january 2012 | classical music as a communal experience
as we welcome the new year and brace ourselves to expect the unexpected, we turn to something that has in recent years undergone quite a transformation too: the concert hall.
aggressively removed from its classical look, this new breed of concert halls was designed and conceptualized along with a shift in perspective towards a communal experience between the orchestra and audience. and while popular culture may have pooh-poohed classical concerts as something boring and out of touch with today’s society, even the staunchest critique will take a step back with the arrival of these concert halls – a feat from both acousticians and architects.
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
no concert hall is more uniquely positioned than the Elbphilharmonie: it sits atop a 19,000 square meter harbour called the Kaiserspeicher A that catapulted the city into an international trading centre in 1875. being built at the heart of Hamburg places the Elbphilharmonie as a symbol of the city’s spirit and pulsating life.
built to contain one large concert hall with a seating capacity of 2,150, two smaller halls, a hotel and residential flats, the structure is breathtaking: an undulating all-glass façade standing above a massive and solid structure of the Kaiserspeicher A. Herzog & de Meuron are the architects responsible for its design, with Yasuhisa Toyota as its acoustic designer. one of the world’s best, Toyota was also the acoustician behind the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Suntory Hall in Tokyo.
the unique construction of the concert hall sees it standing at the center supported by steel springs, and acoustically isolated from the rest of the building (so no performance shall be disturbed by the sound of a blaring ship’s horn!). like the famed Berliner Philharmonie, the interiors of the hall follows the vineyard principle where the orchestra is placed in the center with audience seats positioned all around it.
then there is the smaller recital hall that can sit 550 people. besides chamber music, the hall can also be used for banquets and balls. the Elbphilharmonie even has space for experimental music in the Kaistudio. as for the old warehouse, it will now house the Klingende museum, rehearsal rooms and an underground garage.
to experience the Elbphilharmonie, visitors start the journey over an 82-meter long curved escalator that reaches the plaza on the rooftop of the former warehouse. the plaza is accessible to general public and promises a unique spatial perspective inside with its galleries, and a breathtaking view of the city outside.
with its impressive musical history (ranging from Brahms to Beatles) it is only natural that hamburg continues to offer first-class music performances and events. it now takes a step further and plays its part in guiding the future of music with the Elbphilharmonie that is soon to be inaugurated.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
opened in 2003 with much fanfare (amidst the presence of Hollywood stars and protesters alike), this is the official home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
both a visual and aural treat, the concert hall was designed by famed architect Frank Gehry to a shape so unique, it has been described as either an unfurled rose, flowing ribbons of steel or sailboat masts in the wind. its grand steel panels provides a new perspective when looked at different angles – a dynamic scene of perpetual movements. it seems as if your eyes can never rest at just one spot but be continually attracted by yet a new surprise, a different shape, another bend in the outline.
the visual treat continues inside the concert hall that glows peacefully as skylights from four corners of the hall let hints of diffused light into the space. for an eye-catching centerpiece, the hall boasts a gigantic pipe organ with seemingly random wooden pipes that stretch all the way up towards the ceiling. it is also likely that the Walt Disney Concert Hall popularized the circular arrangement of seats all around the orchestra, such that practically every new concert hall now is constructed with this vineyard principle in mind, providing a refreshing visual experience.
of course this is where you will enjoy a wonderful aural experience. given that Yasuhisa Toyota designed its acoustics, concert-goers can expect to hear every single musical note with exceptional clarity regardless of volume or pitch, or even where you are seated. this is the hallmark of a successful acoustical endeavour: that even though the audience is seated at various distances from the musicians or source of sound, they are no longer aware of this distance. Toyota termed it simply as acoustic intimacy.
there are more noteworthy spaces outside with a garden, amphitheatres, outdoor venues and a beautiful focal point in the form of the Lilian Disney fountain. made to honor its chief benefactor (the concert hall is also named Lilian), the fountain is covered entirely in blue delft china and shaped like a rose. it is the perfect place for quiet reflection in the middle of the bustling city.
every concert hall has its own unique challenges; its architecture crucial parameters for the arrangement of its acoustics. hence one concert hall is as instantly distinguishable from another by means of its unique architecture, as with its acoustics. while this means initially any orchestra will have to adjust to the acoustics of a new concert hall, watching and listening to live music will never be the same again.
bring along your favorite voyage cashmere travel blanket from ploh for some much-needed warmth while in the concert hall. a single lengthwise fold makes it perfect for a night out and the sophisticated, neutral palette is sure to complement any elegant outfit.
last Christmas we wrote about sparkling crystals and cut glass. this time we thought it apt to turn to its equally beautiful and mesmerizing cousin: coloured glass art in the form of stained glass.
golden trees, falling leaves, the romance of autumn is here. and we’re celebrating with roses! we just can’t help ourselves. a recent stroll past the glass shopfront of Roses Costes Dani Roses in Paris and an inescapable, almost reflexive, need to stand in awe of a superlush display of roses inspire this month’s note on the most celebrated flower.
