One box of programmes and prospectuses from Colston Hall, from 1896 to 1998. In particular, the collection contains a large amount of material from the 1940s.

The earlier programmes in the collection include material from the Triennial Bristol Musical Festival – founded in 1873 – from the 9th (1896) and 13th (1912) festivals. Other programmes include concerts given by the Bristol Choral Society and the Bristol Symphony Orchestra. The collection also includes a number of programmes from the concert series "Duck, Son & Pinker Subscription Concerts".

The programmes from the 1940s are dominated by the BBC. The collection contains a large number of programmes from concerts given by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1940 and 1941. These include weekly "lunch-hour concerts". There are also a number of programmes from concerts given by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, especially from 1943 to 1945.

The post-war material is varied, and includes programmes and concert diaries from orchestral concerts, choral concerts and recitals. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is also represented in this part of the collection. The collection includes a number of programmes from the "Bristol Proms".

Arrangement:
Material is arranged chronologically, with undated items filed at the end of the sequence. For 1940 and 1941, A5 BBC material has been separated from other material.

1896 - 1998

-

Not Specific

• BBC Symphony Orchestra -
• Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra -
• Bristol Choral Society -
• Bristol Musical Festival -
• Bristol proms 1968 -
• Bristol Symphony Orchestra -
• Duck, Son & Pinker Subscription Concerts (Bristol) -
• London Philharmonic Orchestra -
• Lunch-hour Concerts (BBC Symphony Orchestra, Bristol) -

• Bristol
• Colston Hall

• 19th century - late Victorian 1876-1899
• 20th century - early 1900-1930
• 20th century - late 1971-1999
• 20th century - mid 1931-1970
• World War II 1939-45

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.