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Unique in design and location, City Recital Hall Angel Place has earned a place in Sydney’s history. This world class performance space was the first specially designed venue to be built in Sydney since the Opera House in 1973 and its opening in 1999 had musicians and audiences throughout Sydney applauding.
This elegant venue features a 1,238-seat auditorium over three levels. Purpose built and acoustically designed specifically for fine music and spoken word, City Recital Hall Angel Place is both a world class concert venue, and also a favoured location for producers of special and awards events, annual general meetings, plenary sessions and business presentations for audiences of 300 upwards.
Australian architects Peddle Thorp and Walker designed the Hall in a shoebox shape, proven worldwide as the ideal shape for hearing western classical music. Based on the classical configuration of the 19th century European concert hall, the design includes gently raking stalls and two galleries that wrap around both sides and rear of the auditorium creating a sense of intimacy between audience and performer.
The elegant décor of French grey, gold leaf, light timber panelling and plum coloured upholstery provides a sense of occasion, enhanced by the white marble grand stair that sweeps up from the entry foyer to the three levels, each flanked by stylish cocktail foyers.
Acoustic design consultants, Arup Acoustics, consulted closely with major user organisations to design the superior acoustic atmosphere. The auditorium’s 1.8-second reverberation time is exactly attuned for chamber music. Amplified music is accommodated by the operation of specially designed acoustic banners along the walls. The entire auditorium is supported on rubber bearings to avoid vibration and street sounds and the air conditioning and lighting systems have also been treated to minimise noise.
The role of City Recital Hall Angel Place is to be a high quality venue of international standing. The venue is the principal Sydney home for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Musica Viva Australia, Pinchgut Opera, Australian String Quartet, and the Grainger Quartet. Other companies performing regularly include Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Children's Choir and Sydney Youth Orchestra.
The venue also has a growing entrepreneurial programme and recently has presented artists such as Roger Woodward, Simon Tedeschi and Alexander Gavrylyuk. Presentations in 2008 included return seasons of these artists and a recital by David Helfgott of Shine fame. The venue also has a policy of supporting emerging groups and artists, such as Sydney Omega Ensemble. The ensemble-in-residence programme supports the newly formed TRIOZ, a piano trio currently playing to great acclaim.
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