There is Sweet Music Here: The World of Wigmore Hall
By: Julia Boyd
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Wigmore Hall does not boast a grand façade, but behind it lies something extraordinary: one of the world’s most beloved concert halls, within whose walls we find exceptional performers, composers, impresarios and, of course, audiences. The story of Wigmore Hall is the story of music in the 20th and 21st centuries – and of London itself.
In this illuminating book, bestselling author Julia Boyd digs deep into the Hall’s rich history to uncover the secrets of its success. One of London’s prime cultural gems, Wigmore Hall has witnessed fame and failure, love and loss, joy and despair, triumph and tragedy. Reflecting the remarkable changes that have taken place in performance, repertoire and concert-going during its 125 years, it is a tale that encompasses the whole gamut of human experience. Above all, it reminds us of the wonder of music and the artists who create it.
With a stellar cast of performers, among them Ferruccio Busoni, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Benjamin Britten, Myra Hess and Leoš Janáček, not to mention audiences that included Virginia Woolf, Maurice Ravel and Bertrand Russell, this is the sometimes surprising but always intriguing history of ‘London’s most sumptuous temple of music’.
Praise for Julia Boyd:
‘Utterly absorbing’ The Times
‘Fascinating’ Daily Mail
‘Exceptional’ Mail on Sunday
‘Gripping’ Spectator
‘A triumph’ iNews
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‘Essential and fascinating reading for anyone interested in the history of making music in 20th-century London.’
- Tom Holland, novelist, popular historian and podcaster -
‘For lovers of the “sumptuous temple of music” that is Wigmore Hall, this is a kaleidoscopic history of one of Britain’s most beloved and vital musical institutions.’
- Charlotte Higgins, writer and journalist -
‘Julia Boyd’s account of the most exciting and beloved music venue in London should win the Ondaatje Prize for evoking “the spirit of a place” beloved by music lovers since the year Queen Victoria died.’
- Rev. Richard Coles writer, broadcaster and priest -
‘Dazzlingly comprehensive, immaculately researched and lovingly written, this celebration of one of the greatest cultural jewels in the world is part history lesson, part study of cultural mores, and part assessment therefore of ever-changing performance practice. Its intensely rich roll call of the international artists who have performed there across the 125 years since its opening is enlivened by an equally rich treasure trove of anecdote, comment and legend – by turns perspicacious, tender and hilarious. This is required reading for all lovers of this unique venue.’
- Dame Jane Glover, conductor and musicologist -
‘Many halls throughout the world are admired and even venerated, but none inspire as much affection as Wigmore. A concert hall, through its acoustic, is an extension of the instruments and voices which resound within its walls. This fascinating book takes us on a 125-year journey in the company of the musicians who have performed in this most musical of buildings.’
- Stephen Hough, pianist composer and writer -
‘An essential and never-before-told chapter in the history of London comes vividly to life in this revelatory book.’
- Lady Antonia Fraser, author and historian -
‘So much more than a narrow history of a concert hall, this book brings Wigmore Hall into focus, formed through the influence of war, political upheaval and migration. Julia Boyd tells a beautiful, personal tale, steeped in the bricks of one building, while also weaving an extraordinary history of a world and its people. This is a book about music, cultural expression, the power of human empathy and endurance. A tour de force.’
- Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, memoirist and arts administrator
