Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Encyclopedia
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is an arts venue, in the city of Glasgow
, Scotland
. It is operated by Glasgow Life, an agency of Glasgow City Council, which also runs Glasgow’s City Halls and Old Fruitmarket venue. The Catering Department is operated by Encore Hospitality.
It was a byproduct of Glasgow's 1990 City of Culture
status, and was intended as a replacement for St. Andrews Hall, adjacent to the Mitchell Library
, which had been destroyed by fire in 1962. It was seen as a major symbol of the city's regeneration after years of neglect and deprivation. The hall occupies a site at the junction of Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street, which was once home to the Glasgow NAAFI, and the former Parliamentary Road
, which was rendered derelict after the building of Buchanan bus station
in 1978. The development also included plans for a massive shopping mall
, which would become the Buchanan Galleries
, although it was almost a decade later before this was realised.
It is often used for non-music events, such as graduation ceremonies for nearby Glasgow Caledonian University
. In addition, the auditorium area is insulated by a massive rubber membrane built into the floor - intended to dampen out noise and vibration from the Subway tracks which run underneath.
During the building phase, it attracted much criticism from the press owing to its huge cost and the management of its construction, its over-imposing facade and even the acoustics of the main auditorium have been criticised. The project ran out of money during construction and building work stopped in 1989. The East wall of the building was left without sandstone cladding for the first 6 years of its life, some debate exists over whether this unsightly mess was in anticipation of the Buchanan Galleries which now adjoins onto this part of the building, or whether this was due to the financial problems. It earned the nickname of "Lally's Palais" (Lally's Palace) due to Lord Provost Pat Lally's leading role in the development.
The Glasgow International Concert Hall was officially opened on 5 October 1990, by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
(then the Scottish National Orchestra) gave the very first performance at the Royal Gala Opening Concert, as a showpiece for Glasgow being awarded the European City of Culture. The programme featured two new works by Scottish composers, Carillon by Thomas Wilson
and Rainbow 90 by Thea Musgrave
, both specially commissioned for the occasion by Glasgow City Council, as well as pieces by Beethoven and Vaughn Williams. The first non-classical concert was by The Blue Nile
.
After completion, it was granted Royal Status and was renamed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
and Edinburgh-based company RMJM
and partners commenced its construction in 1988. In April 1988, the first stone was laid and it would be 30 months before the final opening in October 1990.
The Green Room was decorated in 2009 to bring it back up to date as it had gone largely unchanged since the concert halls opening in 1990. The Green Room is most famous for its spectacular view overlooking Buchanan Street.
The Cafe Bar was re-branded and refurbished in 2011 as café encore following Encore's takeover of the catering department.
and has hosted many international orchestras, soloists and conductors, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, National Youth Orchestras of Great Britain, Scotland
and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Celia Bartoli, Julian Lloyd Webber
and Maxim Vengerov
.
As well as classical music
, the hall plays host to opera
and ballet
, musical theatre
, talks, rock
and pop
, folk, world and country, swing and comedy.
On Sunday the 9th of October 1993 Nelson Mandela
chose Glasgow as the place to formally receive the freedoms of 9 British cities. He entered the Hall to a choral rendition of Down by the Riverside and deservedly received a standing ovation. In 1994 the legendary Bob Hope
took to the stage to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
It is also the main venue for the Celtic Connections
Festival.
In 2011 hosted the final of Miss Scotland
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is operated by Glasgow Life, an agency of Glasgow City Council, which also runs Glasgow’s City Halls and Old Fruitmarket venue. The Catering Department is operated by Encore Hospitality.
History
Planned as the Glasgow International Concert Hall and constructed in the late 80s, the building was officially opened in October 1990, after what had been a controversial construction programme, beset with technical and financial problems.It was a byproduct of Glasgow's 1990 City of Culture
European Capital of Culture
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension....
status, and was intended as a replacement for St. Andrews Hall, adjacent to the Mitchell Library
Mitchell Library
The Mitchell Library is a large public library and centre of the public library system of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:The library was established with a bequest from Stephen Mitchell, a wealthy tobacco manufacturer, whose company, Stephen Mitchell & Son, would become one of the constituent members...
, which had been destroyed by fire in 1962. It was seen as a major symbol of the city's regeneration after years of neglect and deprivation. The hall occupies a site at the junction of Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street, which was once home to the Glasgow NAAFI, and the former Parliamentary Road
Parliamentary Road
Parliamentary Road was a major street in the Townhead area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland.The road was the original north eastern continuation of Sauchiehall Street, crossing the railway tracks of Queen Street Station and on into the Townhead area of the East End...
, which was rendered derelict after the building of Buchanan bus station
Buchanan bus station
Buchanan Bus Station is the main bus terminus in Glasgow, Scotland.The bus station is the terminus for journeys between the city and other towns in United Kingdom and international journeys. It was originally built in 1977, close to the former site of Buchanan Street railway station which was...
in 1978. The development also included plans for a massive shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
, which would become the Buchanan Galleries
Buchanan Galleries
Buchanan Galleries is a shopping centre located in the central area of Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. Construction began in 1996 and the building opened to the public on 31 March 1999. Costing £250 million, it is one of the largest city centre shopping developments in the United Kingdom,...
, although it was almost a decade later before this was realised.
It is often used for non-music events, such as graduation ceremonies for nearby Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow Caledonian University is a public university in Glasgow, Scotland.The university was constituted by an Act of Parliament on 1 April 1993 as a result of a merger between Glasgow Polytechnic and The Queen's College, Glasgow....
. In addition, the auditorium area is insulated by a massive rubber membrane built into the floor - intended to dampen out noise and vibration from the Subway tracks which run underneath.
During the building phase, it attracted much criticism from the press owing to its huge cost and the management of its construction, its over-imposing facade and even the acoustics of the main auditorium have been criticised. The project ran out of money during construction and building work stopped in 1989. The East wall of the building was left without sandstone cladding for the first 6 years of its life, some debate exists over whether this unsightly mess was in anticipation of the Buchanan Galleries which now adjoins onto this part of the building, or whether this was due to the financial problems. It earned the nickname of "Lally's Palais" (Lally's Palace) due to Lord Provost Pat Lally's leading role in the development.
The Glasgow International Concert Hall was officially opened on 5 October 1990, by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
(then the Scottish National Orchestra) gave the very first performance at the Royal Gala Opening Concert, as a showpiece for Glasgow being awarded the European City of Culture. The programme featured two new works by Scottish composers, Carillon by Thomas Wilson
Thomas Wilson (composer)
Thomas Wilson CBE was a Scottish composer of classical music.One of the greatest musicians Scotland has produced, Thomas Brendan Wilson was born in Trinidad, Colorado, USA to British parents, but moved to Scotland with his family when he was 17 months old. They settled in the Glasgow area where he...
and Rainbow 90 by Thea Musgrave
Thea Musgrave
Thea Musgrave CBE is a Scottish composer of opera and classical music.-Biography:Born in Barnton, Edinburgh, Thea Musgrave studied at the University of Edinburgh and in Paris as a pupil of Nadia Boulanger...
, both specially commissioned for the occasion by Glasgow City Council, as well as pieces by Beethoven and Vaughn Williams. The first non-classical concert was by The Blue Nile
The Blue Nile
The Blue Nile is an adult alternative/pop band from Glasgow. The music of The Blue Nile is built heavily on synthesizers and electronic instrumentation and percussion, although later works featured acoustic guitar more prominently.-Early years:...
.
After completion, it was granted Royal Status and was renamed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
Architecture
It was designed by Sir Leslie MartinLeslie Martin
Sir John Leslie Martin KBE was an English Architect. A leading advocate of the International Style....
and Edinburgh-based company RMJM
RMJM
RMJM is an international architectural practice founded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1956 by architects Robert Matthew and Stirrat Johnson-Marshall. The first offices of the practice were its headquarters in Edinburgh, and another in London...
and partners commenced its construction in 1988. In April 1988, the first stone was laid and it would be 30 months before the final opening in October 1990.
Performance spaces and facilities
The Main Auditorium is the largest performance space in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and can seat 2475 people. Other spaces in the hall include the 500 capacity Strathclyde Suite, the 300 capacity Exhibition Hall, the 120 capacity Buchanan Suite, the 300 capacity Lomond and Clyde foyers, the 100 capacity Strathclyde Bar and the 40 capacity VIP Room. The hall also has a gift shop, five bars, café encore and a restaurant, The Green Room.The Green Room was decorated in 2009 to bring it back up to date as it had gone largely unchanged since the concert halls opening in 1990. The Green Room is most famous for its spectacular view overlooking Buchanan Street.
The Cafe Bar was re-branded and refurbished in 2011 as café encore following Encore's takeover of the catering department.
Notable events
It is the Glasgow performance base of the Royal Scottish National OrchestraRoyal Scottish National Orchestra
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland's national symphony orchestra. Based in Glasgow, the 89-member professional orchestra also regularly performs in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and abroad. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company has performed full-time since 1950,...
and has hosted many international orchestras, soloists and conductors, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of the Netherlands, based at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1988, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred the "Royal" title upon the orchestra...
, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, National Youth Orchestras of Great Britain, Scotland
National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland has provided music education and performance experience for young musicians throughout Scotland since its formation in 1979....
and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Celia Bartoli, Julian Lloyd Webber
Julian Lloyd Webber
Julian Lloyd Webber is a British solo cellist who has been described as the "doyen of British cellists".-Early life:Julian Lloyd Webber is the second son of the composer William Lloyd Webber and his wife Jean Johnstone . He is the younger brother of the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber...
and Maxim Vengerov
Maxim Vengerov
Maxim Alexandrovich Vengerov is a violinist, violist, and conductor who was born in the Soviet Union.-Youth:Born on 20 August 1974 in Novosibirsk, Russia, to a family with musical tradition....
.
As well as classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, the hall plays host to opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, talks, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, folk, world and country, swing and comedy.
On Sunday the 9th of October 1993 Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
chose Glasgow as the place to formally receive the freedoms of 9 British cities. He entered the Hall to a choral rendition of Down by the Riverside and deservedly received a standing ovation. In 1994 the legendary Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
took to the stage to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
It is also the main venue for the Celtic Connections
Celtic Connections
The Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of traditional Scottish music and also features international...
Festival.
In 2011 hosted the final of Miss Scotland
Miss Scotland
The Miss Scotland competition is an annual beauty pageant targeted at women aged 18–24 living in Scotland. Entrants must hold a British passport to enter...