What are your standout / memorable venues for live performance?

On the classical/ancient theme I propose Abbaye Du Thoronet, a beautifully simple Cistercian monastery in the Provence countryside.

We attended a performance of some sacred choral music sung by four men in cassocks, no idea who they were or what the pieces might have been but it was utterly spine-tinglingly memorable. They moved around the chapel in pairs or singly at times, shifting the sound and using the marvellous acoustics. Quite astonishing as a demonstration of unaccompanied human voices. At the end of the performance I recall we hardly clapped, everyone just sat in silence as the voices died away, soaked into the luminous stone.

Brilliant combination of performance and location.

Bruce

Two places stand out for me.

The Royal Festival Hall in its old state before they lifted the ceiling and made it more resonant. This was a shame in my view as few very large halls have such a direct and clear acoustic as the old RFH. Not easy to perform in, as any slip was immediately clear, as it is in the Golden Hall at the Musikverein in Vienna. A tremendous discipline for the resident orchestras.

And Hereford Cathedral, which unlike any other Cathedral I know is actually fine enough from the acoustic consideration to perform the dense music of JS Bach in without distorting the balances away from the inner lines, and grand enough for a big piece like Elgar's Dream Of Gerontius without any sense of cramping it. The important thing is that a large audience or congregation so thoroughly damps the resonances that the music then becomes clear. Rehearsing in there without an audience is as much of a trial as any other Cathedral I have played in. Also if you are there listening to a rehearsal, the result is horribly covered over. So for a good effect the audience needs to be at capacity.

Of course for religious music, designed for the resonant acoustic of large Churches, then a relatively small congregation is given a treat as well!

ATB from George

Opera for me as well, at another evocative location, the Arena di Verona. It's where I saw my first opera, Aida, in 1988 (aged 14). I don't remember all the details, but it made a huge impression on me. The music, staging, grandeur but also sense of vertigo from the higher rows, threat of thunder in the distance, and endless waiting for the sets to change between acts.

EJ

I think we were there on the same night!!    My wife and I on our honeymoon.

Fantastic! Can you remember who was singing? I have been unable to find out.

EJ

Grace Bumbry as Aida, but I'm afraid that's as far as I can remember (we didn't buy an exorbitent programme).  If I find a photo I'll scan and post.

St Sepulchre without Newgate in Holborn

St Johns Smith Square 

St Mark's Basilica Venice

The Troubador West Hollywood

Turner Simms concert hall Southampton

All for different reasons.

JWM,

Thank you - would highly appreciate that!

EJ