Please welcome the cast of L'Elisir d'Amore! This Donizetti opera was performed by the Northern School of Music at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in 1959. The story is about unrequited love, class divides and a weird love potion that honestly has consent issues written all over it. Looking very civilised here, it is sure to hurtle into chaos.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Beryl Cook here as the eternally hopeful Siébel in the Northern School of Music's production of the opera Faust in 1964. I am loving the crushed velvet costume.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Peter Walker as a strapping Valentin from the 1964 production of Faust by the Northern School of Music. Do you remember the performance? We'd love to hear from you!

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A backstage brew at the Northern School of Music's 1964 production of Faust. We can spot Marie Cunningham, Teresa Fitzsimons, Joan Aubin but do you know who the other face is? We'd love to know!

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ian Comboy here as an absolutely devilish Mephistopheles in the Northern School of Music's 1964 production of Faust. Fantastic makeup!

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A very dandy handy crew of Peter Walker, Irene Smyth and Teresa Fitzsimons with unnamed pal, backstage in the Northern School of Music's 1964 production of Faust.

Do you recognise the unnamed pal? Let us know your thoughts!


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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A gorgeous backstage photograph of Alison Hargan as Marguerite in the Northern School of Music's production of the opera Faust in 1964.


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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Suzanne Doyle, a dancer in the Northern School of Music's production of Faust from 1964. A lovely backstage posing in beautiful costume.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A backstage Martha in the Northern School of Music's production of Faust.
Do you remember the performance? Tell us all about it!


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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Who remembers the gorgeous triumph of the Northern School of Music's production of Gounod's opera Faust in 1964? Striding to the front of the stage is Beryl Cook as the honourable Siébel.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The cast of Everyman, a morality play, performed by the Northern School of Music in 1961. Yes, as well as orchestras and operas, students could also take Speech and Drama lessons and perform plays and all sorts!

I am absolutely loving the Terry Pratchet-esque Death in the back.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A close up of the cast with absolutely gorgeous costumes.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A lavish production of a lavish opera, the Northern School of Music have pulled out all the stops for Mozart's The Magic Flute, 1956.

It's absolutely delightful to be able to see the orchestra at the same time as the singers, usually they're lurking underneath the stage in the bigger concerts. Although I imagine there were fewer orchestra pit shenanigans because of it.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music's 1956 production of Nicolai's Merry Wives of Windsor, based on Shakespeare's "most excellent and conceited comedy" of the same name.
I am loving the jolly costume of the chap on the far right of the stage.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A scene from the Northern School of Music's 1954 production of Mozart's opera Marriage of Figaro.

A question for singers: how to do sing in all that get up? And move? And breathe?!

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

And I thought they couldn't fit a big dress on the stage! Never say never at the Northern School of Music it seems. This is the 1954 production of Mozart's opera Marriage of Figaro. The NSM was very proud of its opera productions, even having a Speech and Drama Department.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A scene from the Northern School of Music's production of Strauss' opera Die Fledermaus in 1953. It's a story of practical jokes, cheating husbands, fancy dress and honestly I'm not sure what. Looks like a jolly romp, though.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Northern School of Music's production of Mozart's opera Marriage of Figaro in 1953.
The NSM was very proud of its operas, performed in the Lesser Free Trade Hall. Staff, students and alumni would take part particularly in the orchestra. It's a pretty full on production for such a small stage. Can't imagine they'd get away with the bustles being any bigger!

Do you remember seeing any productions? Did you perform or rehearse? What can you tell us about them? We'd love to hear from you.

Play where's Wally with your face here and let us know if you can find yourself!

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This was the welcoming speech Ida Gertrude Carroll gave to new students at the Northern School of Music. The speech gives new students a summary of what they can expect from the school, including information on new teachers, school clubs, classes, and student committees. Ida Gertrude Carroll makes sure the new students know that if they have any problems, no matter how small, they should come to her as she will help in any way she can. In her speech Ida Gertrude Carroll is not shy about her pride in the Northern School of Music, discussing upcoming teaching visits from people such as pianist John Hunt. She is also very happy to point out the fact that her school had facilities, such as ‘quiet rooms’, unlike the Royal Academy.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1956
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This was a speech given in September 1957 by Ida Gertrude Carroll to welcome new students to the Northern School of Music, she has included hymns and bible readings throughout the speech. In her speech Ida Gertrude Carroll talks about the schools founder Hilda Collens, who started the school with only two students in one room, almost 37 years later the school had grown to have 650 students. She ends by asking the students to remember Hilda Collens “Who planted in fertile soil the seed of music and dedicated her life’s work to god and the furtherance of her art”.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1957
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

This speech was given by Ida Gertrude Carroll 29/04/1957 at the start of the summer term where the beautiful weather had inspired her to discuss and reflect on the beauties of nature. She discusses the death of Hilda Collens the previous year and announces that Founders Day will be celebrated on Hilda Collens birthday to commemorate her. Ida Gertrude Carroll then tells the students about the upcoming Sumer Course which will feature guest teachers and performers such as: Clifford Curzon, Michael Kennedey, Noel Long, and Dorothy Pilling. She finishes by giving the students information about preparing for upcoming exams before a final reading and prayer.
Ref: CARROLL.IGC.9 1957
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The 1971 Northern School of Music's summer course - likely its last before it's merger with the Royal Manchester College of Music and the creation of the Royal Northern College of Music in 1972.

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The 1969 summer course by the Northern School of Music. Tiered pricing shows that you got a pretty hefty discount if you were a member of the NSM Old Students Association, in a music college or were an NSM student. Do you know anyone who attended a summer course here?

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

1968 summer course by the Northern School of Music including an illustrated talk on opera by James Robertson (1912-1991, conductor, director of Sadler's Wells Opera) which would have been a smash hit and a session on early music as well!
Do you remember meeting any of these people? Attended any classes? Remember the NSM on Oxford Road? Share your stories with us!

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Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.