Leeds Festival (classical music)

The Leeds Festival, officially known as the Leeds Triennial Musical Festival, was a classical music festival which took place between 1858 and 1985 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

History

The first festival celebrated the opening of Leeds Town Hall by Queen Victoria on 7 September 1858. A second festival was held in 1874, then it was held every three years until 1970. For the two festivals in the 1870s, Sir Michael Costa was principal conductor. For the next seven festivals, until 1898, the principal conductor was Arthur Sullivan.[1] King George V was the festival's patron in 1922. In 1950, his daughter, The Princess Royal, sister of King George VI, was patron.[2] From the 1920s, Princess Mary attended the opening nights and many of the festival's performances,[3] often with her son, George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood, and his wife, the Countess of Harewood, née Marion Stein, a former concert pianist.[4][5] Lascelles was a noted music critic whose career included the role of artistic director of the Leeds Triennial Musical Festival (1958–74).[6]

In April 1953, members of the public were for the first time told by the festival's chairman, Sir George Martin, that they may not be permitted to attend the rehearsals of some of the performances. In 1949, Sir George, an ex-Lord Mayor of Leeds (1947), had been president of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce.[7][8] Leeds woollen manufacturer[9] and solicitor, Mr R. Noel Middleton,[10] was a member of the Executive Committee of the Festival and, in 1937, 1947 and 1950, he was chairman of the Programme Committee.[11] Middleton was also chairman of the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra which first played at the Leeds Festival in 1937.[12][13][14]

Dissolution

The last Leeds Triennial Musical Festival was held in 1985. The Leeds Festival Chorus, which was founded for the first festival, became independent in 1976, and continues to perform, broadcast and make recordings.[15]

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References
  1. Howarth, Paul. "Sullivan's First Leeds Festival". The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  2. "The King as Patron". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. West Yorkshire, England. 4 February 1922. Retrieved 22 September 2015 – via Genes Reunited. THE KING PATRON. His Majesty the King (George V) has consented (to) become a patron of the Leeds Musical Festival, which will take place October next. (The King's daughter) Princess Mary, (and her fiancé) Viscount Lascelles .... are also on the list of patrons, which further includes...
  3. "The Princess Royal and Princess Helena Victoria arrived today for the opening concert of Leeds Musical Festival". Yorkshire Evening Post. Yorkshire, England. 5 October 1937. Retrieved 24 November 2018 – via Genes Reunited.
  4. "Several well-known Leeds musical authorities tell of the opportunities afforded them to talk things musical to her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal". Yorkshire Evening Post. West Yorkshire, England. 10 January 1949. Retrieved 20 September 2015 – via Genes Reunited. ...(Princess Mary) was concert-going in Leeds as recently as this week-end when (she) attended the concert. The Princess Royal is a patron of the Leeds Triennial Musical Festival. During the last series in October, 1947, she attended most...
  5. "Hoping for a Boy". Barrier Miner, Broken Hill. 6 September 1950. Retrieved 20 September 2015 – via Trove. ...the Countess plans to attend every night of the Leeds Triennial Musical Festival...
  6. Ponsonby, Robert (January 2015). "Lascelles, George Henry Hubert, seventh earl of Harewood (1923–2011)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/103948. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  7. "Sir George Martin". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. West Yorkshire, England. 30 March 1949. Retrieved 21 September 2013 – via Genes Reunited. Sir George Martin – SIR GEORGE MARTIN, ex-Lord Mayor Leeds, is widely known for his public work. Yesterday, his election president Leeds Chamber of Commerce, he described himself an ordinary person who had been fortunate with his friends....
  8. "Public may not hear rehearsals of Leeds Musical Festival". Yorkshire Evening Post. West Yorkshire, England. 25 April 1953. Retrieved 21 September 2013 – via Genes Reunited. ...MEMBERS of the public may not be admitted to rehearsals of Leeds Triennial Musical Festival In the Town Hall this year because of a decision by the Musicians' Union. Sir George Martin, chairman of the...(Also: 24 March 1953,"Leaving City Council means little easing off for Sir George Martin, with years of experience (10 years chairman) of Leeds Health Committee, chairman of Leeds Triennial Musical Festival, treasurer and vice-chairman the Yorkshire district...)
  9. "Funeral of Earl". Yorkshire Evening Post. West Yorkshire, England. 19 May 1948. Retrieved 25 September 2013 – via Genes Reunited. Mr. Richard Noel Middleton, retired woollen manufacturer (William Lupton and Co.), Park Avenue, Roundhay, said (that on) 05.45 am, on May...
  10. "Valerie Middleton - Grandmother of Prince William's Girlfriend". The Yorkshire Post. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 27 September 2015. Kate's great-grandfather, Noel Middleton, was a solicitor, a founder of the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra....
  11. "Obituary – Mr R. Noel Middleton (Born Dec. 25 1875, Died July 2, 1951)". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. West Yorkshire, England. 3 July 1951. Retrieved 21 September 2013 – via Genes Reunited. ...a member the Executive Committee of the Leeds Musical Festival, and for the last three (Leeds Triennial Musical) Festivals, (1937, '47 and '50, he) was chairman of the Programme Committee...
  12. "NORTHERN PHILHARMONIC". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer Yorkshire. England. 5 July 1945. Retrieved 24 November 2018 – via Genes Reunited. Sir. — In Mr. Middleton's letter from the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra, he gives the figure of £_OO.OOO as the annual running cost of a full-time permanent orchestra...
  13. "ORCHESTRA PLANS". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. Yorkshire, England. 27 January 1943. Retrieved 24 November 2018 – via Genes Reunited. ....Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Saturday Concerts, nor have I consulted my committee before writing it.— Yours, etc.. R. NOEL MIDDLETON. 12, Park Avenue Leeds...
  14. "Discovering Leeds - Memories of The Northern Philharmonic Orchestra". Leeds City Council. 2003. Retrieved 10 December 2018. The Northern Philharmonic had to wait until 1937 to play at the famous Triennial Musical Festivals.
  15. "Triennial Music Festivals". Discovering Leeds – Leeds Classical Music. Leeds City Council UK. 2003. Retrieved 21 September 2013. The last Leeds Musical Festival took place in 1985 but the Festival Chorus grew in stature ...

Sources

Further reading
  • "The history of Leeds Festival Chorus". Leeds Festival Chorus. Retrieved 16 August 2016. Pages about the history of the chorus from 1858 to today, previously published as a booklet Celebrate 2008 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Leeds Town Hall and the chorus.
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