11–20 of 27 posts
Beside being absolutely hideous on the outside, there is no way that hall has good acoustics. Having seats to the side and behind the stage means you will have bad merging and resolution of parts. Orchestral seating is specifically designed for an audience sitting in front. For example, when attending a performance of Shostakovich'a Cello Concerto, the cello was very difficult to hear, as were several other orchestra…
Contrary to what the article states, the acoustic design of the hall have been widely criticized by audio/acoustics experts. In fact, after the premiere concert many (experts and casual visitors alike) have even described the acoustics to be a major disappointment.
https://www.nzz.ch/feuilleton/elbphilharmonie-eroeffnungsfes...
Beside being absolutely hideous on the outside, there is no way that hall has good acoustics. Having seats to the side and behind the stage means you will have bad merging and resolution of parts. Orchestral seating is specifically designed for an audience sitting in front. For example, when attending a performance of Shostakovich'a Cello Concerto, the cello was very difficult to hear, as were several other orchestra…
I was extremely skeptical while living near Hamburg in 2006, when graphical representations were just being publicized. But having been back in the fall and seeing how it fits into the Speicherstadt and projects into the Elbe, I'm happy to have been proven wrong.
> At some point, I recall the hall receiving the distinction of "worst hall" from performing musicians.
When was this? It's only been open a few months.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I did not get to experience the acoustics , but i tend to agree with you about the exterior. The building is rather unappealing box in a colorless surrounding.
Looking at the images of this "unappealing box" and the "colorless surrounding" in form of the hamburg harbour and the old warehouse city I have to assume you are trying to be the "devil's advocate" you proclaim to be in your profile. By the way, what is the difference between a devil's advocate and a troll?
Beside being absolutely hideous on the outside, there is no way that hall has good acoustics. Having seats to the side and behind the stage means you will have bad merging and resolution of parts. Orchestral seating is specifically designed for an audience sitting in front. For example, when attending a performance of Shostakovich'a Cello Concerto, the cello was very difficult to hear, as were several other orchestra…
Thoughts on Bing Concert Hall @ Stanford? https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&safe=off&rlz=1C5CH...
My personal perspective: I've found that there's three core interesting benefits/drawbacks of this hall.
1. The ability to hear individual instruments/players is remarkable. 2. Weirdly, although it's easy to pick out specific sounds, they tend to be quieter than you'd expect. Both on stage and in the audience. 3. ... EXCEPT when the full orchestra plays something loud. The hall is very easy to "overpower" (a phenomenon I'd not previously encountered). I don't have a good way to describe it, but when this happens, effect 1. and 2. go away and everything just becomes... too much.
Beside being absolutely hideous on the outside, there is no way that hall has good acoustics. Having seats to the side and behind the stage means you will have bad merging and resolution of parts. Orchestral seating is specifically designed for an audience sitting in front. For example, when attending a performance of Shostakovich'a Cello Concerto, the cello was very difficult to hear, as were several other orchestra…
I disagree entirely about it being hideous on the outside. I was extremely skeptical while living near Hamburg in 2006, when graphical representations were just being publicized. But having been back in the fall and seeing how it fits into the Speicherstadt and projects into the Elbe, I'm happy to have been proven wrong. > At some point, I recall the hall receiving the distinction of "worst hall" from performing musi…
To give some more context: Many of Hamburg's larger buildings are built in a way that is supposed to resemble ships, and so is the elbphilharmony. The bottom of the building is actually an old "Kontor" (depot) building in the harbor (before: http://www.fotograf-hamburg.de/02_bilder_hamburg_speichersta...). From there it has these sail-like structures on top.
Similar shape in the nearby 100 year old Chilehaus: http://www.hamburg.de/contentblob/1131342/dfed187d90a1f73c7e...
as well as the new building of DER SPIEGEL's publishing house central: http://www.dbz.de/imgs/102478178_d9b278661e.jpg
and this office-building: http://www.bildarchiv-hamburg.de/folders/Grosse%20Elbstrasse...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I did not get to experience the acoustics , but i tend to agree with you about the exterior. The building is rather unappealing box in a colorless surrounding.
Looking at the images of this "unappealing box" and the "colorless surrounding" in form of the hamburg harbour and the old warehouse city I have to assume you are trying to be the "devil's advocate" you proclaim to be in your profile. By the way, what is the difference between a devil's advocate and a troll?
Contrary to what the article states, the acoustic design of the hall have been widely criticized by audio/acoustics experts. In fact, after the premiere concert many (experts and casual visitors alike) have even described the acoustics to be a major disappointment.
The Sydney Opera House was likewise ambitious, iconic, stupidly expensive, and with famously bad acoustics. They are only now, decades later, being fixed for a hefty price: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-11/sydney-opera-house-con...
