A Place for Music: John Nash, Regent Street and the Philharmonic Society of London

摘要

The founding of the Philharmonic Society of London (from 1912 'Royal') has long been understood only in the simplest terms: in 1813 thirty musicians started a regular orchestral concert series to present the best classical works for select audiences. Two centuries later, a fresh look at circumstances and documents, some newly discovered, reveals a more vivid picture of action and intent behind the UK's oldest 'music-loving' society. Partnering with the Regency architect John Nash to erect the first purpose-built orchestral concert hall in Britain – the Argyll Rooms, Regent Street – entrepreneurial members invested in prime real estate for an even grander vision: to create an all-embracing national music institution akin to the Royal Academy of Arts, exhibiting top performances, stimulating new works, fostering research, publishing music and training young players, all without patrician interference. In positioning themselves on Regent Street, the musicians encountered multiple problems. Nash’s support was crucial, yielding a stunning multi-purpose building. Although many of their biggest goals had to be relinquished, the Society succeeded brilliantly in establishing world-class orchestral music at the heart of a picturesque and revitalized West End.