A comparison between the organs of the Royal Albert Hall & Royal Festival Hall, London

[Guest]

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of being at the RAH for a performance of the Berlioz Te Deum.

The RAH organ was restored three years ago as part of the interior refurbishment of the hall. It sounded magnificent in this work, worthy of it's place in this iconic building.

Last night (Tuesday), I visited the RFH, the first time since the interior had major work to improve the acoustics of the auditorium and provision to 'improve' the platform/stage area.

After the millions that was spent, I was shocked to find that the organ had not been put back in. In fact only a third of it is in place, without its facade and the innards in its full ugliness to the public. The remaining empty area is painted a putrid green. Quite disgusting to look at, to be honest.

It seems that the choirstalls has been moved back 5 metres into the original organ area and has displaced it. I doubt there is room for the whole instrument to be reinstated. The facade of this instrument is integral to this iconic building of the 1950's and the Ralph Downs instrument is a landmark in organ design.

It is an absolute scandal that the authorities has allowed the organ to be left in this situation, displaced and unfinished. [:@]

[Menschenstimme]

Re: A comparison between the organs of the Royal Albert Hall & Royal Festival Hall, London

http://enema.ytmnd.com/

[Guest]

Re: A comparison between the organs of the Royal Albert Hall & Royal Festival Hall, London



[quote user="MenchenStimme"]http://enema.ytmnd.com/[/quote]

Yup, the situation is a total joke.

[Austin766]

Re: A comparison between the organs of the Royal Albert Hall & Royal Festival Hall, London

It'd be like if one of the someone decided to do work on any of the classic Holtkamps without putting the facade pipes back (there are the display pipes and the other pipes of the divisions, which cannot be seen).

[soubasse32]

Re: A comparison between the organs of the Royal Albert Hall & Royal Festival Hall, London

[quote user="Austin766"]It'd be like if one of the someone decided to do work on any of the classic Holtkamps without putting the facade pipes back.[/quote]With a typical Holtkamp façadehow could you tell the difference? [;)]

[Austin766]

Re: A comparison between the organs of the Royal Albert Hall & Royal Festival Hall, London

Ever been "in"/on a Holtkamp? you'd see what I mean, jellybean...

[soubasse32]

Re: A comparison between the organs of the Royal Albert Hall & Royal Festival Hall, London

[quote user="Greg"]After the millions that was spent, I was shocked to find that the organ had not been put back in. In fact only a third of it is in place, without its facade and the innards in its full ugliness to the public. The remaining empty area is painted a putrid green. Quite disgusting to look at, to be honest.



It seems that the choirstalls has been moved back 5 metres into the original organ area and has displaced it. I doubt there is room for the whole instrument to be reinstated. The facade of this instrument is integral to this iconic building of the 1950's and the Ralph Downs instrument is a landmark in organ design.

It is an absolute scandal that the authorities has allowed the organ to be left in this situation, displaced and unfinished. [:@]

[/quote]Greg, this websitesays that theremainder of theorgan is going back in. Either it is a false alarm, or there is something fishy going on... [*-)]

[Guest]

Re: A comparison between the organs of the Royal Albert Hall & Royal Festival Hall, London

Yes, something very fishy is going on.......

[wombat11]

Re: A comparison between the organs of the Royal Albert Hall & Royal Festival Hall, London



I was aware that this magnificent instrument was undergoing refurbishment,but saddened to hear,via Greg, that the end result was so disappointing!

I have listened with amazement,to the sheer expertise and dexterity of Simon Preston,sat at this instrument,and,as Britain`s premier concert hall,it is absolutely ridiculous that the project was tarnished just for the sake of `a hap`orth of tar`(an old boat building phrase,I believe!)

wombat11 [:(]