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Collection Description
Collection name McCann Collection: United Kingdom (1955-1998)
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Description A collection of 116 boxes of concert programmes collected by Norman McCann, from 1955 to 1998. The amount of material per year is generally largest from the mid-1960s to the beginning of the 1990s. From 1994 onwards, the amount of material per year is significantly smaller than for other periods.

A significant amount of programmes in the collection is from orchestral concerts, though the collection also includes programmes from choral concerts, chamber concerts and solo recitals. A significant amount of recital programmes are from concerts given by eminent singers.

Naturally, a significant number of programmes are from concerts that took place in London. The proportion of programmes from London – as opposed to provincial venues – is largest in the material from the 1990s. Key London venues include the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre (from 1981 onwards), Fairfield Hall (Croydon), Queen Elizabeth Hall (from 1967 onwards), Purcell Room (from 1967 onwards) and Wigmore Hall. Up until the 1980s, programmes from Edinburgh are the most prolific amongst provincial programmes – particularly programmes from the Edinburgh Festival.

Though sometimes a small proportion in terms of quantity, there are significant programmes from Eastern European orchestras and choirs. These programmes are frequently from tours of provincial venues across England and Wales, and are most noticeable in the boxes of programmes from the 1970s and 1980s. For instance, the boxes for 1974 include programmes from the following groups to provincial venues: Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak State Radio Orchestra and Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert venues were usually in towns in the North of England. In addition, the following groups also participated in multi-venue tours of Wales in 1974: Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, and Bulgarian State Male Choir. The latter allegedly performed “in costume”.

A number of programmes display their provenance clearly: the concert’s promotion by Norman McCann is stated clearly on the programme. In addition, there are also a number of programmes from concerts which included performances by the soprano Lucille Graham – the wife of Norman McCann.

Arrangement:
The collection is arranged loosely in a chronological order. Programmes are arranged by year, but no further subdivision is used.
Date range 1955 - 1998
Associated People and Organisations Bulgarian State Male Choir - Dresdener Philharmonie - Edinburgh Festival - Graham, Lucille - McCann, Norman - Slovak State Radio Orchestra - Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra - Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra -
Associated Places Barbican Centre Fairfield Halls, Croydon Purcell Room Queen Elizabeth Hall Royal Festival Hall Wigmore Hall
Associated Times 20th century - late 1971-1999 20th century - mid 1931-1970
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Royal Academy of Music Museum
Marylebone Road, London NW1 5HT Open Map
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Website http://www.ram.ac.uk/museum
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Accrual Status Closed
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