The Leeds Festival, officially known as the ''Leeds Triennial Musical Festival'', was a

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...

festival which took place between 1858 and 1985 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

History

The first festival celebrated the opening of Leeds Town Hall by Queen Victoria on 7 September 1858. A second festival was held in 1874, then it was held every three years until 1970. For the two festivals in the 1870s,

Sir Michael Costa Sir Michael Andrew Angus Costa (14 February 180829 April 1884) was an Italian-born conductor and composer who achieved success in England. Biography He was born in Naples as Michele Andrea Agniello Costa. He studied in Naples with his father, a ...

was principal conductor. For the next seven festivals, until 1898, the principal conductor was Sir Arthur Sullivan. King George V was the festival's patron in 1922; his daughter,

The Princess Royal Princess Royal is a style customarily (but not automatically) awarded by a British monarch to their eldest daughter. Although purely honorary, it is the highest honour that may be given to a female member of the royal family. There have been sev ...

, sister of

King George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of Ind ...

, and her

husband A husband is a male in a marital relationship, who may also be referred to as a spouse. The rights and obligations of a husband regarding his spouse and others, and his status in the community and in law, vary between societies and cultures, ...

also became patrons in anticipation of their wedding in 1922. From the 1920s, Princess Mary had attended the opening nights and many of the festival's performances, and later, with her son, George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood, and his wife, the Countess of Harewood, née Marion Stein, a former concert pianist. Lascelles was a noted music critic whose career included the role of artistic director of the Leeds Triennial Musical Festival (1958–74). In April 1953, members of the public were for the first time told by the festival's chairman, Sir George Martin, that they may not be permitted to attend the rehearsals of some of the performances. In 1949, Sir George, an ex- Lord Mayor of Leeds (1947), had been president of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce. Leeds woollen manufacturer and solicitor, Mr R. Noel Middleton, was a member of the Executive Committee of the Festival and, in 1937, 1947 and 1950, he was chairman of the Programme Committee. Middleton was also chairman of the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra, of which the Princess Royal was patron. The Northern Philharmonic Orchestra first played at the Leeds Festival in 1937.

Dissolution

The last Leeds Triennial Musical Festival was held in 1985. The Leeds Festival Chorus, which was founded for the first festival, became independent in 1976, and continues to perform, broadcast and make recordings.

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History

Dissolution

References

Sources

Further reading