COLOURFULWORLD

Wednesday 5 October 2016

My first visit to the Perth Concert Hall

My friend G was sick and unable to use her tickets to Friday's show of Perth's Philharmonic Orchestra at the Perth Concert Hall,  so she asked if I would like to use them.

I must confess I'm not a great fan of classical music but I know my husband loves it, so I called him and he said yes!

The Western Australia Symphony Orchestra (WASO) performance was conducted by a German conductor and with some pieces played by a French pianist, and the concert lasted just over 2 hours with a 20 minute interval. 
The second part last 1 1/2 hours which I thought was a bit too long and I struggled to keep quiet...I'm a bit of a fidgety person and like to do 2 or 3 things at the same time, so just sitting there quietly was hard!!  I was surprised to see some youngsters with their parents, although by the second part they were sleeping on their Mother's lap.

On the other hand seeing the orchestra live with the different players and their instruments was certainly a lot different that just listening to classical music on the radio and I actually enjoyed the performance. 

Photos or recordings aren't allowed except during the interval or just before they start playing, which is when I took these photos.







During the internal I noticed there were a couple of dinosaurs hanging from the ceiling of the Concert Hall. They were on loan from the Museum that is closed for reconstruction.




There is a restaurant at the Concert Hall where you can have a buffet dinner before the performance, and during interval there are a few bars in the foyer and you can even pre-order your drinks so they are ready at the interval.

We had left home far too early for eat dinner, so after the concert ended just after 10pm we headed to the Casino for a bite to eat, as in Perth not many restaurants have an open kitchen after 9pm. 
We had some Chinese share plates at one of the restaurants there and after walking through the gambling hall we headed home. It was a different evening for sure!

Have you ever been to classical concerts?

Crown Casino Hotel at night


22 comments:

  1. What a wonderful showing of photos. Yes, I've been to a classical concert performance, but like you, I fidget when I'm not doing anything. I also have to like the composer, too. I can't sit through even ONE work by Rachmaninoff, but could listen all night long to Pachelbel. Sounds like you had an interesting evening, though. It was sweet of your friend to remember you with the tickets.

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    1. Thanks Elizabeth, I'm not too familiar with those composers either...

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  2. Nah, I couldn´t warm up to it.
    Maybe cause my Dad tried to tell me when I was little that classical music was the only music and when I found out there is more I felt quite cheated upon!
    Plus... sitting still! Ga-haaaa, too!
    Love the dinosaurs, though, saw one today, a freshly two-year old one :-)

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    1. "Today" being the 5th over here still... not even 09 pm.

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    2. I was surprised that some parents took their kids to the classical concert, and that they could sit there quietly for over 2 hours!!

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  3. It looks an amazing place, Sami. When we were in the UK I loved going to concerts... not quite the same in Portugal as we liv on theedge of nowhere.

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    1. The interior was quite nice and majestic. Thanks for your visit Carole.

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  4. Very nice Sami! I learned to enjoy classical music in Prague. There, one can go to concerts everyday if wanted. There are many different ones and quite cheap. I have been to a few but never with a live orchestra (just 5 to 10 players). That must be quite an experience! I also agree that more than 2h is far too much, but if it's once... why not?
    Lucky you!

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    1. I agree Sara, we should always try something at least once, you never know we might like it! 2h was probably a bit too much. Were the Prague concerts also so formal?

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    2. In Prague you can also find formal concerts, and I guess that the ones with the orchestra are like that. Most of them however, are for tourists. They usually take about 1h and there's no dress code. The good part is that usually they play songs well known to the public, so it's quite enjoyable. Some are also held in churches, closed to the public otherwise, which make them very special.

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    3. That's certainly a lot more fun! I enjoy Andre Rieu for example, even though he plays classical music, everyone dances and sings along. Have a nice weekend Sara, we are having dinner (bacalhau) at he Portuguese club tonight.

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    4. I agree, and I do want to see Andre Rieu live some day! I hope the bacalhau is good. Have a great weekend!

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  5. I haven't Sami and haven't been to the concert hall since Aimee's graduation ceremony :) But I was at the Casino just last Saturday to see my young 7 year old great niece who was in The Sound of Music, and had dinner there before the show.

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    1. How exciting Grace, did you enjoy The Sound of Music show?

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    2. It was really good Sami. Taisen, my great niece played the part of Gretel, the youngest of the Von Trapp children.

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    3. It was really good Sami. Taisen, my great niece played the part of Gretel, the youngest of the Von Trapp children.

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  6. I agree, I am am more of the pop and folkmusic.

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    1. Thanks Marianne. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  7. Dearest Sami,
    Oh wow, that would have been oh so enjoyable. Yes, I do enjoy them and hate to tell that we missed just the Atlanta Pops Orchestra while we were at the wedding in France.
    But they come here annually and we will enjoy them again.
    The wonderful thing is that those concerts do transform you completely into another time, you completely let go and relax. No connection with the rushed and modern era.
    A blessing and thus a great 'Self-Care' as well.
    Followed by a good dinner that would be the ultimate evening.
    Sending you hugs and wishing you a happy weekend.
    Mariette

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    1. You're right Mariette, while at the concert you relax at the quiet pace of the music. Have a wonderful weekend too.

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  8. Fabulosa sala de concertos. O orgão é majestoso. Adoro ver concertos e temos dois na Fundação Gulbenkian em Lisboa para ir, com o magnífico coro que eles têm, o de Natal e um de Coros de óperas. Vale a pena, sempre, ver música ao vivo!

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    1. Obrigada Paula.o concerto de Natal deve ser interessante.

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