Simon Rattle and the new London concert hall...

[vinteuil]

Great observation - I’d never thought of it like that. Wouldn’t it be simply divine if London was slap bang in the middle?

Although it doesn’t always work out well. For example, Ankara is the capital of Turkey and slap bang in the middle, but Istanbul and Izmir, which are on the side, are far more dynamic.

... and as for Madrid! Or New Delhi...

No, much better to have our capital as conveniently near as possible to our main commercial and cultural contacts - the European Union

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Great observation - I’d never thought of it like that. Wouldn’t it be simply divine if London was slap bang in the middle?

Although it doesn’t always work out well. For example, Ankara is the capital of Turkey and slap bang in the middle, but Istanbul and Izmir, which are on the side, are far more dynamic.

Many capital cities are in their locations for historical reasons, London being chosen by the Romans because it was convenient for them. Winchester became capital for a while, but was less suitable, having no maritime access. So it's been London to this day, with the best of many things, though perhaps not the best concert halls. Brazil and Australia moved their capitals to slightly more central positions, though Canberra is still relatively close to Sydney and Melbourne and a huge distance from Perth.

I've always favoured Skipton, though the venue that would be most neutral to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would be somewhere on the Isle of Man, which is run independently, though is technically British.

[Beef Oven!]

... and as for Madrid! Or New Delhi...

No, much better to have our capital as conveniently near as possible to our main commercial and cultural contacts - the European Union

But we’ve always been a global people, never concerned with the nearest port. Looking beyond the horizon, beyond the mountains. Unlike, say, Belgium.

[teamsaint]

... and as for Madrid! Or New Delhi...

No, much better to have our capital as conveniently near as possible to our main commercial and cultural contacts - the European Union

if that's the policy, it isn't working out that well on the export side of things.

http://visual.ons.gov.uk/uk-perspectives-2016-trade-with-the-eu-and-beyond/

[teamsaint]

But we’ve always been a global people, never concerned with the nearest port.

you speak for yourself.
we've still got one here.

[Beef Oven!]

if that's the policy, it isn't working out that well on the export side of things.

http://visual.ons.gov.uk/uk-perspect...eu-and-beyond/

Good job we didn’t change our minds on the evidence of the experts and the arguments. Turns out they were all wrong in the first place. I suppose we learnt that people don’t change their minds, when to do so would be irrational and counterintuitive.

[ostuni]

Very interesting long read by Marshall Marcus about concert halls, their acoustics, their design, and the importance of context: https://marshallmarcus.wordpress.com...uestion-right/

[subcontrabass]

New opinion piece in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...rattle-hamburg

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

New opinion piece in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...rattle-hamburg

That's certainly interesting but whoever wrote it believes, for some reason, that London has only two concert halls.

[Alain Maréchal]

But we’ve always been a global people, never concerned with the nearest port. Looking beyond the horizon, beyond the mountains. Unlike, say, Belgium.

Not going to let you get away with that, sir!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_colonial_empire

I might be tempted to debate whose post-colonial possessions collapsed the more rapidly into anarchy and bloodshed, but concede I would probably lose.

[Beef Oven!]

Not going to let you get away with that, sir!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_colonial_empire

I might be tempted to debate whose post-colonial possessions collapsed the more rapidly into anarchy and bloodshed, but concede I would probably lose.

Oops! I thought I’d get away with there being no Belgian formistas!

Lovely place, been there a few times, but not for over 30 years. I guess its different now. My girlfriend in 1980 was from Halle in Belgium.

[Alain Maréchal]

I guess its different now. .

Not very! Still two communities trying to cohabit.

I can bring this digression back on topic. Brugge/Bruges has a very comfortable concert hall. One area that divides the U.K. from many western European countries is the time it takes to devise, plan, discuss and build infrastructure. When Europe wants a new railway, a grand station, a road tunnel, a concert hall, a theatre, it gets on with it. All the motorways around Anvers/Antwerp are currently having simultaneous major changes to junctions and layouts. The inconvenience is considerable, the queues intolerable, but it will soon be over, to everybody's benefit. If you want a new concert hall, just find the money, ignore the criticism, and build it!

[MrGongGong]

The Womble option ?

https://wimbledonconcerthall.co.uk

[teamsaint]

Milton Keynes ( urban area population 229k) could also do with one, so they'll be licking their lips this proposal.....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The Womble option ?
https://wimbledonconcerthall.co.uk

Two car parks; underground, overground.