Opening the Extension at St Georges Bristol

A concert by pianist Christian Blackshaw and a quartet of soloists from the Berliner Philharmoniker marked the opening of the new extension to St George's Bristol.  The spacious, ‘pavilion-style’ stone and glass extension to St George's concert hall creates a space for events, festivals and houses a café and bar with views into the gardens of the 19th century former Georgian church. At a pre-concert reception Suzanne Rolt, Chief Executive of St George’s Bristol, thanked supporters of St George’s Bristol for their dedication and ambition in securing the future of the hall.  She told the assembled guests that the opening of the extension in one of the nation’s best-loved concert hall is the culmination of a seven-year plan costing £5.5m.  ‘I understand that the shoe box shape of the concert hall is responsible for the acoustic so enjoyed by classical, bass and world musicians,’ explained Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Peaches Golding OBE.  The performance of piano quartets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and a piano quintet by Franz Schubert thrilled the packed concern hall.