Simon Rattle and the new London concert hall...

[MrGongGong]

The money promised at this stage by the City of London Corporation is for completing the making of the business case for the development, not for the actual construction.

"business case"

[David-G]

That makes more sense - though the possible cost overruns are enormous - as in Hamburg. Much though I, and I hope many here, like classical music, is it really justified to spend that much?

£500 million is going to be spent on the new Chelsea stadium. It has cost well over £300 million to convert the Olympic Stadium for use by West Ham. Why should a similar amount not be spent on a much-needed concert hall if this is what it costs?

[teamsaint]

£500 million is going to be spent on the new Chelsea stadium. It has cost well over £300 million to convert the Olympic Stadium for use by West Ham. Why should a similar amount not be spent on a much-needed concert hall if this is what it costs?

I was going to mention the Chelsea thing actually, but didn't want to bring footy into it.
Interesting project, though. It looks from the info in the press, to be a startlingly impressive and attractive ( as these things go) and innovative solution to some really challenging architectural problems. But more than that, in comparison to the alterations at the olympic stadium, or the cost of the Arsenal stadium several years back, the £500m looks like ( relatively) rather good value.

Not sure what that proves, other than that perhaps biding ones time, as Chelsea have done, or had to, may pay dividends.

[MrGongGong]

£500 million is going to be spent on the new Chelsea stadium. It has cost well over £300 million to convert the Olympic Stadium for use by West Ham. Why should a similar amount not be spent on a much-needed concert hall if this is what it costs?

It's not "needed" and is a daft vanity project that will not benefit the musical life of the country in any significant way.

[David-G]

It is needed and will transform orchestral musical life in London.

[jean]

It will do nothing for musical life outside London, where the need is far greater.

[MrGongGong]

It is needed and will transform musical life in London.

Evidence ?

There are plenty of concert halls in London already
for one new one we could have many Saffron Halls
The nonsense and puff around this (have you READ the proposal?) are ridiculous
and it's simply an idiotic vanity project that won't transform anything apart from a few egos

[David-G]

It will do nothing for musical life outside London, where the need is far greater.

Bridgewater Hall? Symphony Hall? Usher Hall? The Sage?

[BBMmk2]

Certainly in my region there is an absolute desert. Maybe what with London being ease of access, most probably why?

[Barbirollians]

BBM don't you have the Concert Hall in Brighton ? The Brighton philharmonic seem to be able to attract impressive soloists and the LPO are coming twice in the spring

[BBMmk2]

True enough but at times their programmes are to say the least conservative, imo. Including the LPO's.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

BBM don't you have the Concert Hall in Brighton ? The Brighton philharmonic seem to be able to attract impressive soloists and the LPO are coming twice in the spring

- very fond memories of Sunday afternoon orchestral concerts in the Dome; and it was there that I heard Guilini Live for the only time in my life (Philharmonia, Brahms 3 & 1).

The Congress Theatre in Eastbourne, too, is (or used to be) another "oasis" in that part of East Sussex (don't sit at the very back at the top, though - the tea ladies set out their stall during the finale of the Concerto, and they do like to natter and clatter!). No prizes for architectural eye-pleasing, but the acoustic is fine - again, the memories: LSO/Tilson-Thomas, LPO/Dorati. 'Twas there I heard my only Live Tchaikovsky "Winter Daydreams" (Philharmonia/Serebrier) - the hall was only a third full! Any concerns about New Music not reaching the larger concert-going public dissolved that night: if Tchaikovsky can't draw 'em in ....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

True enough but at times their programmes are to say the least conservative, imo. Including the LPO's.

Ah, yes. I can see that as being a greater problem now than it was thirty years ago: the orchestral programmes in Leeds are markedly more "popular" than they were forty years ago, so I can quite see that it's become the same on the South East Coast, (Especially if Gloomy Pete couldn't get bums on seats back then!)

[BBMmk2]

I sometimes think that is what it's all about in these regional venues?

[Dave2002]

It is needed and will transform orchestral musical life in London.

No, it is not needed. The musical and general cultural life outside London needs boosting more - much more. I benefit from living close enough to London's centre to be able to go to concerts and theatres there, and even in London there are days - weeks even- when there's not so much I want to see or hear going on. LIverpool, Manchester, Birmingham etc. do have good concert halls, but I don't think it's possible to,enjoy the number of concerts put on in London, though sometimes the programming is more adventurous. I'm only jesting slightly if I say that in some cities or towns with good concert halls finding days with concerts amongst the weeks of comedy shows, stand up comedians and ladies' mud wrestling is a challenge.

I'd love to see a resurgence well outside London, so that people elsewhere could enjoy culture without having to migrate to the south east which grabs so much of this country's wealth and resources.