Simon Rattle and the new London concert hall...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

they've just played a clip of Simon Denis implying that Paris has our nearest decent concert hall - does this mean that he doesn't rate Birmingham Symphony Hall or Bridgewater Hall either ?

Yes - the same idea occured to me, too.

[Flosshilde]

they've just played a clip of Simon Denis implying that Paris has our nearest decent concert hall - does this mean that he doesn't rate Birmingham Symphony Hall or Bridgewater Hall either ?

Presumably he lives in London & couldn't contemplate the idea that anywhere else in the UK could have superior facilities

Just been listening to PM on R4 & apparently Sir Simon is definitely in talks with the LSO.

Oops - didn't read 'Simon Denis' as being Sir S. Rattle - PM played the clip of his interview & he was repeating, or endorsing, a comment by a critic about getting on the Eurostar.

[MrGongGong]

they've just played a clip of Simon Denis implying that Paris has our nearest decent concert hall - does this mean that he doesn't rate Birmingham Symphony Hall or Bridgewater Hall either ?

R4 had an irritating item about hall acoustics arising out of this, Trevor Cox almost managed to rescue it
but the idea that somehow there's nowhere in the UK where orchestras sound good is nonsense.

[Beef Oven!]

R4 had an irritating item about hall acoustics arising out of this, Trevor Cox almost managed to rescue it
but the idea that somehow there's nowhere in the UK where orchestras sound good is nonsense.

Kingsway Hall springs to mind

[teamsaint]

R4 had an irritating item about hall acoustics arising out of this, Trevor Cox almost managed to rescue it
but the idea that somehow there's nowhere in the UK where orchestras sound good is nonsense.

well quite.

People need to focus on the positives.

Its just like, ( and as daft as) trying to find the "perfect " football stadium.

[Beef Oven!]

well quite.

People need to focus on the positives.

Its just like, ( and as daft as) trying to find the "perfect " football stadium.

That's easy - Old Trafford.

[teamsaint]

That's easy - Old Trafford.

theatre of Dreams. tm

[Flosshilde]

That's easy - Old Trafford.

What's wrong with the new Trafford, then?

[MrGongGong]

This was today

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/15/observer-view-on-simon-rattle-new-concert-hall-for-london?CMP=share_btn_fb

Oh dear

It must be built to match the digital age so that the finest music-making can be shared with the rest of the UK and beyond.

I guess those of us in the "provinces" can get a stream to our smartphones then

[Flosshilde]

As it's the LSO job that's being discussed, & Rattle's possible/probable appointment I suppose that it's reasonable that it's the 'need' for a new concert hall in London that is being focussed on. But perhaps there should be some acknowledgement of other halls in the UK. There is a sort of grudging acknowledgement of Birmingham ("Symphony Hall Birmingham ... rivals the best.") but no mention of others, or the need for other parts of the UK for a 'state of the art' venue. (I'm always suspicious of that phrase - so often used as the excuse for the demolition and replacement - if we're lucky - of perfectly good facilities with something that will soon no longer be 'state of the art', given how quickly the 'art' moves on.)

[MrGongGong]

As it's the LSO job that's being discussed, & Rattle's possible/probable appointment I suppose that it's reasonable that it's the 'need' for a new concert hall in London that is being focussed on. But perhaps there should be some acknowledgement of other halls in the UK. There is a sort of grudging acknowledgement of Birmingham ("Symphony Hall Birmingham ... rivals the best.") but no mention of others, or the need for other parts of the UK for a 'state of the art' venue. (I'm always suspicious of that phrase - so often used as the excuse for the demolition and replacement - if we're lucky - of perfectly good facilities with something that will soon no longer be 'state of the art', given how quickly the 'art' moves on.)

There really is no "need" for a new orchestral concert hall in London anyway.

[gradus]

Rattle thinks there is a need and if he goes to the LSO it may well be because he is assured that a new hall is to be built, no doubt Boris would be delighted oblige.

[MrGongGong]

Rattle thinks there is a need and if he goes to the LSO it may well be because he is assured that a new hall is to be built, no doubt Boris would be delighted oblige.

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of time for him.
BUT there's rather a lot of posturing going on IMV

Didn't they build him a concert hall somewhere else in the UK before he hopped off to Germany?

[teamsaint]

Great new venues can help build new audiences. But in the city? really? I'd be amazed if new audiences followed there. The Barbican and RFH aren't exactly bursting at the seams for most concerts, and I honestly don't think acoustics have anything to do with this.

Something radically new, designed to really engage new and diverse audiences, and somewhere in central England, (somewhere near Birmingham,within an hour and a half of most of the biggest populations is feasible) would be a far more worthwhile project, IMO.

[MrGongGong]

Something radically new, designed to really engage new and diverse audiences, and somewhere in central England, (somewhere near Birmingham,within an hour and a half of most of the biggest populations is feasible) would be a far more worthwhile project, IMO.

It could look a bit like this



I wonder where they got that idea from?

(and very good it is too)