The Bridgewater Hall

This time around not only visited the hall for two concerts (one was a replica of Leonard Bernstein’s final concert, with Tasmin Little and the BBCPO), the other John Williams: A Life in the Cinema with the Hallé under Stephen Bell — both great) but also took the «public» tour of the building, which will cost you a 5-​er for a 1+ hour look behind the back of that is certainly the greatest-​sounding concert hall I know (a tie with the Cologne Philharmonic Hall). Very nice tour, which was guided by the guy who normally runs their CD and souvenirs shop on concert evenings. The Hallé were rehearsing the Williams concert while we were in the auditorium, being told about sound-​proofing and how the architects kept the vibrations coming from the nearby traffic away from the auditorium.
So I recommend Bridgewater Hall for ALL classical concerts, and the tour for those who want to have a peek behind the scenes.

A wonderful facility belonging to Manchester. Bridgwater Hall hosts many events including both classical and contemporary music. Both the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic play here regularly, and ticket prices are reasonable. There are sometimes free tickets for Manchester residents if you’re on their mailing list. My only reason not to award the venue 5 stars is that I find the seats a little uncomfortable, especially when you’re there for a few hours.

Bridgewater hall — I went to see the BBC Philamonic Orchestra. As you enter you are in a big open space. As you walk down into the theatre there are lots of seats and plenty of legroom, so for those tall people that need the extra legroom this is the place to go. The theatre is very modern inside and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back to see some future performances.

The Bridgewater Hall is a wonderful venue, that I feel is sometimes underused by the city. I’ve seen everything from ballet to Goldfrapp to classical recitals at this venue, and it was lovely to visit again as part of MIF 2015 to see The Requiem/​Immortal.
To me this venue really comes alive with a full orchestra and choir — which is precisely what it was designed for. The seating is comfortable, and even high up there are still great unobstructed views to be had. But as with most classical concerts I attend, the best way to view is by closing your eyes. Only then do you appreciate the all consuming sound that is possible in this venue.
The bar areas are also quite lovely, with large windows over looking the canal and Castlefield. St Peter’s Square is your most convenient tram stop (once the works have finished in 2017 that is), but it’s not too far a walk from Deansgate train station.

I ate at the Stalls Café Bar at the Bridgewater Hall this week and really enjoyed my lunch! I went with the chicken, bacon & brie ciabatta (although I actually had toasted gluten free bread, which they were more than happy to provide at no extra charge). It came with tortilla crisps and a side salad but I decided to be naughty and have a side of chips too. They come in their own little fryer basket and are delicious! The Stalls Café bar is open most days, located on the ground floor just to the left through the main doors. You can just pop in for a bite to eat or a cuppa if you want, sometimes there are even free lunchtime performances in the foyer (A Little Bite). A good lunchtime spot that people probably wouldn’t think to try.

My review of Bridgewater Hall is based solely on the recent ‘Baby Music’ session I attended with my daughter recently.
Baby Music is a free baby sensory class that is offered here every Wednesday at 11.15am, 12.30pm and 1.45pm. It’s an informal session that takes place over an hour with a different theme every week and music based activities set up accordingly.
The idea is you rock up with your baby and spend an hour playing and generally having fun! The class doesn’t have any particular structure and is not led but there are several members of staff on hand who are happy to offer ideas, impart their knowledge of how music can help development or just sit and have a chat with you and your baby.
It’s a really nice way to spend an hour with your baby and my 6.5 month old loved it. There were a few people there with very young babies (just a month or 2 old) but I’m not sure how much you’d get out of it at that age and as it can get quite noisy it’s maybe more suitable for babies ever so slightly older.
As I said before, this is a free session and as such is hugely popular. Bookings are currently taken from 8.30am on the Thursday before the following Wednesday’s group and if you want to get a place you really do need to be there at 8.30am on the dot and be prepared to hit the redial button several times!

We went to see Mogwai recently at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. In 5 years I’ve lived here I never had the chance to go. I’m so glad Mogwai could score this venue for their gig. I don’t think any other would have quite worked as well.
The layout, size, accoustics, lighting… everything was perfectly arranged for what was to be a unique experience. The intensity of the sound these guys produced put the accousitics and the sound system of the Hall through their paces but it all held perfectly.
I wish I had known they were playing before so we could have scored better seats. From the side circle upstairs, if you lay back in your seat comfortably you get the big barrier in your sight instead of the stage which is a shame.
But with Mogwai you pretty much close your eyes all the way through anyway. I cannot stress enough how amazed I was with the sound system. Very loud but so crystal clear. If only QOTSA had played there…

If you want good sound, go to Bridgewater Hall!
It’s great to have a purpose-​built concert hall in Manchester, especially for orchestras (though I have been known to squee in delight when a band I love announces a show here). The décor is kinda generic for a modern concert hall, but that’s a minor fault when the sound is so good.

A light and airy building that is some how uplifting. The concert hall is superb.
There are sometimes free lunchtime concerts.
A wonderfull addition to Manchester and the Northwest.

The Bridgewater Hall has to be one of my favourite places in Manchester.
The music hall itself is absolutely stunning, I once went to see a film screening of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ here, the original silent, black and white movie… the twist was, for the entire film there was a live organ accompaniment from the huge organ in the middle of the hall. It was breathtaking. Couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks.
I’ve also been to see the Halle Orchestra play here, something I think is an absolute must for anyone living in or visiting Manchester. The acoustics are just unbelievable. Elbow played with them a few years ago as part of Manchester International Festival, one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to.
The Bridgewater Hall also hosts Manchester Metropolitan’s graduation ceremonies here, I’ve never been to one but my friends who graduated here said it was amazing. Very jealous.
The Hall also has a great giftshop selling unusual cards, it’s quite close to my work so I usually end up popping in for birthday cards/​gifts when I’m on the last minute.

A great venue. the stylish exterior is matched by the acoustics inside. a handy location too.

There is something wonderfully beautiful and awe inspiring about the Bridgewater Hall. From its stunning glass and chrome interior, to the specifically calibrated acoustics of its main performance hall, this is not your average live music venue.
But then again, when you look at the calibre of artists who perform here, you realise why it’s such a special venue. This is the home of the BBC Philharmonic orchestra and the Manchester Camerata, so you can often pop in here to catch a lunchtime concert if you’re the kind of person who likes the idea of catching a string quartet whilst munching on a cheese sandwich.
Other, more popular acts often perform here too. I’ve seen wonderful gigs here from Bonnie Prince Billy, Richard Hawley and Lambchop to name just a few, and each of these has been magnificent and intimate in their own particular ways. There truly is nothing better than sitting in this fantastic space, closing your eyes and just letting the most beautiful noise wash over you and into you. And there’s something even better about it when you can open your eyes and find yourself in a magnificent concert hall rather than a dank little beer stained shed.
The Bridgewater Hall is a space where you can really appreciate music at its best. You can dress up or you can dress down — no one will bat an eyelid. Don’t come to The Bridgewater Hall looking for a mosh pit or for a rowdy night out. But if you want a truly life changing and beautiful musical experience, then this one of a kind venue should certainly be at the top of your list.

One of the best things about Manchester’s premier concert venue, Bridgewater Hall, is the building’s stunning design. Bridgewater Hall stands proudly against the dramatic backdrop of one of Manchester’s Canals, and in full view of the equally impressive City Central Library in St. Peter’s Square. The spectacular design of Bridgewater Hall matches the venue’s huge impact on the music and creative arts scene in Manchester — it is now arguably the most important venue for classical music in the North West.
Bridgewater Hall is an accessible, friendly building, and is well worth a visit, regardless of whether you are attending a performance or not. The venue is well equipped with a fantastic Café, and a small gift shop, which sells a variety of ornaments, greetings cards, and other items, including artisan wrapping paper. The marbled floors and walls certainly add to the gravitas of the building, which completely compliments the venues wide range of programming.
Prices for performances vary, from as little as £2.50 for a student ticket to the fantastic local Halle Orchestra (who take residence in the venue), to top prices of £30 for performers such as Jane McDonald, Lesley Garrett and Debbie Reynolds. One concert, which I attended, was wonderful, and excellent value for money. As with many performance venues in the city, the holder of a valid NUS card will sometimes get a discount. You can also take a guided tour of the building for £4.00.
I would highly recommend a visit to this venue, both for the excellent range of performances, and the facilities within the venue itself. It acts as a wonderful introduction to the classical and alternative music scene of Manchester, and is not at all elitist or snobbish, but welcoming and friendly. Highly Recommended.

Having heard so much about this concert hall I finally had the pleasure of going to a concert here the other night. I went to see Mahler’s 3^rd symphony being performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
We bought tickets in the circle — I bought the tickets for my girlfriend as a present, and thought we may as well have the best seats we could! When I was buying my tickets many months ago the lady at Bridgewater Hall gave us a huge discount because we were under 26, that took off something between £10 and £15 off the price of our two tickets.
This is an incredible discount, and something that she offered me without me knowing anything about it. This made me like Bridgewater Hall a lot straight off the bat.
On the night, we arrived to find that we were easily in the minority as young people, but I guess that’s what you get with classical music. The concert was sold out, and the hall itself is truly beautiful. It’s light, steep and our seats in the circle afforded us incredible views of all the orchestra. I like to take in the music of course, but it’s also loads of fun to be able to see the intricacies of all the things going on.
Drinks in the bar are pricey. I ordered a gin and tonic and a beer before the show, and it cost me over £7, which seems like quite a lot.
The Bridgewater Hall is excellent and there really are cheap and reasonably priced seats to be had. Go and experience something a little different!

The Bridgewater Hall is a super modern and swish venue for, primarily, live music of a very grown up nature.
We’re talking jazz and classical music here. That’s because it’s the home of the Hallé Orchestra, the Hallé Choir and the Manchester Boys Choir.
BBC Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata also do regular stints here.
That said, it also hosts gigs from rock acts. Richard Hawley, Lambchop and Bonnie Prince Billy have all played here.
That means, if you’re after a night on the razz and jumping up and down with a belly full of beer, then this place should be last on your list.
Basically, it’s a very swish place where you sit down and quietly appreciate music. To be perfectly honest, you wouldn’t want to do anything else. The building is so exact (for acoustics) and so formal (people showing you to your seats and the like) that you can feel like you’re under-​dressed for the occasion.
It’s a musos dream come true. The Briton’s Protection is not far away if you want a pre/​post gig pint.

Currently on at The Bridgewater Hall is an entire season of German composer Mahler, running almost every week from January to June.
The Bridgewater Hall is a wonderful classical music venue with an exquisitely beautiful main theatre. This current Mahler season is wonderfully done, with performances from the Manchester Cameratera and, as its in conjunction with the BCC, their wonderful Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tickets for these wonderful events start from only £9. Also, there’ve often got radio programs being recorded in front of a live audience between 5 and 6pm. These are completely free to go to, you just need to get tickets for the box office. They’re really good, and even if you are going to the main evening performance as well, they are probably worth going to as they often include interesting commentary on the performances.
If you like classical music then Bridgewater Hall is a wonderful place, and if you don’t like classical music, you probably will after a visit to a live performance here.

‘Alive with music’
Since the Bridgewater Hall opened its doors in 1996, it has stayed true to it’s motto putting on over 250 concerts a year. Naturally, a large percentage of these are classical with visiting philharmonic orchestras playing concerts alongside Manchester’s own Halle Orchestra. Being more of an Ennio Morricone than Mahler fan, I’ve yet to attend one but have heard from several friends that Elbow’s collaboration with Halle Orchestra last year was incredible.
An architectural triumph of glass, steel and concrete, the Bridgewater Hall is a wonder to walk around and has several different levels with stunning views and strategically placed bars or cafes. There’s guided tours, education facilities for aspiring musicians and concerts several nights of the week. The auditorium itself has seating for 2,400 and when I went to see some of the original Buena Vista Social Club musicians several years ago, the sound and view was amazing.
My one grumble would be that I think the acoustics of Bridgwater Hall are more suited to classical, funk, blues and world music than rock or pop. I went to see Nancy Sinatra play a few years back and the sound of Clem Burke’s drums dominated the whole gig from where I was sat. I assumed he was just playing too loud but when I spoke to friends during the interval, they said the drums were at the same volume as the guitars and vocals where they were sat! Maybe the venue is aware of this and that’s why they put on very few rock shows, who knows?
Forthcoming gigs include Portugese Fado singer Mariza, blues legend Buddy Guy and awesome African singer Rokia Traore.

I have wanted to play here since I can remember. So a trip here to me is the way to my heart. I love this place!
The building is breathtaking to start off with so before you even get inside (if you are lucky to get taken) just take a look at this genius building. Jaw-​droppingly handsome and exquisite is the only way I can describe it.
This rejuvenated city of Manchester deserves a smack on the back for this piece of work. What a show. I have been a few times now and everytime I go it is like I have never been! Inside is perfection. The organ is beautiful and the hall itself makes you feel like you are royalty. It is immaculate. The sound is incredible too.
Please go. Even if you do not like the music, just try it. Honestly, it will blow your head off. Better than your sub-​woofer, i promise!

Duh-​duh-​duh– duh-​duh-​duh DUH DUH Duh-​duh-​duh– duh-​duh-​duh DUH DUH
Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture sang by yours truly after an evening at the Bridgewater Hall.
I am civilised, I am refined. I promise. And its not my fault that I had first reactions to some pieces such as ‘Theme from the Apprentice?’ and ‘Ice Age 3 soundtrack’. For that I blame TV and film.
The building is stunning and that organ just looks amazing — I’ve heard it too: at a Masters graduation ceremony held there. If you visit and don’t here the organ, its understandable if you’re a little upset.
Nonetheless, the concert hall somehow lets you feel the energy of the orchestra even if you’re up at the top, peering underneath the railing. Seeing the precision and timing of the string section for yourself really does bring the music alive and the Bridgewater Hall only has the crème de la crème of orchestras.
Perhaps one of the reasons you’ll leave the Hall singing.

Bridgewater Hall is a beautiful monument to architecture and design. The brilliant layers of glass descending from the ceiling accent the paneling and one feels almost like on the grand stage of the capital city of a new society — like in a grand fortress of a faraway planet. It isn’t grandiose, it isn’t delicate, just awe-​inspiring. Thus, the perfect setting for the one symphony concert I attended, featuring Prokofiev’s massive Cantata for the 20^th Anniversary of the October Revolution, Op 74.
This monster required doubling the strings, thereby taking up the entire floor usually occupied by the rest of the orchestra. Yes, more violins and violas, more cello and bass, and now there are two choirs — behind the orchestra, all above the entire stage in the stands. Now double the brass. Add a piano and another keyboard. And and entire accordion section. Now have someone sit in the front row of the audience and jump on stage with the bullhorn at the exact cue, portraying Lenin in an announcement to the masses through a bullhorn.
It was insanity. And to think I almost experienced this alone, in a box seat.
I bought the tickets months earlier, and built up to the climax of the day of the performance, only to have my promised companion call to say he had forgotten that he had to star in a French play at school, only a few hours before curtains. What a bastard.
I briefly considered standing outside and giving the ticket to the first lost-​looking stranger, but upon realizing I had to sit next to the person for the entire concert, I thought I’d put more thought into the selection. I already exhausted my brief list of friends who’d be interested in the symphony. So I actually went online, into a Manchester chat room, and asked if anyone was interested in the symphony.
His name started with a K. Something with not many vowels. And when we met he brought his friend with him for safety. We had some time to speak before the show, and I found out that he had actually played in Bridgewater Hall as a bassoonist in an orchestra. And he actually liked Prokofiev.
It was a great concert, and we parted as potential friends. He even invited me to go see him DJ at a small café. That went fine too.
Then I got some weird email from him about how he didn’t have the time of day to make a new friend. Out of the blue. This was kind of the typical reaction I got to Mancunians knowing that I’d only be around for a few months. You know, defense shields. I’m sure the proles needed them too.