New London concert hall: Kings Place N1 (near Kings X)
Posted by: warwick on 06 October 2008
Well the opening week of Kings Place has just passed. So here is a review of my visits.
It is a new multi use (also offices) building
150 metres up from Kings Cross station.
For more info see
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/f...ert-hall-909507.html
Thur 2/10 Chamber music concert in the larger Hall 1 by Musike ensemble. Klein string trio and Schumann Piano Quartet. I'm afraid the hall was
just too stuffy. Acoustic sounded way too dry, which is arguably particularly problematic with string trios/quartets. Still good playing by the musicians but these other factors were dominant I'm afraid.
Saturday 4/10
Hall 1. Large chamber ensemble/small orchestra (roughly 2 oboe, 2 clarinet, 1 or 3 flutes, 2 bassoon, cello, violins, 2 horns). Better. Gounod Petite Symphonie and Dvorak Symphony for wine. I was near the front and was easy to hear the instruments different locations (yes soundstage/stereo is relevant). This concert will be on Radio 3 on Friday evening.
Sunday 5/10 Now we're talking....
9.30 am gig by Tolis Zavaliaris (Greek). South East Europe and Turkish music played on a sort of sort of Balkan acoustic guitar accompanied by
drums and bass guitar. Great interplay between the musicians. This sort of music would fit very
easily on the Naim Label, a bit like Nicolas Meier & Antonio Forricone. Cheers to Tolis for the free CD after the gig.
10.45 am gig by The Teak Project.
Classical guitar, drums/percussion and sitar. A blend of Indian Classical and western acoustic music. A bit like John McGlaughlin's Shakti. Again perfect music for the Naim label. The group really got into the groove after the first track. Masterful sitar playing, went well alongside the guitar.
Evening performance at 7.30 in the smaller hall 2by Neon (Stan Sulzman sax, Gwilym Simocock piano, and Jim Hart vibraphone). Nice un amplified jazz. Piano sounded a indistinct during louder passages. Great musicians.
8.45 hall 2. Original works by G Simcock (on piano) accompanied by Cara Berridge on Cello. Really enchanting. Great to hear such harmonic string playing and delicate piano playing.
Not sure whether to call this jazz or classical.
9.45 Hall 1. Barkham Harp Quartet
Four enthusiastic pretty girls playing four harps.
A vigorous movement from Handel's Water Music.
Pieces from St Saens Carnival of the Animals (I haven't heard this since school) were sublime, enchanting and life enhancing. Hair was standing on back of my neck.
http://profile.myspace.com/4girls4harps
Other artists easily searchable online.
An interval cup of coffee only cost me 1.20 and it decent it was too. The Rotunda bar is pretty swish with a reasonable wine list.
It is a new multi use (also offices) building
150 metres up from Kings Cross station.
For more info see
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/f...ert-hall-909507.html
Thur 2/10 Chamber music concert in the larger Hall 1 by Musike ensemble. Klein string trio and Schumann Piano Quartet. I'm afraid the hall was
just too stuffy. Acoustic sounded way too dry, which is arguably particularly problematic with string trios/quartets. Still good playing by the musicians but these other factors were dominant I'm afraid.
Saturday 4/10
Hall 1. Large chamber ensemble/small orchestra (roughly 2 oboe, 2 clarinet, 1 or 3 flutes, 2 bassoon, cello, violins, 2 horns). Better. Gounod Petite Symphonie and Dvorak Symphony for wine. I was near the front and was easy to hear the instruments different locations (yes soundstage/stereo is relevant). This concert will be on Radio 3 on Friday evening.
Sunday 5/10 Now we're talking....
9.30 am gig by Tolis Zavaliaris (Greek). South East Europe and Turkish music played on a sort of sort of Balkan acoustic guitar accompanied by
drums and bass guitar. Great interplay between the musicians. This sort of music would fit very
easily on the Naim Label, a bit like Nicolas Meier & Antonio Forricone. Cheers to Tolis for the free CD after the gig.
10.45 am gig by The Teak Project.
Classical guitar, drums/percussion and sitar. A blend of Indian Classical and western acoustic music. A bit like John McGlaughlin's Shakti. Again perfect music for the Naim label. The group really got into the groove after the first track. Masterful sitar playing, went well alongside the guitar.
Evening performance at 7.30 in the smaller hall 2by Neon (Stan Sulzman sax, Gwilym Simocock piano, and Jim Hart vibraphone). Nice un amplified jazz. Piano sounded a indistinct during louder passages. Great musicians.
8.45 hall 2. Original works by G Simcock (on piano) accompanied by Cara Berridge on Cello. Really enchanting. Great to hear such harmonic string playing and delicate piano playing.
Not sure whether to call this jazz or classical.
9.45 Hall 1. Barkham Harp Quartet
Four enthusiastic pretty girls playing four harps.
A vigorous movement from Handel's Water Music.
Pieces from St Saens Carnival of the Animals (I haven't heard this since school) were sublime, enchanting and life enhancing. Hair was standing on back of my neck.
http://profile.myspace.com/4girls4harps
Other artists easily searchable online.
An interval cup of coffee only cost me 1.20 and it decent it was too. The Rotunda bar is pretty swish with a reasonable wine list.