Central London gets new recital hall
mainThe piano dealer Terence Lewis has been engaged to reinstate the Bechstein brand in the UK.
As a first step he has obtained planning permission for a flagship store and 100-seat concert hall at 22 Wigmore Street, a grenade’s throw from the Wigmore Hall.
Terry is reminding everyone that the Wigmore Hall was originally the Bechstein Hall until it was requisitioned as enemy property in 1916.
The new hall will open in 2023.
Bechstein is one of the last grand names still manufacturing pianos in Europe.
100 seat hall , why not. Chamber music is and has always been a quintessential key to “the very soul” of music itself. An intimate place to listen to … Cecilia Bartoli or some Chopin for instance … I would like the idea…
Same here. Lovely addition to the circuit. Now, when it can actually hold more than 25 in the audience, let’s hope the stage will be big enough to socially distance the soloist from the pianist.
1000% agreed, Ms. Lind.
Will that be a 100 seat hall in 2023 or a 50 seat hall if seating arrangements remain as they are now? Masks will of course be obligatory whatever social distancing rukes are still in operation.
Let’s not forget that Steinway Hall (more a showroom, but with a small, underused performance space) is also just around the corner from Wigmore Hall. It seems the local real estate will be resonating almost non-stop soon. I have long been a fan of London’s smaller performance spaces and look forward to visiting this latest one in due course. Wish them well with the plans.
I’m glad to see the Carl Bechstein name return to Wigmore Street and hope there is still room for the Boesendorfer Hall in Vienna, where Chopin played, and for the Salles Erard, Gaveau, Cortot, and Pleyel in Paris. Salle Erard was home away from home to Charles Valentin Mornange Alkan.
This is wonderful news. BUT – 22 Wigmore St is an attractive Victorian building, I hope they don’t demolish it. In particular I hope they don’t get rid of my favourite Pret, just a few steps from the Wigmore Hall! According to Wikipedia, “Numbers 18-22 Wigmore Street, the Brinsmead Galleries, were built in 1892, designed by Leonard V. Hunt for John Brinsmead & Sons piano manufacturers.” So Bechstein would appear to be taking over the Brinsmead premises. So appropriate! I do hope they don’t demolish it.