Simon Rattle and the new London concert hall...

[Nick Armstrong]

Todays instalment

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/03/new-london-concert-hall-museum-london-blackfriars-simon-rattle

(some rather hilarious nonsense in the comments )

Dave Carter spartacus41
You've already got the Sage in Gateshead

Pop Pickers Heavendotcom
Which nee locals asked for like, it's a shite building!

[David-G]

There is nothing wrong with London's existing concert halls.

Apart from the acoustics.

[aeolium]

Apart from the acoustics.

Even in this area the shortcomings are not that serious, apart from at the RAH which has other qualities in its favour. Few would suggest, for instance, relocating the Proms to a more acoustically satisfying hall that would accommodate a far smaller audience. Here's a comment by an expert on acoustics:

https://acousticengineering.wordpress.com/2015/03/09/what-is-wrong-with-londons-concert-halls/

Prof Cox comments that the acoustics at the Berlin Philharmonie where Rattle currently conducts are not ideal because a third of the audience are behind the orchestra. He also describes the shortcomings at the various London halls, but even Rattle admits that the Barbican acoustic is "serviceable", and Prof Cox says that the RFH is fine for music other than the largest symphonic works. He also says it could be improved with an electronic enhancement system at a fraction of the cost of a new hall.

[gurnemanz]

Even in this area the shortcomings are not that serious, apart from at the RAH which has other qualities in its favour. Few would suggest, for instance, relocating the Proms to a more acoustically satisfying hall that would accommodate a far smaller audience. Here's a comment by an expert on acoustics:

https://acousticengineering.wordpress.com/2015/03/09/what-is-wrong-with-londons-concert-halls/

Prof Cox comments that the acoustics at the Berlin Philharmonie where Rattle currently conducts are not ideal because a third of the audience are behind the orchestra. He also describes the shortcomings at the various London halls, but even Rattle admits that the Barbican acoustic is "serviceable", and Prof Cox says that the RFH is fine for music other than the largest symphonic works. He also says it could be improved with an electronic enhancement system at a fraction of the cost of a new hall.

Thanks for linking to that article. The long-awaited (understatement!) Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg has audience seats all around the platform. Acoustic specialist Yasuhisa Toyota is in charge so I assume they know what they're doing. Costs have spiralled tenfold.

[MrGongGong]

Todays news via social media and from a well known improvising musician

Just heard today that the government is to drop the proposed £1million funding of a feasibility study to build a new national concert hall for Sir Simon Rattle when his contract with the Berlin Philharmonic comes to an end in 2018. Instead they intend to use the money to fund freely improvised music in recognition of the special role musicians from the UK have played in its development on the world stage. There is talk of a small (300 - 500 seater) venue in London with a smaller studio space and also the establishment of some kind of national touring scheme, as well as funding for an annual international festival. Obviously this is a bit more than the £1 million earmarked but apparently it is hoped the rest of the funding will come from places that have been known to help the music in the past. Presumably other sections of the music industry and numerous arts charities like the National Lottery.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Todays news via social media and from a well known improvising musician

An excellent suggestion - but I think that that is a "Folly"

[Bryn]

Todays news via social media and from a well known improvising musician

Just heard today that the government is to drop the proposed £1million funding of a feasibility study to build a new national concert hall for Sir Simon Rattle when his contract with the Berlin Philharmonic comes to an end in 2018. Instead they intend to use the money to fund freely improvised music in recognition of the special role musicians from the UK have played in its development on the world stage. There is talk of a small (300 - 500 seater) venue in London with a smaller studio space and also the establishment of some kind of national touring scheme, as well as funding for an annual international festival. Obviously this is a bit more than the £1 million earmarked but apparently it is hoped the rest of the funding will come from places that have been known to help the music in the past. Presumably other sections of the music industry and numerous arts charities like the National Lottery.

If only ...

[Beef Oven!]

Todays news via social media and from a well known improvising musician

Meanwhile, back on Earth.

[Flosshilde]

Thanks for linking to that article. The long-awaited (understatement!) Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg has audience seats all around the platform. Acoustic specialist Yasuhisa Toyota is in charge so I assume they know what they're doing. Costs have spiralled tenfold.

Some members of the audience look rather ghostly - is this an attempt at papering the performance?

[Nick Armstrong]

It would seem that you are not alone....

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-condemns-governments-plans-to-pull-funding-for-new-concert-hall-for-london-a3387801.html

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.

[Barbirollians]

Being reported that Theresa May - who if you heard her choices on Desert Island Discs has tin ears has scrapped it .

The quotes in the standard are instructive anyone who thinks the RAh,RFH or Barbican are world class is clearly a fool .

[teamsaint]

Being reported that Theresa May - who if you heard her choices on Desert Island Discs has tin ears has scrapped it .

The quotes in the standard are instructive anyone who thinks the RAh,RFH or Barbican are world class is clearly a fool .

The description " World Class" just means what you want it to mean really.
Perhaps they should have said " more than adequate for purpose, given the total consumer market",
which would have been pretty close to the real situation, IMO.

there looks to be some interesting material in here, but I've only skimmed it.

http://culturehive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Stop-Reinventing-the-Wheel-Guide-to-Classical-Music-Audiences.pdf

One interesting aspect is that venue doesn't seem to be of all that much interest to either the research questions, or those responding to the surveys quoted.

[Lento]

Yes, the Times today reports that the government has decided not to fund the hall, as it did not offer value for money. Reports apparently suggest that £1.25 million of the gvt funding had already been spent; the remainder of the £5.5 million will return to the exchequer. Sadiq Khan says the decision was a "vote of no confidence" in the capital from the gvt. Julian Lloyd Webber was against the project, saying that the money should be spent on ensuring that children from state schools had access to classical music: one can see his point, in a way.

[duncan]

Julian would have a point if there was the slightest chance the money was to spent on schools music instead. Given Cello lessons and new concert halls are both perceived as the preserve of "the liberal elite who sneer at ordinary Britons” (I may have missed a "metropolitan" and a "hardworking") the likelihood of this happening is approximately zero.

[MrGongGong]

Good to see this vanity project hitting the buffers
NOW for all those who went on about how "important" it was to spend the money they were prepared to "invest" in this on music projects with young people....

Come on, don't all rush at once