Built in 1985, the Beijing Concert Hall used to be the sole professional music hall in the country. It is therefore held in high esteem by many music lovers. But reconstruction of this soon-to-be 20-year-old building starts on Nov. 19.
A total of 36 million RMB, or some US$4.36 million, is earmarked for the reconstruction of the Beijing Music Hall. The focus will be on acoustics, the correction of short reverberation time, over absorption of base frequency, and inadequately early sound reflection. All the ceilings, walls and the floors of the hall will be redesigned, and a mobile reflection board is to be added to the performance platform to enhance the frontal sound effects.
A simple, yet bright and modern aesthetic will be applied to the hall. Colors will mainly be white and beige, while the dividing wall separating the hall from the lobby will be in glittering glass to enhance the feeling of spaciousness and cultural quality.
The Beijing Music Hall has hosted hundreds of musical maestros and big name ensembles from home and abroad.
(CCTV.com November 20, 2003)
