SearchGetRecordCity of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (1953-75)
Collection Summary
Collection Title
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (1953-75)
Unique Identifier
Cup.918/17
Description
A collection of prospectuses for the concerts given at the Town Hall, Birmingham by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from its 33rd to its 55th season (1953–75), missing those for the 41st (1960–61), 44th (1963–64), 51st (1970–71) and 52nd seasons (1972–73).
Each item begins with an Introduction and an article concerning the music to be performed during the season (variously entitled ‘Foreword’ or ‘Highlights of the Season’). There are also lists (with photographs) of the principal and guest conductors and records of the concerts to be given by the orchestra outside of Birmingham.
All prospectuses contain programmes for the Thursday Symphony Concert series, given across this period. Additional concerts were as follows:
Tuesday Celebrity Concerts: to end of 1959–60 season (not 1953–54).
Saturday Popular Concerts: to end of the 1956–57 season and from 1971–72 to 1974–75.
Sunday Evening Concerts: to end of 1965–66 season.
Lunch Hour Concerts: to end of 1956–57 season.
‘Music You Love Concerts’: to end of 1968–69 season.
Wednesday Pops: 1967–68 season to the end of 1969–70.
All programmes contain photographs of the principal performers. Those for the Tuesday Celebrity Concerts also provide a list of soloists and give brief biographical notes.
During the 1965–66 season, the Thursday concerts incorporated performances of the complete set of Sibelius Symphonies whilst the Sunday concerts included all nine of Beethoven’s works in the same genre.
The principal conductors of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for these years were as follows: Rudolf Schwarz (to the end of 1956–57 season), Andrzej Panifnik (1957–58 and 1958–59), Sir Adrian Boult (1959–60), Hugo Rignold (1961–62 season to end of 1967–68) and Louis Frémaux (1969–70 season to end of 1974–75).
All brochures include information regarding tickets for the concerts (with seating plans) and there is a large amount of documentation concerning the various committee members of the orchestra, including, from 1964-65, a list of the members of the CBSO Society.
The brochures for the seasons 1964-65, 1966-67 and 1967-68 include reproductions of press comments.
Each item begins with an Introduction and an article concerning the music to be performed during the season (variously entitled ‘Foreword’ or ‘Highlights of the Season’). There are also lists (with photographs) of the principal and guest conductors and records of the concerts to be given by the orchestra outside of Birmingham.
All prospectuses contain programmes for the Thursday Symphony Concert series, given across this period. Additional concerts were as follows:
Tuesday Celebrity Concerts: to end of 1959–60 season (not 1953–54).
Saturday Popular Concerts: to end of the 1956–57 season and from 1971–72 to 1974–75.
Sunday Evening Concerts: to end of 1965–66 season.
Lunch Hour Concerts: to end of 1956–57 season.
‘Music You Love Concerts’: to end of 1968–69 season.
Wednesday Pops: 1967–68 season to the end of 1969–70.
All programmes contain photographs of the principal performers. Those for the Tuesday Celebrity Concerts also provide a list of soloists and give brief biographical notes.
During the 1965–66 season, the Thursday concerts incorporated performances of the complete set of Sibelius Symphonies whilst the Sunday concerts included all nine of Beethoven’s works in the same genre.
The principal conductors of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for these years were as follows: Rudolf Schwarz (to the end of 1956–57 season), Andrzej Panifnik (1957–58 and 1958–59), Sir Adrian Boult (1959–60), Hugo Rignold (1961–62 season to end of 1967–68) and Louis Frémaux (1969–70 season to end of 1974–75).
All brochures include information regarding tickets for the concerts (with seating plans) and there is a large amount of documentation concerning the various committee members of the orchestra, including, from 1964-65, a list of the members of the CBSO Society.
The brochures for the seasons 1964-65, 1966-67 and 1967-68 include reproductions of press comments.
Format
Date range of collection
1953 - 1975
Accumulation Dates
-
Suggested Audience
Not Specific
Associated People or Organisations
Associated Places
Associated Times
This collection is about
Location Details
British Library
The British Library
St Pancras
,96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB United Kingdom Open Map
Website
Email
reader-admissions@bl.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)870 444 1500
Visiting Information
Internet 24/7
For opening hours see http://www.bl.uk/about/opening.html#reading
Inspire form.
For disability access see http://www.bl.uk/services/reading/rraccess-guide.html
Collections Overview
The Library's collection of song and piano sheet music is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, providing a valuable insight into Victorian society and culture as well as the music itself.
For details of other collections held at the same location: See the location record
Additional Collection Information
Accrual Status
closed
Related Publications
Management Information (Type)
Collection Owner(s)
Collection Creator(s)
Collection Collector(s)
Collection Custodians(s)
Associated Collection(s)
