Simon Rattle and the new London concert hall...

[teamsaint]

It's in the suburbs of London, albeit somewhat to the south west of it

Bristol has been struggling for years to get its first decent (symphony) hall, but it seems likely it will finally get an 'arena' first, and be able to welcome all the top rock bands

big arenas are in a vey general sense,the worst possible environment for Rock music. IMO.
Totally self defeating.

lose/lose.

[jean]

There is no doubt that Symphony Hall in Birmingham and the Bridgewater in Manchester are much better than either of the two main London concert halls although the RFH is better than the Barbican. The RAH is poor and uncomfortable .

So London does not have a top class large concert hall and has not had one since 1941 !

Well, if HS2 is to be of any use at all, it will enable Londoners to visit these excellent venues and avoid the necessaity of pouring yet more resources into Lonbdon, when other regions are losing libraries, parks, opera companies etc. etc. hand over fist.

[french frank]

big arenas are in a vey general sense,the worst possible environment for Rock music. IMO.
Totally self defeating.

lose/lose.

The purpose of them is that they can accommodate large numbers of ticket-buyers, which will pay the wages of the rock groups and make it worth their coming.

The more important point, to me, is that they are useless for symphony orchestras.

[MrGongGong]

There is no doubt that Symphony Hall in Birmingham and the Bridgewater in Manchester are much better than either of the two main London concert halls although the RFH is better than the Barbican. The RAH is poor and uncomfortable .

So London does not have a top class large concert hall and has not had one since 1941 !

You say this but the RFH IS a large 'top class' concert hall.
The "The Central Hall of Arts and Sciences" isn't a concert hall but a place where a wide range of things happen.

[Mary Chambers]

Snape has the best acoustic I've heard in this country.

Birmingham and Manchester may have good acoustics and facilities, but they are both completely characterless in my opinion.

[jean]

...and (as I said on the thread about the Sixteen's concert from Manchester), I don't think the Bridgwater handles that sort of thing well.

[gradus]

Re Snape, it is very good for solo and chamber sized ensembles and good for large-scale symphonic forces but utterly hopeless for anything amplified or where the singer/speaker is not amplified by someone who knows what they are doing. I've attended several poetry readings where the words were largely inaudible and jazz performances which hurt the ears by over-amplifying in a lively acoustic. Years ago BBC tv found the problems at Snape when they recorded Jazz at the Maltings and had recourse to RAH-type flying saucers to try to tame the acoustic.

[jean]

The person who designed Symphony Hall for Rattle was talking on PM just now (about 5.20 I think)

[Richard Tarleton]

Traditional design - Brangwyn Hall in Swansea one of the finest acoustics I've found myself in in the UK, whether for orchestra, chamber or solo. This from a redundant BBC website:

Brangwyn Hall can seat over 1,300, and was conceived as an assembly and concert hall. The stage was designed to take the largest symphony orchestras, backed by an organ behind an elaborate metal grill, with rising steps at the rear to accommodate choirs.

The acoustics of the hall have been praised for providing an exceptional sound for sound for recitals, orchestral pieces and chamber music alike. Many orchestras and soloists choose to record in the Hall rather than alternative venues in London or the rest of the UK. In 1936, Sir Thomas Beecham described it early on in its history as being one of the finest concert halls in Europe, when he played there with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Smaller than the Golden Hall (1300 against 1744 seats) but tremendous acoustics in traditional shoebox design.

[subcontrabass]

the south-west doesn't have a decent hall

Steps are slowly being taken to restore the Colston Hall in Bristol (described in one source as being the best of the halls built in 1951): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-31551866

Acoustics appear from professional reports as mostly OK - just a small problem area under the balcony. Needs a major interior refurbishment - stage is too small, seats are tatty, etc.

[jean]

Do you think that there aren't enough classical music enthusiasts in Birmingham & the surrounding area to support two orchestras?

MAnchester has the Halle and the BBC Philharmonic - and they share the Bridgewater!

[BBMmk2]

MAnchester has the Halle and the BBC Philharmonic - and they share the Bridgewater!

I do rather like the BBC PO, over The Halle!

[MrGongGong]

I do rather like the BBC PO, over The Halle!

Is that 'flying over' like pigs on the wing?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

MAnchester has the Halle and the BBC Philharmonic - and they share the Bridgewater!

Yes and no. The BBC PO is officially the Beeb's north of England orchestra, based in Salford.

[Lento]

Karabits (on Music Matters) seems to be suggesting a similar line at Bournemouth which, I believe, lacks a replacement for the Winter Gardens, hence use of the Lighthouse in Poole.