Defeat Covid: Wigmore Hall stages 36 concerts in January
mainLondon’s most active concert hall has just announced a full programme of events for January, with or without audience.
There will be 36 concerts of 60–90 minutes duration. The maximum attendance will be 200, Covid permitting.
On January 8 the hall will launch its self-funded ‘Wigmore Soloists’ led by the British clarinettist Michael Collins and Dutch violinist Isabelle van Keulen. The ensemble will announce itself with Schubert’s Octet for clarinet, bassoon, horn, double bass and string quartet.
On January 9, new music group Apartment House will stage a day-long celebration of the music of Morton Feldman (1926–1987).
On January 29, British tenor David Webb will join a Schubert marathon, having just arrived from a 300mile cycle ride from Cornwall on a ‘Winter Journey’ to raise funds for mental health charities MIND and Music Minds Matter.
And much more
The Wigmore Hall’s Covid defiance programme, led by director John Gilhooly, has put every other British concert hall and organisation to shame.
Hopefully this encouraging initiative will give coming 2021 season a start and 562 ( or whatever it can be) seats become thousands across other city places ….
John Gilhooly is fantastic. I interviewed him for my podcast, A Stick With A Point, the other month. He made so many inspiring points on how to approach the presentation of live music both in good times and bad.
More power to your elbow, John!
So why can’t other orchestras follow suit and offer similiar programming, with or without audience?
Listening now. Wigmore Hall’s wonderful streamed concerts have been a great joy in these covid times. Would not otherwise have access living as I do in the US.