Behold Brisbane City Hall, the civic heart of Brisbane, back in business and reopened this week after a 3-year restoration and repair.
Built in Italian Renaissance style, with a 70 metre clock tower, our City Hall was officially opened in 1930. It was once the tallest building in Brisbane, but of course is now dwarfed by a multitude of sky-scrapers.
It holds its own, though, standing majestically facing King George Square, where we can admire sculptor Daphne Mayo's carved tympanum above the entrance.
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Always loved these floors, now crisp and fresh again ..
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The auditorium is stunning topped by this magnificent dome.
I waltzed at many balls here back in the olden days when I was a young thing ..
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I went to the Gala concert: Return to City Hall..
The Qld Symphony Orchestra starred.
The Qld Symphony Orchestra starred.
I loved hearing the full set of Enigma variations by Edward Elgar -
delicious music...
Here's a visual of Sir Edward himself.
Another exquisite piece I have never heard before was On Bredon Hill, by Julius Harrison, gorgeous violin playing by our own Warwick Adeney, Concertmaster of QSO.
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As if that was not enough excitement for one week, the following night I went to the Qld Ballet performance of Cinderella.
This was extra special, as it is the first production by their new Artistic Director, Li Cunxin, famous as Mao's Last Dancer, in his autobiographical book published in 2003 and the movie of 2009.
Ssssh, dear reader, don't tell, but we sat behind him, and I may possibly have taken a sneaky pic:
In fact, he looks like this.
The ballet was of course enchanting; the best-known fairytale of all,
music by Prokofiev, wonderful costumes and beautiful dancing.
The Qld Ballet is in fine hands with their new Director.
It is wet, cold and miserable here, but I'm happy!
Have a good weekend
XXXX
music by Prokofiev, wonderful costumes and beautiful dancing.
The Qld Ballet is in fine hands with their new Director.
It is wet, cold and miserable here, but I'm happy!
Have a good weekend
XXXX
That's a stunning building. You're so lucky to have such great shows to entertain you.Where I live it is a cultural desert - watching paint dry would be considered a highlight.
ReplyDeleteCity Hall is looking stunning once again,Sulky. I do like city life although I grew up in the country. I'll bet you are a highlight in your cultural desert!
DeleteWhat wonderful occasions - the reopening of the beautiful City Hall, the fantastic musical concerts and the ballet. The Enigma Variations one of my all time favourites complimented by On Bredon Hill.
ReplyDeleteElgar lived in Malvern and was influenced by his surroundings in the Malvern Hills, and Bredon Hill is also in Worcestershire but geologically in the Cotswolds - both places on my doorstep.
I'm not sure why they chose an all-British program for the occasion, but it was most enjoyable, and evocative. Exciting you are near the 'origins' of this great music.
DeleteThe repairs and restorations of old buildings take an awful lot of time and money, but when everything is finished, wow.
ReplyDeleteHere in Helsinki, almost all the time something is on repair too. I was so hoping, that we´d have everything fixed last year, as it was The World´s Design Capital City year, but no..
Summer is the ideal time to do those restorations, and our´s is so short.
Beautiful pictures from the ballet, thanks!
When it was realised the City Hall was crumbling, there was some public resistance to fixing it, but sanity prevailed and the finished restoration is wonderful. Much better than knocking it all down! You can never replace a special historical building. I had not heard of World's Design Capital City year, but Helsinki would have done it proud, such a lovely city.
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ReplyDeleteI would have snuck a picture too! Probably more than one. :-)
ReplyDeleteAh, I did take more than one - he kept moving his head, making it very tricky!
DeleteWhat a wonderful week Patricia!
ReplyDeleteI loved that book too. How fortunate for Brisbane ballet having Li as their artistic director!
He is married to an Australian Mary McKendry too.
Your city hall is a very grand building well worth the long restoration program, I'm sure you'll be back for many lovely concerts in the future.
Shane ♥
It was a great book, and film, wasn't it? Mary McKendry is actually from Rockhampton, Queensland, so after their many adventures they are now back in her home state. We are all fascinated to see what Li will do next with the Qld Ballet. Exciting times. Have a good week, Shane. x
DeleteWhat a week you had, filled with those wonderful events. The City Hall is a stunning structure. I would be in dreamland to have had your week! And what a nice touch at the end of your post: the pumpkin.
ReplyDeleteI don't get out often, then it all comes at once! The pumpkin was very large, and very effective on stage..I loved the ballet.
DeleteI am always delighted to see old buildings restored, yours indeed looks like a treasure. The ballet must have been marvelous. I will have to look for the book you mention.
ReplyDeleteDarla
I love a beautiful old building too. Our city has had a bad history of knocking them down, but sanity prevailed this time and we have a gem. The book was a huge best-seller, giving a glimpse into life under Mao and then escape into the outside world.
DeleteLoved all the beautiful pictures of that grand building and lovely ballet. Pumpkin at the end confused me until I realized it was the one that Cinderella's coach was made from. Sounds like you had a fun week!
ReplyDeleteHa, sometimes you have to work to figure out the blog! The ballet has been a sell-out, a huge success.
DeleteGosh, what a wonderful week you've been having, Patricia! A gala concert and a visit to the ballet on two consecutive evenings. What fun. :-) Your City Hall is a very fine building and it must be lovely to see it restored to its full glory at last.
ReplyDeleteFunny how good things sometimes come all at once.
DeleteThis week, double dipping into tea with girlfriends!
We have so few lovely historic buildings here, so lovely to see this one preserved.
Lovely! Been a while since I attend a ballet performance. Nice heads up! Got my eye on your next posts.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very impressive building and how good to go there for two nights. It's grey and miserable here again! x
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