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Symphony Hall

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
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Wendy

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I would like to say what a wonderful building the Symphony Hall is on Broad Street. I have been lucky enough to go there a couple of times recently to see International artists and wasn't surprised they both commented on this lovely building. I also noticed the acoustics were excellent and this was commented on by one renowned artist. Well done to the architect and Brum this is one new building that got it right in my humble opinion.
 
I agree Wendy it is brillinat - although new it is not, it must be 20 years old by now. Elton John has said it has the best accoustics in the world. I am underwhelmed by new architecture, but once inside this is a fabulous place.
 
Actually although it might sound like I was splitting hairs in the post above, I was just thinking in terms of new buildings, Symphony Hall seems like an old one now, with all the new stuff going up all over the place. Most look like they will blow over with the next puff of wind.
 
I agree with you completely Wendy. I went there quite a few years ago to see John Barrie and I thought the building was absolutely fantastic - John Barrie was pretty good too! Well done Brum!
 
Shortie said:
I agree Wendy it is brillinat - although new it is not, it must be 20 years old by now.
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I think the plaque on the wall says the Queen opened the ICC / Symphony Hall in 1991.

Makes me feel old as I remember going up there taking pictures of it when they were building it.
 
John. I can remember going to see the Queen when she came to open it, Sal was 3 and really wanted to go after dad had told her the queen was coming!!
She was fortunate enough to playy there as part of the schools orchestra performances, that would have been about 2003/4, she played the cello, then both of the girls sang there with the school choir in 2002.
I have seen a couple of artists there, the best being Chris de Burgh on his orchestrally backed tour which was brilliant and his latest Moonfleet tour which includes narrated parts, the sound was crystal clear.
Sue
 
I have been to one or two Christmas concerts at the Symphony hall on the style of 'Last night at the Proms' with the CBSO, they were excellent with such patriotic pieces as Pomp and Circ: and Land of Hope and Glory with the whole audience joining in, very moving indeed. Eric
 
I went to a Last Night of the Proms too, two years ago, but it was not the CBSO it was the Police Symphony Orchestra. I could not go last year as I was on a cruise, but hope to be able to go again this year. I have also seen Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir there - I think that was in 2000, for their anniversary. The first concert I went to there was to see Kenny G, followed by Neil Sedaka - both before 1995 I think. I hope I shall be able to go many more times.
 
The Architects responsible for Symphony Hall were the Convention Centre Partnership and that partnership was formed by the Percy Thomas Partnership with Renton Howard Wood Levin and they were aided by acoustic consultants Artec.

The Concert Hall holds 2200 and is supported on rubber blocks in the basement which gives the hall an unrivalled acoustic effect. Although I would agree that from the outside looks nothing special no one could describe the interior in that fashion.

Phil

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I went to a concerrt there this year with my sister when we were in Birmingham for acouple of days, Carl Davis was conducting the CBSO with a Russian pianist playing Brahms. The acoustics were as good as everyone has said. A tip if you go, book tickets for the stalls, The orchestras play to the audience in the stalls which are the cheaper seats, the front couple of rows are cheaper, but you get a crick in your neck as you are right under the orchestra. (We go in the stalls because we both hate going down those steep steps.)
 
guilbert53 said:
I think the plaque on the wall says the Queen opened the ICC / Symphony Hall in 1991.

Makes me feel old as I remember going up there taking pictures of it when they were building it.
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Yes my Dad was a Civil Engineer and the co he worked for did a lot of work on it. I can remember going round it pre opening feeling really proud, we all had to have those daft polythene overshoes on so we didn’t mark the new floors! And yes the acoustics are still brilliant: used to go to cbso concerts also I’d lang and Fairport Convention. ( showing my age lol,)
 
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I've been lucky enough to see two concerts at Birmingham Symphony Hall this year. The folkie Roy Harper now in his 80s. And last night, Simon Rattle conducting his new band the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra playing Schumann's second symphony and the highlight for me, Stravinsky's ballet music The Firebird. Drums, trumpets, horns, a gong, harps and a triangle made a rich sound picture.
 
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