RUTLAND BOUGHTON (1878 - 1960)

Boughton conducted his opera The Immortal Hour at the Peoples' Theatre in the Royal Arcade, Newcastle in 1926. The same year saw the British premiere of Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale at the theatre.

FERRUCCIO BUSONI (1866 - 1924)

Busoni gave two concerts in Newcastle - on 18 November 1901 and 10 November 1908. On this latter occasion, he thought the city 'grey and joyless'.

FRANZ LISZT (1811 - 1886)

The great composer and piano virtuoso travelled from Edinburgh through the North East in 1841. He had supper in Berwick on 24 January and spent that night in Alnwick. He gave a concert in the Newcastle Assembly Rooms on 25 January and stayed at the Queen's Head. On the following day he played in the Assembly Rooms in Sunderland. In Darlington, a drunk offered the great man a sovereign if he would play God Save the Queen.

FELIX MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY (1809 - 1847)

On his celebrated journey to Scotland in 1829, Mendelssohn made an exquisite drawing of Durham Cathedral.

NICCOLO PAGANINI (1782 - 1840)

The demonic fiddler gave two concerts in the Newcastle Theatre Royal on 9 and 11 September 1833 and another in Berwick on 2 October. No doubt Paganini overdid the display. James Losh, the Recorder of Newcastle was not impressed and found his playing 'much more wonderful than pleasing.'

MAURICE RAVEL (1875 - 1937)

The great composer took part in a concert in Newcastle on 20 January 1911.

JOHN PHILIP SOUSA (1854 - 1932)

Sousa conducted his band in Berwick on 16 February 1903. He also gave two concerts in the Newcastle Town Hall on that day, and again on 18 February. He stayed on this occasion at the Royal Station Hotel.
Sousa also played at the Victoria Hall in Sunderland on 17 February during his 1903 visit and in 1911 gave two more concerts at the venue on 25 February. He stayed the night at the Grand Hotel.

JOHAN STRAUSS SENIOR (1804 - 1849)

In Newcastle, Strauss gave concerts on 29 October 1838 in the Assembly Rooms, and on 30 October at the Music Hall. He also conducted for a ball in the Assembly Rooms on 19 November 1838. On this occasion he stayed at the Royal Exchange Hotel.

Other notable musical visitors to Newcastle include Cortot, Pachmann and Scriabin.