Simon Rattle and the new London concert hall...

[slarty]

The Philharmonie in Cologne is under ground. When you go round the back of the cathedral towards the Rhein you stand on it roof.

And it is built right next to the railway terminus. Inside there is no rumbling of trains from outside. So it could be done.

[Howdenite]

But during a concert, they post guards to keep pedestrians from walking over it lest their steps make a noise.

[Stanfordian]

Perhaps London's new concert hall should be built underground? Easy links to the Underground, no problems with the noise of aircraft & helicopters, police car sirens etc etc. It could be called the Sir Simon Rattle Concert Hole.

Hiya Flosshilde,

Or Sir Simon's hole.

[verismissimo]

Time to rebuild the Queen's Hall. Obviously.

[Flosshilde]

Hiya Flosshilde,

Or Sir Simon's hole.

I did manage to resist that one, Stan

[Nick Armstrong]

[Flosshilde]

Perhaps he'll open it with a performance of the Ring.

[Flosshilde]

Oh dear - I think I should have resisted that one.

[Petrushka]

Time to rebuild the Queen's Hall. Obviously.

I wonder what reasons were given for not doing this at the end of the Second World War. The powers that be certainly had plenty of more pressing problems in 1945 than this one and, in any case, plans were soon well in hand for the Festival of Britain which was to include a new concert hall.

Many years ago, I once came across a book about the Queen's Hall in a Book Fair which contained some highly detailed plans and photos of the QH but didn't pick it up as I hadn't then got the same interest as I might have now.

[Demetrius]

Another comment

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...c-simon-rattle

The Elbphilharmonie is both a bad and a good choice as an example.

A good example at hidden cost when it comes to big projects - starting out with a budget way below 100 Million Euro, the total costs are currently calculated at 789 Million.

However, it should be possible to go about this a bit more sensible - an appropriate concert hall with good acoustics should be achievable for much less if you leave out all the fancy stuff (not build it on top of an abandoned building in the middle of nowhere, for once). London has enough impressive (or ghastly, if you will) modern sights, so no need to splash out millions for prestige purposes.

If then most of the costs are covered by private interest, it actually becomes a bargain If the architects do a good job in re acoustics, I don't see why Rattles potential successors would scorn the hall or not be able to fill it (as suggested in the comment).

[gurnemanz]

The Elbphilharmonie is both a bad and a good choice as an example.

A good example at hidden cost when it comes to big projects - starting out with a budget way below 100 Million Euro, the total costs are currently calculated at 789 Million.

After delays, cock-ups, exploding cost etc it actually is going to be amazing. You can get an idea from this recent TV documentary even without knowing German.

[mercia]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31696988

http://lso.co.uk/simonrattle

[ahinton]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31696988

Ah, well; that's Segerstam's chances ruled out, then.

I have to admit that I am somewhat surprised that Rattle is prepared to return to direct an orchestra in a country of several of whose concert halls (especially in the capital) he's been so understandably critical.

[Nick Armstrong]

Well there we are, then.

That Press Release in full:

http://lso.co.uk/sir-simon-rattle-press-release

[Nick Armstrong]

The Press Release in full:

http://lso.co.uk/sir-simon-rattle-press-release