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Collection Description
Collection name Mr Hawes's Concerts (1814-1841)
Unique identifier c.61.h.4 (3.)
Description A collection of 18 programmes and wordbooks for the annual concerts given by William Hawes at various London venues between 1814 and 1841, held as the third part of a bound volume.

The concerts were given on the following dates: 14 April 1814, 14 April 1819, 30 April 1824, 29 April 1825, 27 April 1826, 5 April 1827, 24 April 1828, 7 May 1829, 22 April 1830, 1 July 1831, 24 May 1832, 6 May 1833, 28 April 1834, 10 April 1835, 24 March 1836, 12 May 1838, 24 April 1839, 21 May 1840 and 18 June 1841.

The performances took place at the following venues: Willis's Rooms, St. James's Street (1814, 1832-36, 1838-39); Argyll Rooms (1819, 1824-27); Theatre Royal, English Opera House (1828); New Argyll Rooms (1829); Great Room, King's Theatre, 1830-31); and Queen's Concert Rooms, Hanover Square (1840-41).

Note: The venue referred to here as the English Opera House may be the Lyceum Theatre. Although rarely referred to as a Theatre Royal, the Lyceum was widely known as the English Opera House by this time. William Hawes worked as musical director for this institution from around 1824.

These were two-part miscellaneous concerts, combining orchestral and solo instrumental repertory with Italian and English vocal works.

The programmes provide detailed information regarding the performing forces, including records of the vocal and instrumental soloists and lists of the orchestral ensemble, led by Nicholas Mori/Charles Weichsel and conducted by Sir George Smart. Other notable names include Robert Lindley (cello) and Domenico Dragonetti (double bass), who are mentioned for their accompanying of recitatives.

Certain programmes provide historical or analytical notes, particularly for operatic extracts. There are also numerous annotations in Smart's hand. These provide notification of alterations to the printed programme (particularly those arising from the non-attendance or lateness of performers), comments on the nature and standard of the performance (transpositions of songs, the nature of the accompaniment to vocal pieces), and details regarding rehearsal provision and the source of certain instruments, notably the pianos. These annotations also record the precise timings for the performances (both as a whole and for individual sections) and record the performance of encores.

In addition to the concert programmes, this collection includes 1 concert ticket and correspondence regarding the performances in 1836 and 1838.
Date range 1814 - 1841
Associated People and Organisations Weichsel, Charles - Smart, George - Mori, Nicholas - Lindley, Robert - Hawes, William - Dragonetti, Domenico -
Associated Places Argyll Rooms English Opera House King's Theatre, London (also called Italian opera house; was Queen's Theatre to 1714; became Her Majesty's 1837, His Majesty's 1901, Her Majesty's 1953) New Argyll Rooms Queen's concert rooms (SEE Hanover Square Rooms)
Associated Times 19th century - early 1800-1836 19th century - early Victorian 1837-1850
Associated Content Correspondence Annotations Timings Analytical Notes Word books Programme notes
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British Library, Music Collections
96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB Open Map
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