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Prince hails new hall a 'triumph' | Prince hails new hall a 'triumph' |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Prince Charles has officially opened Wales's newest concert hall, declaring it an "acoustical triumph". | Prince Charles has officially opened Wales's newest concert hall, declaring it an "acoustical triumph". |
The prince, patron of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, was guest of honour at a concert in the new Hoddinott Hall at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay on Saturday night. | The prince, patron of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, was guest of honour at a concert in the new Hoddinott Hall at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay on Saturday night. |
He met members of the orchestra and the family of late composer Alun Hoddinott, after whom the 350-seat hall is named. | He met members of the orchestra and the family of late composer Alun Hoddinott, after whom the 350-seat hall is named. |
Mr Hoddinott's widow Rhiannon said the concert was a "wonderful" tribute. | Mr Hoddinott's widow Rhiannon said the concert was a "wonderful" tribute. |
The prince praised the design of the hall, which is the new home for the orchestra, as he unveiled a Welsh slate plaque to mark the occasion. | |
Prince Charles was welcomed by BBC Wales controller Menna Richards | |
He told guests: "Nothing could give me greater pleasure than to unveil this plaque and declare open this hall, an acoustical triumph, in memory of a great Welsh composer." | He told guests: "Nothing could give me greater pleasure than to unveil this plaque and declare open this hall, an acoustical triumph, in memory of a great Welsh composer." |
Mr Hoddinott forged a strong link with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, which spanned seven decades. He died last March, aged 78. | Mr Hoddinott forged a strong link with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, which spanned seven decades. He died last March, aged 78. |
Mrs Hoddinott said: "I wish he was here with me of course. He would have been absolutely thrilled by it, and overwhelmed. | Mrs Hoddinott said: "I wish he was here with me of course. He would have been absolutely thrilled by it, and overwhelmed. |
"This orchestra was the heart of his life. He was very proud to be with them, always." | "This orchestra was the heart of his life. He was very proud to be with them, always." |
The prince asked architect Tim Green, of Capita architecture, about the acoustics of the hall and complimented him on his work. | |
Mr Green said: "He said he was enjoying the concert very much, which was nice to hear. | Mr Green said: "He said he was enjoying the concert very much, which was nice to hear. |
"This is the first time I've been in here for a live performance, so I was quite moved myself. There is nothing like hearing music live, and I think the prince felt the same." | "This is the first time I've been in here for a live performance, so I was quite moved myself. There is nothing like hearing music live, and I think the prince felt the same." |
Prince Charles was also shown to the hall's control and edit room, where he was given the opportunity to operate the volume controls on a section of the concert played back to him. | |
He said he enjoyed the concert, and was particularly impressed with pianist John Lill, who performed Schumann's Piano Concerto with the orchestra. | He said he enjoyed the concert, and was particularly impressed with pianist John Lill, who performed Schumann's Piano Concerto with the orchestra. |
The hall provides an intimate setting for concerts | The hall provides an intimate setting for concerts |
Mr Lill, whose hand was injured in a machete attack in 2000, said: "One of the first things he said to me was: 'How's your hand?'. | Mr Lill, whose hand was injured in a machete attack in 2000, said: "One of the first things he said to me was: 'How's your hand?'. |
"He said how much he loved the hall. It is good of him to come to so many concerts. | "He said how much he loved the hall. It is good of him to come to so many concerts. |
"There is a very healthy music scene here in Cardiff, and this orchestra is one of the best." | "There is a very healthy music scene here in Cardiff, and this orchestra is one of the best." |
The prince also met artist Lubna Chowdhary, who created a piece of tiled artwork entitled Nocturne, which is situated at the hall entrance. | |
The 80-year-old orchestra relocated from studio 1 at BBC Wales in Llandaff to the purpose-built hall earlier this year, where they will play more intimate concerts. | |
They will continue to perform at St David's Hall in the city. | |
BBC Wales controller Menna Richards said: "It is a great occasion, not only for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, but for music in Wales; an acknowledgement that music and the arts sit at the centre of what Wales is about and how we define ourselves as a nation." | BBC Wales controller Menna Richards said: "It is a great occasion, not only for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, but for music in Wales; an acknowledgement that music and the arts sit at the centre of what Wales is about and how we define ourselves as a nation." |
A piece of memorial artwork entitled Nocturne by Lubna Chowdhary was unveiled | A piece of memorial artwork entitled Nocturne by Lubna Chowdhary was unveiled |
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