893-1894 season, then Symphony Hall – the inaugural concert by the Boston Symphony Orchestra took place here in 1901 – from 1921 onwards. The conductors for the seasons were Emil Paur (1893-1894); Pierre Monteuax (1921-1922) and Serge Koussevitsky (1930-1939). However, other conductors were used for some individual programmes within these seasons.

There were 24 concerts per season, taking place from October to April or early May. The concerts occurred weekly, and took place on Friday afternoons and the adjacent Saturday evening. The 1893-1894 season was an exception, where the Friday afternoon was called “first rehearsal”, and it is assumed this “rehearsal” was open to the public.

Some volumes include programmes from festivals given by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. These include a Brahms Festival (April 1933), Tchaikovsky Festival (April 1934) and the Berkshire Symphonic Festival at Tanglewood (1939).

Arrangement:
The programmes are arranged chronologically.

1893 - 1939

-

Not Specific

• Koussevistsky, Serge -
• Monteux, Pierre -
• Berkshire Symphonic Festival, Tanglewood -
• Boston Symphony Orchestra -
• Pauer, Emil -

• Symphony Hall, Boston
• Music Hall, Boston

• 20th century - mid 1931-1970
• 20th century - early 1900-1930
• 19th century - late Victorian 1876-1899

• Analytical Notes
• Illustrations

College Hall 220-238 Goldhawk Road London W12 9PL

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portraits@rcm.ac.uk

020 7591 4340

020 7589 7740 

Mon-Fri by appointment

The Portraits and Performance History Collection and its associated reading room is housed in a recently adapted space within the RCM's College Hall, its hall of residence for students. There is step-free access for visitors.

The Centre for Performance History (CPH) is a research centre and is also responsible for the stewardship of two well-established RCM research collections, the Museum of Instruments and the Portraits and Performance History Collection (PPHC). The latter houses a diverse collection relating to the history of performance including the RCM’s internationally famous collection of images, comprising 340 original portraits and sculptures and 25,000 prints and photographs, forming the most comprehensive archive of likenesses of musicians in the UK. The collection of 600,000 concert programmes from 1720 to the present day is of major importance for research into the history of music, society and culture.