Since it first opened its doors in 1982, when 21,000 people flooded the building in just one day, over 10 million people have attended an event at St Davids Hall the National Concert Hall of Wales.‘Happy Birthday St David’s Hall - A perfect Hall for audience and performers alike, it’s capabilities are boundless’ - Bryn Terfel The Hall, as it is affectionately known, was officially opened by the Queen Mother in February 1983. Since then it has played host to the massively successful LloydsTSB Welsh Proms Cardiff and the world famous biennial Cardiff Singer of the World competition. "Happy Birthday St David's, I have so many fond memories and here's to the next 25 years!" - Katherine Jenkins St David’s Hall stands proud as the largest performing arts venue in the whole of Wales. Built in 1982 it proved a tricky yet remarkable building to construct but the result has been a unique, odd-shaped brutalist building very much in the concrete mould of the National Theatre and South Bank Centre on the River Thames in London. Now situated between the existing St David’s Shopping Centre and the new St David’s 2 complex, St David’s Hall stands at the very heart of Cardiff’s retail and entertainment centre which will further its reputation as one of the premier concert and conference venues in the world. ‘What an amazing place to sing! Can I take it home please? Wonderful acoustic…” – Lesley Garrett As well as classical music St David’s Hall also plays host to jazz, soul, pop, rock, dance, children’s theatre, ballet, musicals and stand-up comedy. With the largest seating capacity of all the theatre venues in Cardiff it regularly attracts some of the biggest stars. The concert platform has been graced by the world’s finest artists including the great conductors Carlo Maria Giulini and Simon Rattle and international orchestras including Cleveland Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Stars of the stage have included Rudolph Nureyev, Will Young, Bob Hope, Billy Connolly and Tina Turner; together with world famous singers such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and our own Bryn Terfel, Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey. “Happy Birthday St David’s Hall. A great Hall and great city’ – Valerie Gergiev St David’s Hall has always provided the people of Wales with a varied and eclectic programme. 2008 sees this continue with a couple of firsts thrown in for good measure. The largest cinema screen ever to be erected in Wales will arrive with BBC’s Blue Planet Live! on 12 & 13 April for three performances only. The Menhuin Competition, the world’s leading international competition for young violinists, also celebrating its 25th Anniversary, comes to Wales for the very first time in April, holding it’s finals at the Hall. Comedy and Ballet have always been at the heart of St David’s Hall’s programming but the two clash with quite a bang when Russia’s Big Ballet troupe, complete with 20 stone ballerinas, arrives on 16 April. 'I love St David's Hall… Happy Birthday! St David's Hall is one of my favourite venues”. -Jamie Cullum The official 25th Anniversary Birthday Concert will take place at St David’s Hall, fittingly on the same day that honours the venue’s namesake, March 1. The concert will include performances by Catrin Finch and St David’s Hall’s orchestra in residence, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. For tickets and further information on all forthcoming shows, call the St David’s Hall Box Office on 029 2087 8444 or book online at www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk |
| St Davids Hall Cardiff web site: www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk |
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Saturday, February 16, 2008 |
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