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Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

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Drever
Drever
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
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1
Review
4
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Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

  • June 14, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Drever from Ayr
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall officially opened in October 1990 just in time to host events for Glasgow's year as European City of Culture. Built when Pat Lally was Provost the building rapidly fell prey to Glasgow humour and gained the nickname of "Lally's Palais."

Glasgow became UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999. Perhaps the Concert Hall helped it gain this award. Certainly viewed from Buchanan Street it has an imposing frontage. Along side is a massive shopping mall, the Buchanan Galleries, and the city’s bus station is conveniently situated close by. Not so convenient is the city’s subway system although it runs underneath. A massive rubber membrane built into the floor effectively dampens out noise and vibration from the trains.

The two main auditoria can accommodate 2500. A clever design feature is that the seating tiers can be moved hydraulically to suit whatever layout suits the show. Throughout the year the Concert Hall features a diverse programme of events and is also used for non-music events, such as graduation ceremonies for nearby Glasgow Caledonian University.

The Concert Hall is now one of Scotland's most prestigious musical venues, and is a much-accepted landmark in the city centre. It really comes into its own during Glasgow’s annual celebration of "Celtic Connections" during January. It is the biggest winter festival of its kind in the world and features artists from around the globe alongside the best Scottish talent in 12 venues across the city.

We regularly go to events at the Concert Hall and recently attended a performance by the Soweto Gospel Choir. They are touring the world and are a must see performance. Direct from South Africa, the 26-strong Gospel Choir is an awe-inspiring vocal ensemble, performing in eight different languages, in a programme of tribal, traditional, and popular African and Western gospel. Although spiritual anyone can enjoy this show.

In their bright, multi-coloured smocks and swaying interchange movements, fronted by high stepping solo dancers, they resemble a singing kaleidoscope. They draw on the best talent from the many churches and communities, in and around Soweto, performing earthy rhythms and rich harmonies. As they are also celebrating 10 years of democracy and freedom in South Africa the performance seemed especially poignant.

Rhythmically exciting, they fill the Concert Hall with just 20 voices, handclaps, and two drummers. They effortlessly switched between languages and moved from traditional African melodies to more conventional gospel arrangements of familiar songs in English.

Most of the choir have solos, which demonstrate great variety in tone and style. Some are illustrated with dance and the younger men compete in the "I-can-kick-higher-than-you-can" dancing. Most songs are devotional, but there’s nothing straight laced about the booty-shaking dance to a wicked tribal drum-beat.

Pride shines as they sing their rousing national anthem Nkosi Sikele I’Afrika to a standing audience. This Choir proclaims the success of their country since democracy to the whole world during their tours.

From journal Glasgow City of Architecture and Culture

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