Sorry, this is more than a bit off-topic. (But there is a bit of commonality: music, my great-uncle's involvement and the fact that my brother was a Brummie as well!)
The history of the Birmingham Institute mentions a great emphasis on music. Not surprising, I suppose, but the suggestion is that there was a high degree of attainment. Bearing in mind that my brother and I shared a great-uncle who was closely involved with the Institute for decades, was at one stage an employee and may also have been a resident makes it a bit of a coincidence that Graham spent many months at its opposite number in Milan.
One of the big differences was that the Milan version was far more grandiose – as you would probably expect – with marble everywhere and that, unlike Carpenter Road, it wasn't taken over wholly by the Army during WW2. My brother (in the Royal Artillery) wrote of his experiences there in the summer and winter of 1945 as follows:
The Regimental Headquarters were housed in the rather imposing Insituto dei Ciechi (Institute for the Blind). Immediately above its main entrance was a large balcony onto which our Regimental Office opened by means of French doors. Some of the civilian residents were still in occupation, and nearer the back of the building was a spacious Concert Hall, complete with auditorium and its own organ. There were several grand pianos in various parts of the building and it was most enjoyable to listen to the playing of these sightless pianists, some of whom seemed to be accomplished musicians of professional standard. In front of the facade, adjoining the street, was a courtyard, enclosed by railings and with imposing iron gates. A pair of 25-pounder guns were displayed prominently, gleaming with polished brass work and surmounted by the Union flag......
This is an image of it at the time, taken by my brother. The guns, which had no doubt been in action only a few months previously, now bulled up so much that you could see your face in them.......
And in more recent times.
About 10 years ago I did my best to penetrate it on a wintry afternoon. It was still clearly going strong then. Didn't get beyond the foyer but managed to get a glimpse into the concert hall where rehearsals were taking place; and took a picture of the grand main staircase up to my brother's offices.
If we try and imagine the Carpenter Road equivalent, I wouldn't be too surprised if it was all a little bit less opulent than this (to say the least). I wonder how the background of the two establishments compare – was the Italian one similar in terms of being the product of Victorian good works? And was it as effective as the Brummie equivalent clearly was? How good it would be if further images of the Carpenter Road premises were to resurface.
Chris