Newcastle City Hall

Newcastle City Hall
Newcastle City Hall
Newcastle City Hall.jpg
The front of the hall
Location Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Type Concert hall
Opened 1927
Capacity 2135
Website www.newcastle.gov.uk/cityhall
Not to be confused with Newcastle Civic Centre

Newcastle City Hall is a concert hall, located in Newcastle upon Tyne which has hosted many popular music and classical artists throughout the years, as well as standup and comedy acts. Opened in 1927, the City Hall was built as a part of a development which also included the adjacent City Pool.[1] It has since become a venue for orchestras, rock and pop bands, and comedy acts, as well as for celebrity recitals, talks and civic functions.[1]

Contents

Organ

In 1928, to create the city's first dedicated concert venue, a Harrison and Harrison organ was built.[1] A concert instrument, as opposed to a cathedral specification, it has been used for choral and orchestral concerts as well as organ recitals. It has 4,274 pipes, with a number of unique stops and has been described as "A Rolls-Royce" of organs.[2]

The organ is currently in a poor state of repair, although as a result of its neglect, the instrument is probably the last and largest example of a Harrison tubular-pneumatic action (most other large organs were converted to electro-pneumatic action after World War II). The organ is also unusual in that it is unaltered, as most comparable organs have been modified, added-to or revoiced.[3]

The British Institute of Organ Studies awarded it a Grade 1 Historic Organ Certificate in 2003, and it is classified as part of the hall's Grade II status.[4]

Noted musical acts

In 1981, Motörhead recorded the majority of the tracks for their live album, No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, at the city hall. The album was #1 on the UK billboard charts for almost 2 months following its release that year. That same year, Slade performed and recorded their show, which was later released as a live album, entitled Slade on Stage. Emerson, Lake and Palmer recorded their third album, Pictures at an Exhibition, there March, 26 1971.

The Animals reunited and performed there for a one-off performance in 1968, after lead vocalist Eric Burdon disbanded them and formed a new version of the band.

References

  1. ^ a b c "City Hall". Newcastle City Council. http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/cityhallnh. Retrieved 2009-12-10. 
  2. ^ Liz Walker, "Campaign aims to restore historic Newcastle organ", The Journal, 18 January 2010
  3. ^ City Hall Organ campaign, NDSO
  4. ^ City Hall website

External links

Coordinates: 54°58′39″N 1°36′36″W / 54.9774°N 1.6100°W / 54.9774; -1.6100

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