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Halle Orchestra and other City Hall classical concerts


fentonvillain

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I'd be interested to hear memories of concerts at the City Hall back in the 50s when students could sit at the back of the orchestra for a shilling.   It the highlight of my week to go on a Friday or Saturday and watch Sir John Barbirolli or George Weldon conducting The Halle and I found it a great shame when I returned to the City to discover The Lions had gone, that concerts were few and far between and that the cheap seats on the stage had been done away with.  I like to think that many hundreds of young Sheffield folk grew up with that rare chance to experience something special. Maybe someone has a collection of programmes from that time? I wish I had kept mine!  

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The cheap seats were also a bonus for those of us who enjoyed popular music. I well remember sitting behind Joan Baez....who turned her back on the auditorium and sang a song especially for we "poor" folk!

My earliest recollection of the Halle Orchestra was going ,with school, to an afternoon concert especially for schoolchildren....that would be mid 1950s.

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I went there from 1956. My Uncle had intruduced me to classiucal music through records he had (bought from classics Club which you joined & they sent a record every month) . He bought us both a Saturday season ticket  at City Hall & I loved it. Grdeatr memories of JB & the Halle live with me & I have a large collection of recofrdings of JB & Halle. In the 1960's I worked at ESC with 2 men in Sheffioeld Philharmonic Choir & I went with them in coaches for annual Messiah in Belle Vue. .I also recall a family visit (mum ,dad, grandma, Grandad & Uncle to the Free Trade Hall in Manchster for Verdi Requiem I think.. I left Sheffield in 1976 but went in 1985 I think with my 14 year old son & uncle to a performance of Dream Of Gerontius - very memorable.

Wonderful memories !!!

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My introduction to Classical Music was through a School Concert given by the Halle Orchestra and conducted by Sir John Barbitolli at the City Hall. I recall that two of the pieces were the Russlan & Ludmilla Overture and the Karelia Suite. My first pop concert was also there- Adam Faith supported by Emile Ford.

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