On the evening of July 5, the Holcombe Brook and District Recorded Music Society met to hear a recital and talk given by Mr David Walker, entitled Glorious Halle.

Commenting on his lifelong passion for music and his many years as a Halle concert-goer, he opened his programme with Handel's Oboe Concerto No 1 in B flat, played by the Halle Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli, with the conductor's wife Evelyn Rothwell as soloist.

Mr Walker explained that there had been a vibrant musical tradition in Manchester before Charles Halle - the orchestra's founder - arrived. As long ago as 1422 there was provision for ecclesiastical singers. However, first reports of public concerts came in 1744, and this became a regular event, our speaker informed us, probably an offspring of the Manchester Gentlemen's Concerts, which flourished until 1920, a remarkable 150 years!

It was the arrival of the German merchants in the city in the early 19th century that really established its great musical tradition, which is still ongoing. The Peterloo Massacre took place in 1819, coincidentally the year that Charles Halle was born in Westphalia.

In 1968 to commemorate the centenary of the TUC, said to have been initiated by the massacre, Sir Malcolm Arnold was commissioned to write The Peterloo Overture, which was first performed in the Free Trade Hall with the Halle Orchestra, conducted by the composer. Our recitalists then played the piece in a recording played by the Bournemouth Symphony orchestra, also conducted by the composer.

Mr Walker continued by speaking of the social and political upheavals of 1848 in France, which caused many musicians to seek refuge in England. Among them was Charles Halle, an established pianist, conductor and friend of Chopin and Hector Berlioz, whose music he was to pioneer in Britain. As an example the serenade from Berlioz's Harold in Italy was then played with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis, with Tabea Zimmerman playing the viola solo. This piece was first performed in Manchester at the fourth of Halle's concerts.

Charles Halle, we were told, came to Manchester and in 1849 established a series of chamber concerts. A few years later he was invited to form an orchestra to provide concerts for the Great Exhibition at Old Trafford, opened by Prince Albert in 1857. That day also Halle's orchest gave a concert in the newly rebuilt Free Trade Hall, and the opening piece was the overture to Weber's opera Die Freischutz.

A recording of this overture was then heard played by the Dresden State Orchestra under the baton of Caros Kleiber. This piece, we were informed, was used traditionally, to open every concert series for many years after, and bit by bit most of the classical repertoire that we know today accumulated year by year. The 1859-60 season saw for the first time Mendelssohn's Elijah, satisfying Manchester's love of oratorio. This was illustrated by Mr Walker in an excerpt Be Not Afraid, with the New Philharmonia Orchestra, chorus and soloists conducted by Raphael Fruebeck de Burgos.

By the 1861 season, Thursday night became established as Halle Night, as it still is today. Also the first of many guest conductors made their appearance. Charles Halle conducted his last concert on May 4, 1895, a charity performance of Elijah.

The conductor who stepped into Halle's shoes in 1896 was Sir Frederic Cowen, a pianist, conductor and composer, but his reign was brief and he was succeeded by the great Hans Richter who took over in 1899 and remained until 1911.

He was a friend of Wagner, and conducted the first Bayreuth Festival, as well as playing in the group who famously serenaded Wagner's wife Cosina with The Siegfried Idyll on Christmas morning, celebrating the birth of Wagner's son Siegfried. The audience then heard The Siegfried Idyll, played by The Polish National Orchestra under Johann Wilder.

Hans Richter was also a friend of Elgar, who dedicated his first symphony to him. Richter gave the first critically acclaimed performance of Elgar's Dream of Gerontious in 1903. As an illustration Mr Walker selected Softly and Gently from the oratorio in the classic performance by the Halle Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli with Dame Janet Baker as soloist.

Between 1912 and 1914 Michael Balling was at the helm, and during the years of the First World War Sir Thomas Beecham offered his services and remained until 1920. He conducted Handel's Messiah many times, and a performance of Come Unto Him All Ye That Labour was then played in a restored archival recording of Sir Thomas Beecham with the Halle Orchestra and the soprano Dame Dora Labette.

In 1920 the Halle Orchestra came under the conductorship of Sir Hamilton Harty, a popular conductor and composer who helped the orchestra to flourish between 1920 and 1933. Two examples of their music making were offered: an archival recording of Bruch's Violin Concerto with Albert Sammons as soloist made in 1925 in the old Free Trade Hall, and the famous Nymphs and Shepherds by Purcell with the Manchester Children's Choir.

During the interim period and the Second World War Years, our speaker told us, the orchestra was held together by Sir Thomas Beecham, John Coates and Sir Malcolm Sargent. However, by 1942, enlistment, the blitz and the destruction of the Free Trade Hall had brought the orchestra to a very low ebb. At this point John Barbirolli, who was conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, was invited to take over the Halle. He returned by Atlantic convoy at some risk and took up the enormous task of rebuilding the Halle Orchestra.

Mr Walker concluded his recital by playing a fascinating recording of Sir John Barbirolli in conversation with C B Rees, describing his experiences. Thus ended a most interesting and erudite talk to a highly receptive and appreciative audience. For details of future meeting telephone 01706 823490.