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Collection Description
Collection name Wigmore Hall Archives (1901-)
Unique identifier
Description A collection of between 250 and 300 boxes and six folders of concert programmes and prospectuses from the Wigmore Hall Archives, from 1901 to the present day. The collection includes concert diaries and fliers, as well as a few tickets. The archives includes material from both the Bechstein Hall (1901-1916) and the Wigmore Hall (1917-). The rest of the archive includes items such as tickets, reviews, photographs and the sound archive – not included in this description.

The programmes date from 1901 to the present day. However, there are very few programmes from years 1946 to 1957 inclusive. The majority of programmes in the collection originated in the Wigmore Hall Archives. However, other programmes have been acquired retrospectively – in particular for the years 1946 to 1957.

The items from the earliest years are bound in archival volumes. These include "fixtures" lists, as well as some tickets. Other early volumes have been rebound, as the original bindings disintegrated. The artist' indexes which accompanied these volumes have been preserved, as well as samples of the original bindings.

The collection largely consists of programmes and prospectuses from recitals and chamber music concerts. However, there are also items from small orchestra and small choral concerts. The concerts represented in the collection are from both externally promoted concerts and concerts promoted by the hall. There are significant numbers of programmes from concerts promoted by Ibbs and Tillett, Askonas Holt and IMG. Programmes from events promoted by the hall include concerts from the following concert series: Sunday Morning Coffee Concerts (series extant since later 1970s); Master Series, which was later called the Wigmore Series (this series includes the Song Recital Series); Pianoforte Series; BBC Radio 3 Lunch-time Concerts (co-produced with the BBC).

The programmes from song recitals include texts to sung items. In later years these have been standardised, and use the translations from the Dietrich Fisher-Diskau books of Lieder and later (from 2005 onwards) from Richard Stokes's volume The book of Lieder.

Arrangement:
The items are arranged in chronological order. Prospectuses and concert diaries are kept at the beginning of the relevant month in which the concerts took place.
Date range 1901 -
Associated People and Organisations Askonas Holt - BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts (Wigmore Hall) - British Broadcasting Corporation - Ibbs and Tillett - IMG - Master Series (Wigmore Hall) - Pianoforte Series (Wigmore Hall) - Song Recital Series (Wigmore Hall) - Sunday Morning Coffee Concerts (Wigmore Hall) - Wigmore Series -
Associated Places Bechstein Hall Wigmore Hall
Associated Times
Associated Content Tickets Flyers Brochures Word books
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Access is by arrangement only.
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Location details

Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street London W1H 0BP United Kingdom Open Map
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Website http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
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Collections Overview The Wigmore Hall Archive contains concert programmes, photographs, correspondence, reviews and recordings. It is an irreplaceable record of the first 100 years and a unique insight into the performing arts history of the 20th century. There is also a growing sound archive.
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For details of other collections held at the same location: See the location record

Additional Collection Information
Accrual Status Open
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