Wigmore Hall has announced that it will be broadcasting a new series of live lunchtime concerts every weekday in June, in collaboration with BBC Radio 3. Listeners can enjoy the performances on radio, or watch a live stream from the empty auditorium on Wigmore Hall’s website.
Artists involved include Imogen Cooper, Lucy Crowe, Iestyn Davies, Benjamin Grosvenor, Angela Hewitt, Stephen Hough, Michael Collins, Paul Lewis, Mark Padmore, Mitsuko Uchida and Roderick Williams . The concert series is being produced in adherence to the latest government Coronavirus advice.
Artistic Director John Gilhooly said:
“We are very grateful to our wonderful colleagues at BBC Radio 3 for collaborating with us on this project, as well as the private donor whose magnificent lead gift has made the series possible, helping us to match the BBC’s contribution. Through these concerts we will bring great live music from our acclaimed acoustic to every corner of the nation and overseas.
“I hope this project will also provide a glimmer of light for the entire industry, administrators and musicians alike. Arts and culture contribute £8.5 billion to the UK economy, and this complex industry will need to be rebuilt with public and government support, in due course. It is still unclear exactly when we will be able to open our doors to the public again, and although we remain cautiously optimistic about the future, we can only react to events as they unfold.
“My aim is gradually to present a larger number of musicians in a similar future broadcast series, possibly incorporating some of the already advertised autumn programme, either on our website or with broadcasting partners, as restrictions are loosened. Until then, I hope that the concerts in June give a morale boost to live music making.”
This series of 20 newly programmed, one-hour concerts will take place at 1:00PM every weekday, beginning on Monday 1 June. Click here for a preview of what’s in store.