I just love Wigmore Hall. For me, it is London's greatest little concert hall, if not London's best concert hall of all. One could spend an entire season just attending concerts here, without missing the glitz and glamour of London's bigger venues. Formerly known as Bechstein Hall, it was built in 1901 and is roughly the same age as Singapore's Victoria Concert Hall. The 545-seater hall on Wigmore Street (just off Oxford Street) is best known for its piano recitals, song recitals and chamber concerts.
This short trip to London only allowed one evening to attend concerts, and Wigmore Hall was where I chose to go. Luckily for me, I was able to attend two recitals on Friday 14 June 2013. The first was a solo piano recital by Irish pianist Finghin Collins, followed by a tribute to Dame Myra Hess's legacy of wartime lunchtime concerts at the National Gallery, presented by Patricia Routledge and pianist Piers Lane. Needless to say, it was a memorable night out on the town.
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| The facade on Wigmore Street. |
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| One of London's most recognisable icons. |
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| The hall and its famous performing stage. |
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| "The Soul of Music" has become the symbol of Wigmore Hall. |
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| Wigmore Hall's Steinway. |
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| Photographs of luminaries at the Green Room, including Edwin Fischer, Daniel Barenboim, Sir Clifford Curzon, Louis Kentner and Julis Katchen. |
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| More photographs and big names. On the left is the portraits of long-time director Sir William Lyne. Scriabin performed here in 1915. |
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| Not just Keeping Up Appearances: Pianomaniac meets Patricia Rouledge, aka Hyancinth Bucket (pronounced "Bouquet") |
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| Piers Lane has made many CDs which have pleased me no end. |
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