a) The programmes below dating from 1874 (9th season) to 1899 (34th season) are the some of the earliest in the archives. They are mostly very small, measuring only 12 by 8cms (4¾ by 3ins)
with extremely small print - people needed to have good eyesight to read the detail!
Only about 25 such programmes survive from this period.
1866
to
1882
Dec 1874: Messiah conducted by
W W Woodward. This is the earliest surviving programme in the archives
Nov 1879: Last JudgementandAlexander's Feastconducted by
W W Woodward
Nov 1880: Elijah conducted by
W W Woodward
March 1882: St. Paul conducted by
W W Woodward
1886
to
1892
April 1886: Mass in F and Last Judgementconducted by
T T Trimnell
Oct 1888: Hymn of Praise and The Revengeconducted bySir Charles Hallé
March 1890: Israel in Egypt conducted by Charles Hancock
Nov. 1892: Mass in C and Ancient Marinerconducted by Charles Hancock
1895
to
1899
Dec. 1895: Elijah conducted by Charles Hancock
March 1896: Samsonconducted by Charles Hancock
March 1898: St. Cecilia's Day and Acis and Galateaconducted by Charles Hancock
Nov. 1899:The Creationconducted by Charles Hancock
1900
to
1938
March 1924: Hiawatha conducted by Sir Henry Coward. Note - the programme price is sixpence (2½p)!
April 1926: A Sea Symphony conducted bythe composer, Vaughan Williams.
March 1929: Dream of Gerontiusand Blest Pair of Sirensconducted by Sir Henry Coward
March 1930: Berlioz's Faust conducted bySir Henry Coward
1933
to
1941
March 1933: Mass in B minor conducted by John James, only the second time DCU had performed this work
Dec. 1935: Messiah conducted by Harold Gray. This was a "Souvenir Programme".
April 1940: Elijahconducted by
Harold Gray
April 1941: Messiahconducted by
Harold Gray
b) The second World War years: DCU shares with very few other major choirs the distinction of having continued to give at least two concerts every season throughout the war - in fact in 1942/43 this rose to no less than five performances! Altogether, 17 concerts were put on by the DCU, no mean achievement. During this austere period, the programmes were very slim and basic - the ones below represent most of the war years.
1942
to
1945
April 1942: Cavalleria Rusticanaconducted by Harold Gray
April 1943: Elijahconducted by
Charles Southern
April 1944:Hiawathaconducted by
Charles Southern
March 1945: King Olafconducted by Harold Gray.
This is the last time this has been sung by DCU
c) In the post-war years, programmes gradually became more colourful, with more pages with fuller desciptions of the programme items.
1946
to
1969
March 1947: St. Matthew Passion with Kathleen Ferrierconducted by
Sir John Pritchard
Nov. 1950: Song of Destiny and Music Makersconducted by Harold Gray with the CBSO
Dec. 1952: Christmas Oratorioconducted by Harold Gray
Feb. 1966
Centenary Year: Good Company and A Sea Symphony conducted by Raymond Thorpe. New style of programme for the Centenary season
1970 to 1989
April 1978: The Dream of Gerontius conducted by Raymond Thorpe
April 1979: Verdi's Requiem conducted by Raymond Thorpe with the English Sinfonia
Nov 1987: "Choral Pageantry" conducted by Raymond Thorpe with Lesley Garrett (soprano)
Dec 1988: "Sounding Brass and Christmas Voices" conducted by Raymond Thorpe - the regular Christmas show performed twice in the week
1990 to 1999
Dec 1990: Messiahconducted by Raymond Thorpe. New style of programme for the 125th Celebratory season
Oct 1993: Mozart's arrangement of Handel's Messiahconducted by David Fisher with Patrizia Kwella (soprano)
April 1994: St. George's Day Concert conducted by David Fisher with the Royal Northern College of Music Brass Ensemble. Rutter's Gloria ended the programme
