Arriving at London's famous Wigmore Hall, where I went to meet its artistic director John Gilhooly, what I first encountered were several determined bands of schoolchildren making their way through the foyer, pushing and chatting. The hall, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, once exuded a kind of staid charm – but is now very much alive.
Under Gilhooly's aegis, it holds concerts for local schools, music sessions for families with toddlers: "Chamber Tots". It has an African music series as well as its core classical programme and it offers cheap, £5 tickets for young people.
