List of concerts from 1905–2000 with links to available reviews and programmes etc
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1905-1942 1942-1953 1953-1964 1964-1973 1973-2000
click to view:
for programme
for poster
for review
for scrapbook
The “scrapbook” refers to the source material and newspaper cuttings and other source material for the book “90 Plus“.
Originals of documents are kept in Tunbridge Wells Museum vault, and can be viewed by appointment.
The list below shows all the venues where we have given concerts in the 20th century – the abbreviations (in square brackets) refer to those used in the list of all our concerts in the list below. Venues recently used are listed on the concert and rehearsal venues page.
[AH]=Assembly Hall [B]=Bredbury [BH]=Byng Hall [BT]=Baptist Tabernacle [ChCh]=Christ Church [D]=Dunorlan [GH]=Great Hall [Glyn]=Glyndebourne [HT]=Holy Trinity o/a=open-air [Pem]=Pembury [PemPl]=Pembury Place [PR]=Pump Room [RFH]=Royal Festival Hall [StA]=St Andrew’s [StB]=St Barnabas [StJ]=St John’s [StM]=St Mary’s, Goudhurst StS = St Swithun’s (E Grinstead) TTh=Trinity Theatre VR=Vale Royal
1905 to February 1942 – All concerts conducted by Francis Foote
Although the choir was founded in the autumn of 1904, the inaugural concert was not held until the following year.
In the years for which no concerts are recorded it was either because Mr Foote was ill or the concerts were given in Eastbourne, Seaford or Heathfield as it was not easy to find anywhere in Tunbridge Wells to accommodate his large forces.
1905 10 May Brahms Requiem in Great Hall [GH]
1906 2 May Dvořák Stabat Mater, Brahms Song of Destiny, Foote Mass in C minor (Kyrie & Gloria) [GH]
1906 13 Dec Bruch Psalm 23, Dvořák Psalm 149, Brahms Song of Destiny [GH]
1907 27 Mar Bach St Matthew Passion [GH]
1907 4 Dec Mendelssohn Elijah [GH]
1908 8 Apr Brahms Requiem [GH]
1909 12 May Handel Messiah [GH]
1910 17 Feb Brahms & Tchaikovsky Chamber Concert with Part songs [GH]
1910 25 May Verdi Requiem (In Memoriam: King Edward VII) [GH]
1911
8 June Grand Coronation Concert [GH]
1912 8 May Bach Mass in B Minor (In Memoriam: Titanic disaster) [GH]
1912 11 Dec Handel Messiah [GH]
1913 10 Dec Handel Messiah [GH]
1914
6 May Mendelssohn Elijah [GH]
1914 24 June Brahms Requiem [Eastbourne]
1914 16 Dec Handel Messiah [GH]
1915 10 Feb Brahms & Mendelssohn sundry works [GH]
1915 8 Dec Handel Messiah [GH]
1916 26 Apr Concert for Zenana Mission
1916 25 Sept Musical evening
1916 18 Oct Concert for St Dunstan’s
1916 13 Dec Handel Messiah [VR]
1917 25 July Mendelssohn Elijah [B o/a]
1917 5 Dec Handel Messiah [Spa Hotel]
1918 10 July Brahms Requiem [B o/a]
1919 9 Apr Handel Messiah [HT]
1919 30 Apr Handel Messiah [St Peter’s]
1919 16 July Handel Judas Maccabeus [HT]
1919 30 July Peace Choir [Calverley Grounds & GH]
1919 26 Nov Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha (I and II) [GH]
1919 2 Dec Carol Concert [BH]
1920 30 June Mendelssohn Elijah [B o/a]
1920 26 Dec Carol Concert [GH]
1921 16 Mar Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha (part I) [PR]
1921 13 Apr Handel Messiah (twice) [HT]
1921 25 May Handel Messiah (twice) [St John’s]
1922 17 May Brahms Song of Destiny [PR]
1922 26 May Choral and Orchestral Concert [BH]
1922 6 Nov Choral and Orchestral Concert [PR]
1923 28 Feb Mendelssohn Elijah [HT]
1923 11 Apr Handel Messiah [HT]
1924 30 Jan Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha (twice) [PR]
1924 3 Dec Handel Messiah (twice) [PR]
1925 4 Nov Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha (twice) [PR]
(1926/1927) – no records
1928 20 June German Merrie England [D o/a]
1929 11 Dec Handel Messiah [HT ]
1930 26 Feb Mendelssohn Elijah [HT ]
1930 17 Dec Handel Messiah (twice) [Ht]
(1931) no records
1932 23 Mar Bach St Matthew Passion [HT]
7 Dec Handel Messiah [HT]
1933 29 Mar Mendelssohn Elijah (twice) [HT]
(1934) no records
1935 13 Mar Handel Messiah (twice) [HT]
3 July German Merrie England [PemPI o/a]
1936 1 Apr Bach St Matthew Passion [PR]
(1937/1938) no records
1939 1 Mar Handel Messiah [ChCh]
(1940) no records
1941 26 Oct Handel Messiah [AH]
1942 22 Feb Mendelssohn Elijah [AH]
September 1942 to September 1943 – Concerts conducted by George Weldon unless otherwise stated
39th Season
1942 13 Sept Elgar King Olaf & The Music Makers [AH]
1942 11 Nov V Williams A Sea Symphony Elgar Spirit of England Duckworth Man of Kent (Conducted by Myer Fredman) [AH]
1942 13 Dec Mendelssohn Elijah [AH]
1943
11 Apr Handel Messiah [AH]
40th Season
1943 5 Sept Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha [AH]
1943
12 Dec Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise, Bach Sleepers wake (conducted by Sir George Dyson) [AH]
1944
26 Mar Handel Messiah (conducted by Sir George Dyson) [AH]
April 1944 to December 1945 – Conductor Sidney Ansell unless otherwise shown
40th Season (contd)
1944 30 Apr Haydn Creation [BT]
41st Season
1944 22 Oct Handel Judas Maccabeus [StA]
1945 7 Jan Carol Concert [St John’s]
1945 11 Feb Choral Concert [Hartfield]
1945 27 May Mendelssohn St Paul [St James’]
42nd Season
1945 30 Sept Handel Samson (Conducted by A D Croucher) [Cranbrook]
1945 25 Nov Parry Blest Pair of Sirens V Williams Toward the unknown Region [VR]
1945 23 Dec Carol Service [Langton]
1945 30 Dec Carol Service [Penshurst]
March 1946 to March 1948 – Conductor Albert Croucher unless otherwise shown
42nd Season (contd)
1946 11 Mar Brahms Requiem [BT]
1946 18 Mar Brahms Requiem [Cranfield]
1946 25 Mar Brahms Requiem [Mayfield]
43rd Season
1946 24 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah (Conducted by John Hollingsworth) [AH]
1947 20 Apr Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha (Conducted by John Hollingsworth) [AH]
44th Season
1947 23 Nov Handel Messiah [AH]
1948 10 Mar Haydn Creation [St James’]
November 1948 to May 1953 – Conductor Robert Miller unless otherwise shown
45th Season
1948
14 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah [AH]
1949 6 Apr Bach St Matthew Passion [St James’]
1949 Good Friday 15 Apr Bach St Matthew Passion (Conducted by Dr Reginald Jacques) [Glyn]
46th Season
1949 13 Nov Handel Messiah [AH]
1950 Good Friday 7 Apr Bach St Matthew Passion (Conducted by Dr Reginald Jacques) [Glyn]
1950 19 Apr Bach Mass in B minor [St James’]
47th Season
1950 8 Nov Brahms Requiem [St James’]
1950 10 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1951 18 Mar Bach St Matthew Passion [AH]
1951 23 Mar (Good Friday) Bach St Matthew Passion (Conducted by Dr Reginald Jacques) [Glyn]
1951 1 July Festival of Britain Concert: Parry Blest Pair of Sirens, Handel Zadok the Priest (Conductors: John Hollingsworth and Robin Miller) [AH]
48th Season
1951 18 Nov Handel Messiah [AH]
1951 9 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1952 18 Feb Brahms Requiem (Memorial Concert – George VI) [ChCh]
1952 2 Apr Bach Mass in B minor AH
1952 21 May Mozart Requiem [ChCh]
49th Season
1952 19 Oct Handel Messiah [AH]
1952 21 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1953 22 Mar Elgar Dream of Gerontius [AH]
1953 6 May Haydn Creation [ChCh]
December 1953 to May 1964 – Conductor Dr Harold May unless otherwise shown
50th Season
1953 13 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1954 31 Jan Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha [AH]
1954 14 Apr Bach St Matthew Passion [ChCh]
51st season
1954 21 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah [AH]
1954 12 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1955 30 Mar Bach St Matthew Passion [St James’]
1955 8 June Bach Jesu, priceless Treasure [AH]
52nd Season
1955 18 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1956 30 Mar Handel Messiah [AH]
53rd Season
1956 7 Nov Mozart Requiem, Ave Verum [St Luke’s]
1956 16 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1957 19 Apr Bach St Matthew Passion [AH]
1957 22 May Haydn Creation [ChCh]
54th Season
1957 13 Nov Handel Messiah [St Luke’s]
1957 15 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1958 23 Mar Elgar Dream of Gerontius [AH]
1958 15 Apr Handel Messiah [StS]
55th Season
1958 12 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah [St John’s]
1958 14 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1959 15 Mar Verdi Requiem
1959 24 May Ireland These things shall be (Concert celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Royal Tunbridge Wells. Conducted by John Hollingsworth – in presence of John Ireland) [AH]
56th Season
1959 5 Nov Handel Messiah [AH]
1959 13 Dec Carol Concert with Owen Brannigan [AH]
1960 2 Mar Bach Mass in B minor [ChCh]
1960 4 May Mendelssohn Hymn of Praise, Rossini Stabat Mater [St Luke’s]
57th Season
1960 20 Nov Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony, Brahms Requiem (Attended by Mrs Vaughan-Williams) [AH]
1960 18 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1961 30 Mar Bach St Matthew Passion [AH]
1961 31 May Kodaly Missa Brevis (End of Season Choral & Orchestral Concert) [St Luke’s]
58th Season
1961 19 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah (Conducted by Charles Groves) [AH]
1961 17 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1962 25 Mar Haydn Creation [AH]
1962 9 May Purcell Te Deum, Mozart Requiem [ChCh]
59th Season
1962 18 Nov Elgar Dream of Gerontius (Conducted by Sir Adrian Boult) [AH]
1962 16 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1963 24 Mar Beethoven Missa Solennis [AH]
1963 8 May Brahms Song of Destiny, Fauré Requiem [St Luke’s]
1963 1 July Handel Messiah (Kent Regional Festival – combined choirs Conducted by Trevor Harvey) [AH]
60th Season
Diamond Jubilee Season – Combined Programme for all concerts (Nov 1963 – May 1964)
1963 17 Nov Verdi Aida [AH]
1963 15 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1964 15 Mar Bach St Matthew Passion (Conducted by Sir Adrian Boult) [AH]
1964 10 May 60th Anniversary Concert: V Williams A Sea Symphony, Britten Rejoice in the Lamb, Le Fleming Five Psalms (Conductors: Trevor Harvey, Albert Croucher and Robin Miller) [AH]
November 1964 to May 1972 – Concerts conducted by Trevor Harvey
61st season
1964 15Nov Brahms Requiem, Kodaly Missa Brevis [AH]
1965 21 Feb Handel Messiah [AH]
1965 11 Apr Purcell Te Deum,HaydnNelson Mass [AH]
62nd season
1965 21 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah [AH]
1965 12 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1966 27 Mar Rossini Stabat Mater, Bruckner Mass No 3 (F minor) [AH]
63rd season
1966 20 Nov Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha [AH]
1966 18 Dec Carols (inc. excerpt from Vivaldi’s Gloria) [AH]
1967 9 Apr Elgar Dream of Gerontius [AH]
64th season
1967 19 Nov Haydn Creation [AH]
1967 17 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1968 24 Mar Verdi Requiem [AH]
65th season
1968 17 Nov Handel Messiah [AH]
1968 15 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1969 16 Mar Elgar The Music Makers, Lambert The Rio Grande, Handel Zadok the Priest [AH]
signed programme 1969 15 June Beethoven 9th Symphony Parry Blest Pair of Sirens (60th Anniversary of Royal Tunbridge Wells & dedicated to RTWCS and Cyril Wood, Secretary) [AH]
66th season
1969 16 Nov Verdi Aida [AH]
1969 14 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1970 preview 15 Mar Bach St John Passion [AH]
1970 9 May Kodaly Missa Brevis Stanford Songs of Farewell [Frant Ch]
67th season
1970 15 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah [AH]
1970 13 Dec Carol Concert (conductor Anthony Gould) [AH]
1971 21 Mar Wood St Mark Passion [StB]
1971 28 Mar Wood St Mark Passion [Penshurst]
1971 3 Apr V Williams Dona Nobis Pacem, Brahms How lovely are Thy Dwellings (Requiem) [RFH]
1971 18 Apr V Williams Dona Nobis Pacem Brahms How lovely are Thy Dwellings (Requiem) [AH]
68th season
1971 14 Nov Elgar Dream of Gerontius [AH]
1971 12 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1971 18 Dec Handel Messiah (part 1) [StJ]
Carols (record made)
1972 26 Mar Bach St Matthew Passion [AH]
1972 16 Jul Carnival Concert – with Salvation Army and others [StB]
December 1973 to May 2004 – Conductor Derek Watmough unless otherwise shown
70th Season
1973 16 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1974 7 Apr Bach St John Passion [AH]
71st Season
1974 10 Nov Handel Messiah (Conducted by Myer Fredman) [AH]
1974 15 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1975 13 Apr Verdi Four Sacred Pieces, Holst Hymn of Jesus, Walton Coronation Te Deum , (with the Bedford Symphony Orchestra) [AH]
72nd Season
1975 9 Nov Orff Carmina Burana, V-Williams In Windsor Forest [AH]
1975 14 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1976 11 Apr Bach Mass in B minor (Conducted by Richard Hickox) [AH]
73rd Season
1976 14 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah (Conducted by Alan Wicks) [AH]
1976 19 Dec Carol Concert (Conducted by Anthony Smith-Masters) [AH]
1977 17 Apr Elgar Dream of Gerontius [AH]
74th Season
1977 13 Nov Haydn Nelson Mass, Britten Cantata Academica Brahms Song of Destiny [AH]
1977 18 Dec Christmas Entertainment [AH]
1978 16 Apr Beethoven Missa Solemnis [AH]
75th Season
1978 12 Nov Brahms Requiem, Fauré Requiem [AH]
1978 17 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1979 24 Mar Borodin Polovtsian Dances (Prince Igor), Lambert The Rio Grande, Orff Carmina Burana [AH]
76th Season
1979 11 Nov Handel Messiah [AH]
1979 16 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1980 23 Mar Bach St Matthew Passion (Conducted by Brian Wright) [AH]
77th Season
1980 16 Nov Baroque Concert: Handel The King shall rejoice, Monteverdi Beatus Vir, Purcell My Heart is inditing, Vivaldi Gloria [AH]
1980 14 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1981 12 Apr Verdi Requiem [AH]
78th Season
1981 13 Dec Bach Christmas Oratorio (in a blizzard!) [AH]
1982 18 Apr Poulenc Gloria, V Williams A Sea Symphony [AH]
79th Season
1982 14 Nov Mozart Mass in C minor [AH]
1982 12 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1983 10 Apr Puccini Messa di Gloria, Schubert Mass in A flat [AH]
80th season
1983 13 Nov Elgar Dream of Gerontius [AH]
1983 11 Dec Carol Concert with Mayfield Band & Pembury Junior School [AH]
1984 8 Apr Beethoven Choral Fantasia, Bruckner Mass in F minor view poster [AH]
81st Season
1984 11 Nov Mozart Requiem , Haydn Autumn (The Seasons) [AH]
1984 16 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1985 24 Mar Bach (tricentenary) St John Passion [AH]
82nd Season
1985 10 Nov Handel Alexander’s Feast [AH]
1985 15 Dec Carol Concert (Preview) [AH]
1986 13 Apr Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha [AH]
83rd Season
1986 9 Nov Handel Messiah [AH]
1986 14 Dec Carol Concert (with Pembury Junior School) [AH]
1987 29 Mar Elgar The Kingdom [AH]
1987 6 June Bach Cantata BWV 147 “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben“, Mozart Coronation Mass, Pergolesi Magnificat (Conductors: Klaus-Uwe Ludwig and Derek Watmough – with Wiesbaden Bach Chor) [AH]
84th Season
1987 8 Nov Vivaldi Gloria, Britten St Nicolas [AH]
1987 13 Dec Carol Concert (with Pembury Junior School) [AH]
1988 27 Mar Rossini Petite Messe solennelle [AH]
85th Season
1988 13 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah (Conducted by Jared Armstrong) [AH]
1988 11 Dec Carol Concert (with Pembury Junior School) [AH]
1989 9 Apr Bach Mass in B minor [AH]
86th Season
1989 12 Nov Haydn Creation [AH]
1989 10 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1990 25 Mar Brahms Requiem, Bernstein Chichester Psalms [AH]
87th Season
1990 9 Dec Verdi Requiem, Britten Ceremony of Carols (Soloists delayed by snowstorm!) [AH]
1991 14 Apr V Williams A Sea Symphony, Poulenc Gloria [AH]
88th Season
1991 5 Oct Haydn Creation (for Hospice – with Tonbridge and Crowborough) [AH]
1991 8 Dec Mozart Coronation Mass, V Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols [AH]
1992 10 May Elgar The Music Makers, Gounod St Cecilia Mass [AH]
89th Season
1992 26 Sep Handel Zadok the Priest (Mayor’s Gala concert) [AH]
1992 4 Oct Beethoven Choral Symphony (RTW Symphony Orchestra’s “Concert for Europe”) [AH]
1992 29 Nov Handel Messiah [AH]
1993 21 Mar Coleridge-Taylor Hiawatha [AH]
90th Season
1993 28 Nov Handel Ode on St Cecilia’s Day, Bach Sleeper’s wake [AH]
1993 12 Dec Carol Concert [AH]
1994 21 May Elgar Dream of Gerontius (With the Wiesbaden Bach Choir) [AH]
91st Season
1994 8 Oct Handel Messiah (for Hospice – with Tonbridge and Crowborough) [AH]
1994 27 Nov Verdi Aida [AH]
1994 11 Dec Carol Concert [StJ]
1995 26 Mar Rossini Stabat Mater, Haydn Spring (The Seasons) [AH]
92nd Season
1995 26 Nov Vivaldi Gloria, Rutter Magnificat [AH]
1996 24 Mar Bach St. Matthew Passion [AH]
93rd Season
10 Nov Brahms Academic Festival Overture & German Requiem [AH]
14 Dec Christmas Music [StM]
1997 17 May Britten Simple Symphony Lambert Rio Grande, Bernstein Chichester Psalms, Rutter Magnificat – With the Wiesbaden Bach Choir [AH]
94th Season
9 Nov Mendelssohn Elijah [AH]
14 Dec Christmas Concert [StM]
1998 29 Mar Verdi Requiem [AH]
95th Season
1998 8 Nov Beethoven Coriolanus Overture, Choral Fantasia & Mass in C [AH]
1998 13 Dec Christmas Concert [StM]
1999 18 Apr Mendelssohn Ruy Bas Overture, Orff Carmina Burana, (Click to read text) Brahms Song of Destiny [AH]
96th Season
1999 28 Nov Opera Arias & Choruses [AH]
2000 15 Apr Elgar The Kingdom [AH]
2000 12 Nov Rossini Overture “Thieving Magpie”, Petit Messe Solonnelle [AH]
9 Dec Christmas Concert [StM]
For Concerts in the 21st Century (2001 to present day) see our Reviews page.
Click here to view copy of the original (uncorrected) version as published as an Appendix to Mary Standen’s book “90 plus”.