Wigmore Hall

The Wigmore Hall is a concert hall in London 's Wigmore Street 36 It is appreciated for its excellent acoustics, especially for chamber music and recitals, as one of the best concert halls in the world.

History

The hall was built in 1901 by the Berlin Pianoforte factory C. Bechstein Bechstein Hall as. For design and planning of the renowned London architect Thomas Edward Collcutt was hired, who also designed the Savoy Hotel. The construction cost about £ 100,000.

Bechstein was one of the most renowned manufacturer of first-class pianos and grand pianos. The strongest rival was the New York Steinway & Sons. This was with the establishment of exclusive showrooms with attached concert hall, called the Steinway Halls, a great success. As a result, Bechstein was in the neighborhood to the existing premises in Wigmore Street build the Bechstein Hall with 400 seats; with a concert of pianist Ferruccio Busoni and violinist Eugène Ysaÿe of the hall opened on 31 May 1901. More concert building of this type built Bechstein in Paris and St. Petersburg.

With the outbreak of the First World War and the subsequent expropriation as enemy property and closing the London Bechstein Hall was foreclosed in 1916. The following year, the concert hall was renamed Wigmore Hall and reopened for the concert business. Today's owner is The Wigmore Hall Trust.

Artistic design

The mural because of its famous stage in the background shows an allegory of arts and crafts by design of Gerald Moira (1867-1959); was executed painting by Lynn Jenkins ( 1870-1927 ). The central figure symbolizes the soul of the music in front of a ball of unquenchable fire, which symbolizes the genius of harmony.

The opposite picture shows psyche as - inspired a composer of music draws on a paper roll - as a symbol of the human soul. The background shows a deep blue sky, hovering above silver-gray clouds of divine mystery.

The dome was restored on the occasion of the renovation of the hall in 1991/92.