The RNCM: Celebrating 40 Years
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THE RNCM Celebrating 40 years Our music colleges need to present a public face, for it is obvious that the training of performers cannot be done in purdah, but few are as successful as the Royal Northern College of Music in creating a year-round schedule of events available to all. Without the RNCM, Manchester’s musical life would be drastically curtailed: it ranks with Bridgewater Hall as the city’s classical performance centre. No college has such a role in London… Paul Driver The Sunday Times Thomas Pitfield, Professor of Harmony and Counterpoint at the RMCM and for the first year at the RNCM, wrote at the laying of the foundation stone: Two die, and one is born, Hail and farewell; Let mourning organ swell And heralding trumpets play: The best Tomorrow has its roots In Yesterday. 2 1 3 MUSICAL FUSION A History of the RNCM 4 by Michael Kennedy 5 #rncm40 5 MICHAEL KENNEDY, FORMER CHIEF MUSIC CRITIC AND NORTHERN EDITOR OF THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, HAS BEEN PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE RNCM SINCE ITS INAUGURATION FOUR DECADES AGO. TO THIS DAY, TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE JOYCE, HE CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE College’s GREATEST SUPPORTERS AND ADVOCATES. The Northern the large central hall, seating over 400 1911. Thousands of students must have College people, was its principal asset. Hallé spent hours in the Henry Watson Music of Music, died in 1895 and was succeeded by the Library in the Central Library without Manchester, violinist Adolph Brodsky, who had come perhaps knowing anything about the was its name to Manchester as the leader of Hallé’s man after whom it was named. when it was orchestra. Hallé had recruited a luminous officially opened by its President, The teaching staff, particularly for pianists Brodsky was Principal until his death Duchess of Kent, on 28 June 1973. and violinists. The first ‘star’ was the in 1929, when his successor was R But it had been open for teaching violinist Arthur Catterall, a child prodigy J Forbes, a first-rate musician as since the previous autumn. On 17 July who at the age of 10, won a special conductor and pianist but he was 1973 the title of ‘Royal’ was approved dispensation from Hallé and his wife (the hardly known outside Manchester. by The Queen. The College was an violinist Wilma Norman-Neruda) which Nevertheless he proved to be a good amalgamation – or, more accurately, a excused him from all classes except the administrator. He was Principal for 24 fusion – of the existing music colleges violin. After studying with Brodsky he years until his death in 1953. He was in Manchester - the Royal Manchester played in the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra followed by Frederic Cox, who had College of Music (RMCM), which in 1902, led Sir Henry Wood’s Queen’s been Professor of Singing since 1949. opened in 1893 with the city’s most Hall Orchestra from 1905 to 1914, Cox resigned as Principal in 1970 but illustrious musical benefactor, Sir Charles formed his own quartet in 1911 and returned in 1975 to teach singing at the Hallé, as Principal; and the Northern returned to the RMCM in 1913 as violin new college. School of Music, founded in 1920 professor. He was leader of the Hallé with Hilda Collens as Principal. The under Hamilton Harty from 1913 until Talk of a merger between the RMCM latter moved to premises on Oxford 1925 and leader of the BBC Symphony and the NSM had been first aired in Road in 1934. The RMCM’s premises Orchestra from 1930 to 1936. The 1955 but ceased with Hilda Collens’ were nearby, off Oxford Road, in Ducie first RMCM choirmaster was Dr Henry death in 1956. Her successor, Ida Street. They were built as a club but Watson, whose collection of books Carroll, was not in favour of the merger. never used and were, in most respects, on music (about 5000 volumes) he But this idea would not go away. To cut unsuitable for their new purpose. But bequeathed to the city when he died in a very long story short, local authorities 6 Musical Fusion – A History of the RNCM 1 took an interest in the merger, decided after many crises and personality to go ahead and formed an interim clashes spread over a decade. It had governing body which first met in long been assumed that neither of the November 1962 and decided to form incumbent Principals, Cox and Carroll, an interim joint committee with 31 would be Principal of the new college. members. A site on Oxford Road This crucial appointment went to Sir was reserved for a new building. The John Manduell, the South African- Chairman of the new committee was Sir born Director of Music at Lancaster 3 Maurice Pariser, but his early death in University and a former holder of 2 1968 resulted in Alderman Mrs Kathleen several posts with the BBC. He accepted Ollerenshaw becoming Chairman and the post as from 1 September 1971. The she saw the scheme through to fruition drive and energy which he brought to his work inspired the staff and students from the start as did his determination that only the best would do for the College. This, of course, led to local authority protests about extravagance. The purchase of 24 Steinway pianos was challenged, as had been the installation of an Austrian-made organ in the Concert Hall. 4 5 During its first 40 years there have been many changes to the college building. One has to work in a new building to 6 discover its faults and virtues. A Hall of Residence has been built, and anyone #rncm40 7 1 2 who knew the layout of the College in Hodgson, Ena Mitchell, John Rawnsley, 3 1972 would soon lose their way today. John Tomlinson and Irene Wilde. But so far as the Manchester public was concerned, the College was a A new four-year undergraduate course marvellous addition to the city’s musical was introduced and such subjects as life – the arts centre it had never jazz, film music and electronic music had. Its Concert Hall, holding over were added to the curriculum. Both 400 people, was a splendid venue for colleges had before 1970 formed links orchestral concerts, chamber concerts, with other features of Manchester’s recitals and events such as the annual music. The Hallé’s conductor, Sir John Congregation of Awards. There was also Barbirolli, conducted the RMCM the Opera Theatre, superbly equipped, orchestra, rehearsing the young which opened in February 1973. players as rigorously as if they were professionals. Barbirolli’s successors as Both the RMCM and the NSM had rich Hallé conductor all continued these traditions of distinguished teachers links – James Loughran, Kent Nagano, and of pupils who made their names and Sir Mark Elder. Manduell, knighted nationally and internationally. Chosen in 1989, retired in 1996 and was at random, these include the composers succeeded by the composer Professor Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir Peter Edward Gregson, whose 12-year tenure Maxwell Davies, David Ellis, Anthony was to coincide with the ardour and 4 Gilbert, Alexander Goehr and Thomas complications of a heavy building Pitfield; the instrumentalists Raymond programme. Less charismatic than Cohen, Iso Elinson, John Ogdon, Manduell, he nevertheless believed William Waterhouse and John Wilson; firmly in the College’s importance and its the singers Betty Bannerman, Alison place in the life of the city. The Principal Hargan, Elizabeth Harwood, Alfreda since January 2013 is Professor Linda 8 Musical Fusion – A History of the RNCM 5 7 6 Merrick, a distinguished clarinettist. Presidency after 35 years in which she the 100th birthday of Dame Kathleen She is a firm believer that nothing less had won the hearts and affection of all Ollerenshaw. After 28 years, she retired than the highest musical standards are who encountered her. Her successor is as Chairman of the Board of Governors good enough for the RNCM. In this she the bass Sir Willard White. I am only too in 1986. No one has more pride in, and continues the tradition established by aware that I have mentioned only a few love of the RNCM than Dame Kathleen, Sir John Manduell. of the illustrious teachers and students who has continued to attend events who have worked and studied in the with the eagerness of her youth. She In a short article one cannot hope to RNCM. My apologies to those I have is one of only eight Companions of the give a full and fair account of all that omitted. But one in particular must RNCM – on whom have been confirmed the College does and stands for. In 2008 be mentioned. The 40th anniversary the College’s highest honour. None has The Duchess of Kent retired from the of the RNCM happily coincides with deserved it more - nor likely will. #rncm40 9 The RNCM was absolutely pivotal in my life. Not only was I awarded a postgraduate place, but I was allocated the most brilliant and gifted singing teacher, Robert Alderson, furnished with my first experiences singing lead operatic roles, supported during my initial forays into the professional world and, as if that were not sufficient, introduced to my husband, Crispin Woodhead, all within its walls. Three cheers for the RNCM. Christine Rice mezzo-soprano, 1998 10 1 2 3 4 5 THE RNCM 40 Years of Memories by Robert Beale #rncm40 11 ROBERT BEALE HAS FOLLOWED CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND SINCE THE DAYS OF SIR JOHN BARBIROLLI AND WAS MUSIC AND OPERA CRITIC FOR THE YORKSHIRE EVENING PRESS BEFORE JOINING THE DAILY TELEGRAPH IN MANCHESTER.