Culture lovers are truly missing live music in London. Especially at a time when the country is feeling deflated by the ongoing news. But thank the gods for the City Music Foundation and their new 2020 CMF Artists who are hosting a series of free monthly lunchtime recitals at Barts Great Hall throughout 2021, in partnership with Barts Heritage.
These concerts are intended for an in-person audiences alongside live broadcast but will at present just be streamed live – both across the world and directly to NHS patients and staff.
Each concert will be filmed by a professional team of sound and video engineers and broadcast live to people at home as well as directly to the patients and staff at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
City Music Foundation even hope to expand the reach as the series progresses. It is anticipated that after Easter 2021 it will be possible to welcome an in-person audience as well.
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Dr Clare Taylor, managing director of City Music Foundation, said “We are thrilled to begin the 2021 free lunchtime concert series here at The Great Hall. At a time that is so challenging for performers, and the industry in general, we feel it is vital to support the CMF Artists with a concert series like this, likewise broadcasting the concerts to everyone at home and at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
“It’s hard to put into words exactly how much this collaboration means to me and to CMF. I trained as a doctor at Barts in the 1980s, living in Charterhouse Square, and I did my medical house job in Annie Zunz and Dalziel wards in the KGV wing. Always a dedicated musician in my spare time, I continued to sing, including in the choir at Barts the Great, for many years. In 2012 I ceased medical work to support my husband in his City role, and soon after began a second career running CMF. The role of music in health and well-being is well established.
“This is a unique opportunity to bring CMF musicians to experience this and share their music with the Barts community as it approaches its 900 year anniversary, and to support Barts Heritage as they preserve and promote these magnificent buildings.”
And Will Palin, CEO of Barts Heritage, added: “We are thrilled to be working with the City Music Foundation to bring the very best of live music to the heart of this beautiful site. We look forward to hosting monthly free concerts in the Great Hall throughout 2021 and to working with the Foundation on pioneering projects exploring the ways in which music can foster wellbeing for staff, patients and other visitors to the Hospital – ahead of our major restoration project.”
To access the live stream, they are asking people to sign up via eventbrite. You’ll receive the youtube link directly to your inbox on the day of the performance.
