Glasgow City Halls facts for kids
The City Halls and Old Fruitmarket are famous buildings in Glasgow, Scotland. They are located on Candleriggs, in an area called the Merchant City. These buildings are now a popular concert hall and used to be a busy market.
A Look Back in Time
The City Halls are part of a larger market area. John Carrick designed the market complex in 1882. However, the main concert hall itself was designed by George Murray. It first opened its doors in 1841.
This was the first hall in Glasgow big enough for large gatherings and concerts. Many important people visited the hall in its early days. These included famous writer Charles Dickens. Important politicians like Benjamin Disraeli and William Ewart Gladstone also spoke there. A Hungarian patriot named Lajos Kossuth also visited.
The hall hosted many different concerts. Both popular music and classical music were played. Famous touring groups performed there. These included Louis-Antoine Jullien's orchestra from London. Charles Halle's orchestra from Manchester also played. Glasgow's first regular orchestra concerts were held here. This was from 1874 until a larger hall opened in 1877.
The Old Fruitmarket is right next to the main hall. It was a working market until the 1970s. People bought fresh fruit, flowers, and cheese there. After it stopped being a daily market, it was sometimes used for jazz and folk music events.
Music and Events
In the past, the City Halls hosted concerts by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra also performed here. For many years, it was home to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. This was after the St Andrews Hall burned down in 1962. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra stayed until the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall opened in 1990.
The City Halls have also been a venue for many of Glasgow's big festivals. These include Celtic Connections, Mayfest, and the Jazz Festival. It has also been used for political meetings and gatherings for workers' groups. The building has been protected as a special historic site since 1970. This means it is a category A listed building.
Today's Concert Hall
The City Halls and Old Fruitmarket re-opened in January 2006. They had gone through a big renovation. Now, these halls are the main home for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. They also house the Scottish Music Centre. These groups work together with the City Council.
The hall is also where the Scottish Chamber Orchestra often performs in Glasgow. It is a center for music education too. The city's Education Department is a key partner in this.
The venue has several performance spaces under one roof:
- The "Grand Hall" is the main City Hall auditorium. It is shaped like a "shoebox" and has excellent sound. It can seat 1066 people. This is where the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra practices, records, and performs. The stage is big enough for over 90 musicians. There are also choir seats for 110 singers. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra also uses this hall for its Glasgow concerts.
- The Recital Room is a newer, smaller space. It is perfect for chamber music, which is music played by a small group of musicians. It can seat about 100 people.
- The Old Fruitmarket still looks like a market hall. It has a special atmosphere. It can hold between 1000 and 2000 people, depending on the event. This space is used for jazz and traditional music. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra also uses it for more modern music events.
The City Halls also have the Scottish Music Centre. There are offices and recording studios for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Plus, there are many facilities for music education.
