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The "Professional Concerts" were subscription concerts established in 1783 and given at the
/ref>Alexander L. Ringer. ''Early Romantic Era: Between Revolutions, 1789 and 1848''. Springer, 2016. Page 206.
/ref> The prestigious Hanover Square Rooms, accommodating about 900 people, opened in 1775 with a concert given by Bach and Abel.Gerald Newman, Leslie Ellen Brown. ''Britain in the Hanoverian Age, 1714–1837''. Taylor & Francis, 1997. Page 474.
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The committee directing the Professional Concerts included
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The directors of the Professional Concerts, unable to make Haydn break his engagements with Salomon, invited his pupil Ignaz Pleyel to conduct concerts, hoping that rivalry between them would induce Haydn to perform at the concerts. This did not succeed, Haydn and Pleyel remaining on friendly terms. At Pleyel's first appearance in February 1792, which included a symphony he had written for the occasion, Haydn was in the audience.
The Professional Concerts, suffering from the popularity of Salomon's concerts, ended in 1793.
Hanover Square Rooms
The Hanover Square Rooms or the Queen's Concert Rooms were assembly rooms established, principally for musical performances, on the corner of Hanover Square, London, by Sir John Gallini in partnership with Johann Christian Bach and Carl Friedric ...
in London. Leading musicians of the day performed at the concerts.
History
Background
Other regular concerts began in London around this time: the subscription concerts established by Johann Christian Bach andCarl Friedrich Abel
Carl Friedrich Abel (22 December 1723 – 20 June 1787) was a German composer of the Classical era. He was a renowned player of the viola da gamba, and produced significant compositions for that instrument.
Life
Abel was born in Köthen, ...
, which ran from 1764 to 1782, and the Concerts of Antient Music, which began in 1776.Giorgio Pestelli. ''The Age of Mozart and Beethoven''. Cambridge University Press, 1984. Page 169./ref>Alexander L. Ringer. ''Early Romantic Era: Between Revolutions, 1789 and 1848''. Springer, 2016. Page 206.
/ref> The prestigious Hanover Square Rooms, accommodating about 900 people, opened in 1775 with a concert given by Bach and Abel.Gerald Newman, Leslie Ellen Brown. ''Britain in the Hanoverian Age, 1714–1837''. Taylor & Francis, 1997. Page 474.
/ref>
Establishment
The committee directing the Professional Concerts included Wilhelm Cramer
Wilhelm Cramer (2 June 1746, Mannheim – 5 October 1799, London) was a famous London violinist and musical conductor of German origin. He was part of a large family who were connected with music during both the 18th and 19th centuries. He is ...
, leader of the orchestra; William Dance, principal second violin; the cellist James Cervetto; and the composer and violinist William Shield
William Shield (5 March 1748 – 25 January 1829) was an English composer, violinist and violist. His music earned the respect of Haydn and Beethoven.
Life and musical career
Shield was born in Swalwell near Gateshead, County Durham, the so ...
. The subscription was five guineas for twelve weekly concerts.
Performers at the Professional Concerts included the tenor Samuel Harrison from about 1783, the oboist Friedrich Ramm in 1784, the pianist and singer Maria Theresia von Paradis in 1785, and the violinist George Bridgetower
George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower (11 October 1778 – 29 February 1860) was a British musician, of African descent. He was a virtuoso violinist who lived in England for much of his life. His playing impressed Beethoven, who made Bridge ...
in 1790. William Thomas Parke wrote that in 1788 the Professional Concerts "were allowed to be of the most perfect and gratifying kind, the band being composed of performers of the first talent in the kingdom, and the company of the most elegant description."Simon McVeigh. ''Concert Life in London from Mozart to Haydn''. Cambridge University Press, 2006. Page 17./ref>
Rivalry with Salomon's concerts
Johann Peter Salomon
Johann Peter Salomon (20 February 1745 aptized– 28 November 1815) was a German violinist, composer, conductor and musical impresario. Although he was an accomplished violinist, he is best known for bringing Joseph Haydn to London and for c ...
had been excluded from the Professional Concerts, and set up his own concerts in 1791, continuing until 1795. He brought Joseph Haydn to London to appear there.
The directors of the Professional Concerts, unable to make Haydn break his engagements with Salomon, invited his pupil Ignaz Pleyel to conduct concerts, hoping that rivalry between them would induce Haydn to perform at the concerts. This did not succeed, Haydn and Pleyel remaining on friendly terms. At Pleyel's first appearance in February 1792, which included a symphony he had written for the occasion, Haydn was in the audience.
The Professional Concerts, suffering from the popularity of Salomon's concerts, ended in 1793.
See also
*Vocal Concerts
The "Vocal Concerts" were subscription concerts in London, given from 1792 to 1794 and from 1801 to 1821. Leading singers of the day performed at the concerts.
History Establishment
The Vocal Concerts were established by Charles Knyvett and Samu ...
References
{{reflist British music history Concerts Classical music in London