{"product_id":"victor-hutchinson-african-pianist-composer-bbc-ww2-hand-signed-letter","title":"Victor Hely Hutchinson African Pianist Composer BBC WW2 Hand Signed Letter","description":"\u003cp\u003eCHAU4759 A rare opportunity to secure this letter from Victor Hely-Hutchinson who was the BBC wartime Director Of Music on this antique 1944 letter specially typed sent on headed BBC paper to a military Major who had sent his private sheet music compositions and scores to considered for wartime broadcasting by the BBC Orchestra.  It is hand signed by Victor Hely Hutchinson lightly border aged folded just once where originally posted otherwise excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDuring the 1940s, South African-born British composer, pianist, and conductor Victor Hely-Hutchinson reached the pinnacle of his administrative career when he was appointed the BBC Director of Music in 1944.Steering the music department through the final year of World War II and the immediate post-war reconstruction, he was tasked with managing a massive expansion of classical repertoire across the newly devised Home Service, Light Programme, and Third Programme networks.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDuring his final months in office, Hely-Hutchinson was the executive responsible for a highly controversial decision—terminating legendary conductor Constant Lambert’s historic broadcasting connection with the BBC Promenade Concerts (The Proms).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e Famously choosing to stick to his bicycle rather than purchase a car despite his executive status, Hely-Hutchinson contracted severe pneumonia after cycling through an intense winter freeze. He tragically passed away in office on 11 March 1947 at the young age of 45.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Postcard Finder","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56856467276102,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0965\/3216\/9030\/files\/20260626_059.jpg?v=1782467711","url":"https:\/\/postcardfinder.co.uk\/products\/victor-hutchinson-african-pianist-composer-bbc-ww2-hand-signed-letter","provider":"Postcard Finder","version":"1.0","type":"link"}