A collection of eight boxes of programmes and prospectuses from Birmingham Town Hall, from 1849 to 1997. Birmingham Town Hall was built in 1834. The collection contains a significant number of programmes from the 1940s onwards, especially from the 1980s. However, the amount of programmes wanes significantly in the 1990s. The collection includes press cuttings.

There are 17 nineteenth-century programmes in the collection. The first programme in the collection is from a performance of Elijah given on 8 February 1849. The performance featured Jenny Lind as soloist. Other vocal soloists were as follows: Miss A Williams, Miss M Williams, Mr Lockey, Mr Perring, Mr Gough, Mr Mackain and Mr Machin. The performance was conducted by M. Benedict. The leader was Mr. C.A. Seymour and the organist was Mr. Stimpson.

The next programme in the collection is from 1885. The collection includes a number of programmes from the Birmingham Musical Festival (also entitled the Birmingham Triennial Musical Festival). There are individual programmes from the following years of nineteenth-century festivals: 1885 (1); 1888 (8); 1891 (2); 1894 (2); 1897 (2). In addition, there is a programme from a concert "Messrs. Harrisons' Concert" given in 1894.

The rest of the collection dates from the twentieth century. Early twentieth century programmes include items from the Birmingham Musical Festival, Birmingham Festival Choral Society, Harrison Concerts and Halford Concerts Society. There are only a relatively small number of programmes from the 1920s and 1930s. These include a number of programmes from oratorios. In addition there are programmes from choral concerts (largely from the Birmingham Festival Choral Society), orchestral concerts (largely from the City of Birmingham Orchestra) and a small number from solo recitals. There is also a programme from the reopening of the town hall on 12 April 1927.

From 1945 onwards, the majority of programmes in the collection are from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) – previously the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the name changed in 1948. The collection also houses a number of prospectuses and multiple-concert programmes – programmes which give details and programme notes for one section of the season – from the CBSO. There are other programmes from groups including the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Choir (occasionally accompanied by the CBSO). A small number of visiting foreign orchestras are also represented in the collection. In addition, there are a few programmes from recitals, including organ recitals and a series of lunchtime recitals. There are also a number of programmes from solo recitals given as part of the series "H. Samuel International Concerts" from the 1970s.

The collection includes programmes from CBSO Proms as well as programmes from the Birmingham Festival of Entertainments (1960s).

Arrangement:
The material is arranged chronologically. Undated items are filed at the end of the collection.

1849 - 1997

-

Not Specific

• Benedict, M. -
• Birmingham Festival Choral Society -
• Birmingham Festival of Entertainments -
• Birmingham Musical Festival -
• Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra -
• Birmingham Triennial Festival -
• CBSO Proms -
• City of Birmingham Orchestra -
• City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra -
• Gough, Mr -
• H. Samuel International Concerts (Birmingham) -
• Halford Concerts Society -
• Harrison Concert (Birmingham) -
• Lind, Jenny (Johanna Maria) -
• Lockey, Mr -
• Machin, Mr -
• Mackain, Mr -
• Perring, Mr -
• Seymour, Mr. C.A. -
• Stimpson, Mr -
• Williams, A. -
• Williams, M. -

• Birmingham
• Birmingham Coliseum (afterwards Gaiety)

• 19th century - early Victorian 1837-1850
• 19th century - late Victorian 1876-1899
• 20th century - early 1900-1930
• 20th century - late 1971-1999
• 20th century - mid 1931-1970

• Press Cuttings

Centre for Performance History Prince Consort Road London London SW7 2BS United Kingdom

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cph@rcm.ac.uk

020 7 589 4340

020 7 589 7740 

Mon-Fri by appointment

During the course of 2008 a new facility providing collection storage space, reader facilities and office space will created for the Centre for Performance History at College Hall, the site of the RCM's Hall of Residence in London W12. This will eventually offer improved access to researchers, and provide the collection with a secure and stable environment, all in one place. In order that the relevant parts of the collection can be packed and prepared for the move, and then re-shelved at the new facility as expeditiously as possible, all facilities and services (including photographic services and access to the programmes collection) of the Centre for Performance History are suspended until 12 January 2009. The Museum of Instruments will continue to operate a full service (including public opening during the summer vacation) throughout this period. We apologize for the inevitable inconvenience that this closure will cause to colleagues, students, researchers and members of the public, but believe that the improvements that will result will benefit the long-term preservation of the collections and will provide enhanced access to them for all users.