Simon Rattle and the new London concert hall...

[MrGongGong]

I'm sure we can find a statistic that says that 86% of all UK tax is paid for by rich people who live inside the M25, and that in fact the rest of us are sponging off them and probably living off tax credits and black economy cash payments, and that the sooner cash is abolished the better because we can trust the banks to run it all, oh yes honest as the day is long guv.....

I'm sure we can
but as any fule noe 98% of statistics are made up

Daft vanity project that misses what is really needed IMV

[DracoM]

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/25/simon-rattle-lso-new-london-concert-hall-row

Worth skimming through.

[MrGongGong]

Today's instalment (some interesting things on Stalkerbook about this)

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/news/julian-lloyd-webber-slams-plans-to-spend-millions-on-london-concert-hall-a6716421.html

[MrGongGong]

And today we have this

http://dl.groovygecko.net/anon.groovy/clients/barbican/C4M/CM_Ex_Final.pdf

The short version (but not free of guff IMV)

http://dl.groovygecko.net/anon.groovy/clients/barbican/C4M/C4M-Book_upd.pdf

[Dave2002]

Today's instalment (some interesting things on Stalkerbook about this)

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...-a6716421.html

Is this really the case "We have seen the number of GCSE entries for music, which is a compulsory subject for 5- to 14-year olds," I didn't think music was compulsory at all these days - it certainly wasn't when I was at school thousands of years ago.

Mostly I agree with what Julian LW has stated. Much though I'd like to see a better concert hall in the UK, there are better things to spend the money on than yet another concert hall in London, and places in the UK which are a lot more deprived of music performances than London is now, plus a whole lot of people living on not a lot. London centric thinking is for those with their brains in the wrong place ....

[MrGongGong]

Is this really the case "We have seen the number of GCSE entries for music, which is a compulsory subject for 5- to 14-year olds," I didn't think music was compulsory at all these days - it certainly wasn't when I was at school thousands of years ago.
..

Music is (still) a "compulsory subject" for now. Errrr unless you go to a "Free" or other school that doesn't have to go along with the National Curriculum.

[Dave2002]

Music is (still) a "compulsory subject" for now. Errrr unless you go to a "Free" or other school that doesn't have to go along with the National Curriculum.

That's interesting. I didn't realise it was compulsory. Is Art (whatever that is) treated the same too? The secondary school I went to did both art and music for a while, then one had to choose between them, then finally drop them completely, unless one wanted to go on to do music GCE or A level. I didn't think art and/or music were compulsory in state schools at that time, so the current state of affairs is arguably better, though perhaps under some threat.

[MrGongGong]

so the current state of affairs is arguably better, though perhaps under some threat.

The award for understatement of the year goes to.......

[MrGongGong]

The LSO take on this

http://lso.co.uk/more/news/501-proposals-for-a-centre-for-music-in-london-move-forward-as-feasibility-study-published

so come on all you folks in Yorkshire, Cornwall, Northumberland, Fife, Pembrokeshire, Shetland & Caithness let's support this wonderful opportunity for us all

[Richard Tarleton]

so come on all you folks in Yorkshire, Cornwall, Northumberland, Fife, Pembrokeshire, Shetland & Caithness let's support this wonderful opportunity for us all

Are you questioning the basic idea or the location, MrGG? The benefits of most of the 5 bullet points extend well beyond London.

Living in one of the above locations I do get on the train from time to time to go to things in London, and am happy to do so. What makes you think (as per your earlier post) these proposals only benefit people inside the M25? I'd much rather it was in London than say Birmingham or Manchester because, speaking personally, it's much more convenient for me and I prefer London, for all sorts of reasons. Living where one does reflects a variety of life choices, I'm prepared to make a little extra effort to go to concerts or operas in London if not as often as some on this Forum.

[MrGongGong]

Are you questioning the basic idea or the location, MrGG? The benefits of most of the 5 bullet points extend well beyond London.
.

Yes, i'm questioning the whole idea AND location
I was at the new hall in Saffron Walden the other day, for the cost of ONE Rattle vanity hall we could have many ones similar to Saffron Hall which REALLY do connect.
Don't get me wrong I spend lots of time in London and work in many venues BUT this is simply daft

Thinking about the bullet points then

A world-class concert hall, built for the digital age

Means WHAT exactly?
A hall equipped for electroacoustic diffusion?
Or for those who don't have analogue ears?

An education facility offering immersive experiences for all

Like the one at the end of Whitecross Street?
St Lukes becomes a commercial recording studio (it makes a wonderful one already) and the lottery money is given back?

A digital offer available to the whole of the UK and internationally

Aaaah yes, we can all watch the LSO on the internet
I work with these things all the time and i'm constantly amazed by the crap that folks spout about things like "digital offers"
What young musicians need (and this is often sold to us as part of an investment in the future) is to be in the same room as players like those in the LSO. I've done many variants (including virtualised gigs via internet and multiple ISDN lines etc) and what works best for youngsters is to meet, hang out with and play with accomplished players. Network music can be fantastic BUT (here we go again Natty !!) it's NOT the same experience or even a simulation of LIVE music its SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

Engagement for London’s communities and young people

All fine BUT let's not pretend it's going to benefit those who live elsewhere

A renewed commitment to London as a world musical centre

Means what?


I'm not convinced by the supposed Rattling about how there is nowhere with a "good" acoustic, there are plenty of places (not just Birmingham)
I'm also a bit irritated by the way that we are all supposed to jump up and down with excitement because Simon is enthusiastic about music education. Why should this always be treated as something remarkable? It's NOT. He is a great musician and a great communicator BUT he isn't going to return on a blazing chariot to 'save' us.

[Richard Tarleton]

Thanks - much clearer!

[MrGongGong]

Thanks - much clearer!

I think part of the problem is that suggesting that this is a bad idea is taken to mean that one is somehow "against" classical music.
It's interesting that some of those I communicate with on social media are having to be very careful about how they talk about this as many of them are personally involved in orchestras, festivals and venues.

So if you see him, buy Stephen Maddock a Christmas drink

[teamsaint]

seems to me that the plans for a new hall are to music what HS2 is to rail travel.

Or the olympic stadium was to sport.

Mostly irrelevant, and expensive.

and Gongers is spot on when he flags up the PR bulls**t speak going on.

[aeolium]

seems to me that the plans for a new hall are to music what HS2 is to rail travel.

Or the olympic stadium was to sport.

Mostly irrelevant, and expensive.

and Gongers is spot on when he flags up the PR bulls**t speak going on.

I quite agree, ts, and with the points MrGG made.

It seems another example - as with rail subsidy per head, Arts council funding - where London would disproportionately benefit compared with the rest of the country. London is already exceptionally served for concerts, operas, theatres, all kinds of arts and entertainment. There really are places in the UK outside London that could benefit from some help.