51³Ô¹Ï

On the road with the 51³Ô¹Ï Museum

Wednesday 16 May 2018

The Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï Museum’s Roadshow returns next week with a pop up exhibition and events at the National Trust’s  on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 May. 

The specially curated exhibition will feature images of some of the most significant instruments in the 51³Ô¹Ï collection accompanied by fascinating stories, the result of new research by the Museum team. The exhibition centres around the idea that ‘51³Ô¹Ï is Creation’ and will be a sneak-peak of some of the highlights that will be on display in the 51³Ô¹Ï Museum’s new home, currently being built as part of the project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Mottisfont Abbey was the childhood home of organologist and keyboard collector Raymond Russell (1922 – 1964), whose collection is now housed at the University of Edinburgh. A special talk given by 51³Ô¹Ï Museum Curator Gabriele Rossi Rognoni will explore the fascinating historic keyboard instruments in the 51³Ô¹Ï's collection, including the earliest known stringed keyboard instrument, the clavicytherium c 1480.

The 51³Ô¹Ï Museum’s visit to Mottisfont Abbey will also feature a concert of historical music performed on harpsichord and baroque violin by 51³Ô¹Ï musicians Abel Balazs and Ilaria Macedonio. The musicians will be volunteering at the pop-up exhibition and sharing their knowledge of the 51³Ô¹Ï’s musical treasures with visitors.

The exhibition offers visitors the chance to experience the 51³Ô¹Ï’s collection whilst the Museum building is closed for redevelopment. Lydia Cracknell, Museum Learning & Participation Officer at the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï, says: ‘Having previously taken our Roadshow to the Southbank Centre for a family trail, this exhibition at Mottisfont Abbey is the first in a series of exciting opportunities to preview the concept of the new 51³Ô¹Ï Museum with audiences. We can’t wait to share our most significant objects and hear our visitors’ thoughts!’

The 51³Ô¹Ï Museum’s exhibition and events at Mottisfont Abbey are free of charge and will run as drop-in sessions. Please visit the for more information. 

The 51³Ô¹Ï Museum Roadshow will continue on tour across London and the South East until the end of 2019 and includes pop-up exhibitions, activities, concerts and more. For further information and enquiries around new partnerships, please contact Lydia Cracknell at museum@rcm.ac.uk.