Britain: An official handbook > 1959

PROMOTION OF THE SCIENCES AND THE ARTS
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Film Foundation, which produces and distributes entertainment films specially
designed for children. The Foundation is a non-profit-making body set up by the
British film industry in 1951 and provision is made in the Cinematograph Act,
1957, for the Foundation to receive grants from the British Film Fund Agency.
MUSIC, OPERA AND BALLET
In Britain today, music in all its forms is drawing large audiences; and orchestral
concerts, choral singing, music festivals, opera and ballet are important features of
British cultural life.
The British Council has done much to make British music and ballet companies
more widely known throughout the world. Tours of British orchestras, soloists and
opera and ballet companies are arranged, recordings of works by British composers
are sponsored, and libraries of British music (recorded and in printed score) are
maintained in 59 countries overseas. At the Council’s headquarters in London, a
central music reference library of music literature, scores and recorded music is
maintained for the use of visitors. Distinguished musicians from overseas are
invited to Britain as guests of the Council to gain some first-hand experience of
British music and musicians, and extensive arrangements are made to cover each
individual interest.
Music
Seasons of orchestral concerts are promoted every year in all the large towns and
cities of Britain, some of which have well-known concert halls. In London, the
principal concert halls are the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank of the Thames,
which was opened in 1951 in connection with the Festival of Britain; the Royal
Albert Hall, Kensington; and the Wigmore Hall, which is the principal recital
centre.
Among the leading British orchestras are the London Symphony, the BBC
Symphony, the London Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic, the Philharmonia,
the Halle (Manchester), the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the City of Birming¬
ham, the Bournemouth Symphony, the Scottish National and the BBC Scottish.
There are also the specialised string and chamber orchestras such as the Philo-
musica of London (formerly known as the Boyd Neel Orchestra), the Jacques
Orchestra and the London Mozart Players; and a number of new orchestras which
have been formed during the past few years. Many of these receive financial aid
from the Arts Council and local authorities to help with the cost of maintaining
ensembles, of presenting new or unfamiliar works, and of improving standards
generally. The City of Belfast Orchestra is financed jointly by the Belfast Corpora¬
tion and CEMA.
The principal choral societies in Britain are the Royal Choral, the BBC Choral,
the Huddersfield Choral, the Halle Choir, the Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, the
London Philharmonic Choir, and the Bach Choir. These and many other choral
societies are associated with famous orchestras in major choral works; most of them,
together with hundreds of similar choral and orchestral societies and music clubs,
are affiliated to the National Federation of Music Societies, through which they are
supported with funds provided by the Arts Council. Membership of the National
Federation has risen to 784 societies.
Music festivals in Britain, originating with the Three Choirs Festival held
annually in Gloucester, Worcester or Hereford in rotation, have been in existence
for over 200 years. The festival idea has developed considerably in recent years, and
festivals of music and other arts are now held annually in many cities and towns