Great music has helped us survive troubled times before. We asked our favorite musicologist, Hogwood Historically Informed Performance Fellow Dr. Teresa Neff, PhD, about H+H’s experience in the 1918 pandemic.
Did H+H cancel concerts in 1918?
No H+H concerts were cancelled in 1918. The first concert of the season was Messiah, on December 22, 1918. Beginning the regular season in December with Messiah was not unusual at this time. H+H had been following this practice—with a handful of exceptions—since its 76th season (1890-91) and continued this tradition until at least the 118th season (1932-33).
Did H+H cancel any rehearsals in 1918?
The first rehearsal of H+H’s 1918-19 season was postponed twice, first to October 13 and then to October 20, 1918 because all public halls in Boston were closed in an effort to contain the flu.
Where did H+H perform in 1918?
Right in Symphony Hall, where you can still enjoy our performances a century later.
What happened with the soloists for Messiah that season?
Two of the four soloists for the Messiah concert (soprano Florence Hinkle and bass Henri Scott) were last-minute substitutions because of the flu. They replaced the scheduled soloists soprano Mabel Garrison and bass Arthur Middleton.
How many audience members attended concerts that season?
Despite the pandemic, the performances for the 1918-1919 season were well-attended, with “capacity audiences” for the first two concerts: December 22, 1918 (Messiah) and March 2, 1919 (Verdi Requiem) and “a large audience with only a few vacant seats” for the third concert on April 20, 1919 (Creation).
Teresa M. Neff
March 27, 2020
What we all still have in common with Boston music lovers from the early 1900’s is our faith that music will fill our hearts during times of trouble.