Hallé Archive Talks

Contact: For more information on the Hallé Archive Talks please contact Charlie Booth, Hallé St Peters Community Producer on charlie.booth@halle.co.uk or for more information on Ancoats: the Hallé Story project visit our website here.

A series of free talks delving in to the Hallé Archive and exploring the history of the Hallé Concerts Society.

Our free archive talks offer you the opportunity to learn more about Manchester’s musical heritage. Delivered by Hallé Archivists and guest speakers in the Victoria Wood Hall at Hallé St Peter’s, dip in and out of the series or save all the dates. Talks last approximately 30 minutes with the opportunity for questions afterwards.

Each archive talk is complemented by a chamber concert, where smaller groups of Hallé musicians perform in the main space of our beautiful Ancoats home, Hallé St Peter’s. (Tickets for the chamber concerts can be purchased at halle.co.uk)

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Hallé archive team will be hosting a series of free history talks. Showing items from the archive, sharing stories about the people who helped shape the Hallé over the decades and exploring the impact the Hallé has had on Manchester’s music scene.

Please book for each talk separately by following the links to Eventbrite below. Booking in advance is encouraged to guarantee entry.

We will try to accommodate walk-ins.

Upcoming Talks

Fri 9 Oct 26 - Part 1: Elgar and the Hallé

The Hallé has a long, fruitful history with one of England’s most famous composers, Edward Elgar. This talk will explore some of the many connections: from triumphant world and UK first performances to Elgar’s appearances in the spotlight as guest conductor. The Hallé helped bring his music to a wider audience, a tradition that began with Hans Richter and continued with John Barbirolli and Mark Elder.

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Fri 6 Nov 26 - Part 2: Elgar and the Hallé

The Hallé has recently acquired the largest private collection of Elgar memorabilia, held by an individual. Having been returned to Britian from America, the items have been carefully catalogued ready to be revealed to the public. Some of the collection is on display in the exhibition case at Hallé St Peter’s and it is our pleasure to be able to show more of these pieces at this talk for the very first time.

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Sat 5 Dec 26 - Simon Speelman, the life of a Victorian Violist followed by the Hallé Brand Quiz.

Welcome to the Hallé’s two-part festive archive event! A highlight in the calendar, come and discover more about the life of the Victorian viola player, Simon Speelman. An important figure in Manchester’s musical life at the turn of the 20th century, he was a member of the famous Brodsky Quartet and also the Hallé’s Principal Viola. Then join in with the Hallé’s Brand Quiz and see how the organisation’s image has changed over the years.

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Sat 23 Jan 27 - Guest speaker: Dr Chris Green on the Hallé Choir

Proud to have been a member of the Hallé Choir since 2009, guest speaker Dr Chris Green has been researching, documenting and preserving the Choir’s history for many years. From his unique perspective as both singer and historian, he examines different aspects of the choir’s development, repertoire, guest artists, broadcasts and recordings. In this talk, he will delve into the history of the Choir’s commercial recordings from the past 100 years.