A RARE INTERVIEW WITH JOHN GILHOOLY PLUS SPRING SCHUMANN PERSPECTIVES 2018 PEKKA KUUSISTO RESIDENCY JAN ÁČEK’S INSTRUMENTAL WORKS FRIENDS OF OF FRIENDS YOUR 2018/19 DATES INSIDE John Gilhooly’s vision for Wigmore Hall extends far into the next decade and beyond. He outlines further dynamic plans to develop artistic quality, financial stability and audience diversity. JOHN GILHOOLY IN CONVERSATION WITH CLASSICAL MUSIC JOURNALIST, ANDY STEWART. FUTURE COMMITMENT “I’M IN FOR THE LONG HAUL!” Wigmore Hall’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director delivers the makings of a modern manifesto in eight words. “This is no longer a hall for hire,” says John Gilhooly, “or at least, very rarely”. The headline leads to a summary of the new season, its themed concerts, special projects, artist residencies and Learning events, programmed in partnership with an array of world-class artists and promoted by Wigmore Hall. It also prefaces a statement of intent by a well-liked, creative leader committed to remain in post throughout the next decade, determined to realise a long list of plans and priorities. “I am excited about the future,” says John, “and I am very grateful for the ongoing help and support of the loyal audience who have done so much already, especially in the past 15 years.” 2 WWW.WIGMORE-HALL.ORG.UK | FRIENDS OFFICE 020 7258 8230 ‘ The Hall is a magical place. I love it. I love the artists, © Kaupo Kikkas © Kaupo the music, the staff and the A glance at next audience. There are so many John’s plans for season’s highlights the Hall pave the confirms the strength characters who add to the way for another 15 and quality of an colour and complexion of the years of success. artistic programme “I want to make built by and for place, and they are all part of Wigmore Hall as Wigmore Hall. The what makes Wigmore special.’ accessible and pattern of work diverse as possible; includes a bold mix John Gilhooly I want us to raise of the mainstream a £10-15 million and the unexpected, endowment fund by often combined in the same series and woven 2025, helped by legacy giving and a major into programme strands that audiences can appeal. And I want to take our programming follow as the season unfolds. Florian Boesch to even higher levels. It’s been challenging opens the new season and launches the to get where we are, and there have been Hall’s comprehensive Schumann Song Series, a few bumps on the way. But I relish the set to run until July 2020. The Schumann opportunity to continue this great journey. focus continues with a Fauré / Schumann I’m in for the long haul, and of course none of Series, led by Steven Isserlis and friends, this can be achieved alone; the audience and and embraces the Elias String Quartet’s staff have been incredibly supportive ever interpretation of the composer’s string since I started here. And of course, we have quartets, at John’s invitation. American music an exceptional board of trustees who lead by runs through the season with the Escher example with their time and generosity.” String Quartet’s Journeys in the New World Ruling a line through many hall hires series and the complete string quartets of is emblematic of the venue’s artistic Elliott Carter, performed in one evening by the independence. It reflects, above all, JACK Quartet, and there is a major residency confidence in a programme that delivers for Vox Luminis, comprising landmark works robust box-office business season after by Schütz, Charpentier and Bach. season. “Almost everything we do now The Songmakers’ Almanac under the comes directly under the auspices of direction of its founder, Graham Johnson, Wigmore Hall,” notes John. “Every artist makes a welcome return to Wigmore who appears here deserves to be included Street. “I was keen to revisit the best of in one of our series. We can now build their past programmes while bringing programmes and themes of the highest FUTURE COMMITMENT things up to date with fresh thinking, and artistic quality and scope. It’s why the Hall Graham was up for the challenge” recalls now has the strongest audience anywhere John. “What we’re offering here, with for song, and promotes the greatest major series and one-off performances, number of song recitals; we present around are very enjoyable, intellectually stimulating 60 concerts in our Early Music and Baroque “I’M IN FOR THE LONG HAUL!” and spiritually uplifting concerts. Creating Series, up from a dozen or so performances a sense of excitement around the under a decade ago; our solo piano series is programme is so important to the Hall’s now the largest in Europe, while the number future. That’s why, for instance, we’re fully of string quartets appearing in the Hall has committed to commissioning new work, more than doubled along with their own building bespoke series in partnership unique audience, and we are able to develop with individual artists and ensembles, and themed series that run over several seasons sometimes with other international venues and feature leading artists.” and festivals, bringing the programme to Maintaining the status quo, he adds, is the widest possible audience.” not an option, “I think that’s clear from how There is full commitment, too, from I have operated since 2005.” Wigmore Hall Wigmore Hall’s Director. He looks forward will always present concerts by the great to a long period of development under his names in chamber music and song. But it leadership. “This is my dream job,” observes must also encourage those most likely to Gilhooly. “The Hall is a magical place. I love it. fill their shoes, to bring forward the stars of I love the artists, the music, the staff and the tomorrow. John speaks of 15 young singers audience. There are so many characters who armed with the vocal equipment and artistry add to the colour and complexion of the place, required to sustain a full evening’s recital and they are all part of what makes Wigmore at the Hall, a high number by any measure. special. It’s a great joy to work here.” There’s also an abundance of fine young FRIENDS OFFICE 020 7258 8230 | WWW.WIGMORE-HALL.ORG.UK 3 string quartets fit for dates at Wigmore Hall and a remarkable Price © Simon Jay 2000 Appointed Executive Director, generation of pianists under the to work alongside William Lyne age of 35. “There’s a sense of tradition 2004 being continued and refreshed Led major £3.1m refurbishment project here,” he says. “I’m passionate 2005 about building audience trust Appointed overall Director so that they will support these incredible young artists. The 2005 quality threshold has been raised Launched Wigmore Hall Live for everything we do, and that 2006 includes for young performers. Awarded Hon. Fellowship of the Are they of the highest Royal Academy of Music international standard? Will audiences in Vienna, New York, Amsterdam, Berlin and 2006 – 2008 Led the campaign for the purchase of Paris want to hear them? We think in those © Simon Jay Price © Simon Jay Wigmore Hall 200 year lease for £3.1m terms, even when we’re supporting ‘local’ artists and ensembles.” 2010 Promoting around 400 concerts each Celebrated 10 years as a member of staff year by outstanding performers, whether 2010 established or emerging, carries a heavy Elected Chairman of the Royal price tag. The rising cost of Wigmore Hall’s Philharmonic Society artistic programme reflects the calibre of performers on the bill. John sees the figure 2011 more as investment than expenditure, Wigmore Hall Live named Gramophone Label of the Year something to be enhanced, not trimmed. “I TOP John launching the 2018/19 Season remember when we were raising £400,000 BOTTOM John with the Castalian String Quartet 2012 for our own promotions, but our series was (who played at the Season Launch) Awarded Honorary Membership of nowhere near as large as it is these days; the Royal College of Music our own promotions have increased by some 2013 250 concerts. Now we need to raise £1.8 has Wigmore Hall and the Wallace Collection Awarded OBE in Her Majesty’s million annually to put on so many more at its heart. We’re the only concert hall Birthday Honours concerts. That’s part of a much wider vision in the West End, which gives us so many for Wigmore Hall, where we continue to set possibilities to reach out even further into 2013 Named by Musical America as one of the new standards, produce original programmes the community. The consultation very quickly music world’s most influential arts leaders and broaden the repertoire with the world’s put to rest any concerns about congestion best artists, and create fresh goals tailored to or noise issues on Wigmore Street, with 2015 this unique place. We want to set trends and an assurance that only two buses will be Bestowed Knight of the Order of the White break rules, and we want to preserve and diverted past the Hall and will travel on the Rose of Finland, by President of Finland promote the best of tradition, the timeless other side of the road. Local parking will 2015 foundations of the life-enhancing artistry that also remain adequate for our needs.” Awarded Honorary Fellowship of the our audiences value so much.” Growth is a constant in John’s analysis Guildhall School of Music and Drama Wigmore Hall’s building, unlike its of Wigmore Hall, touching everything from programme, offers little room for expansion.