Acoustics at the MOST EXPENSIVE Concert Hall in the World

Summary

This video script explores the acoustic marvels of the Elbphilharmonie, the world's most expensive concert hall, which opened in 2017 at a cost of 866 million euros. The script delves into the intricate balance between architectural grandeur and functional acoustics, showcasing how every detail, from the gypsum fiber walls to the fabric of the seats, is meticulously designed for optimal sound clarity. The hall's unique design, including its isolation mount and pipe organ, reflects a commitment to providing an unparalleled live music experience for every audience member.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg is considered the world's most expensive concert hall, costing 866 million euros to build and offering an advanced acoustic experience.
• 🎼 The hall's design is a collaboration between architects and acousticians, resulting in a unique vineyard-style hall with clear and spacious acoustics.
• 🛠️ The Elbphilharmonie's acoustics were meticulously planned with computer-based design, 1:10 scale models, and 2,000 tiny puppets to simulate sound reflections.
• 💺 The hall features a white skin wall made of gypsum fiber with each indentation uniquely crafted by an algorithm for optimal sound diffusion.
• 🎹 The fabric of the chairs is chosen to mimic the acoustic effect of a person sitting, ensuring consistent sound reflection regardless of occupancy.
• 🎵 Classical music, being an acoustic art form, relies on the hall's design to deliver clear sound from the orchestra to every seat without amplification.
• 🎼 The shape of the grand hall is optimized for acoustics, with the experience being a combination of direct sound from the stage and reflections from the hall.
• 🌐 The hall is designed to contain sound, with the entire structure sitting on a giant suspension mechanism to isolate external noise.
• 🎹 The Elbphilharmonie houses a massive pipe organ, where the entire hall becomes part of the instrument, contributing to the hall's intimacy and grandiosity.
• 🎟️ The hall hosts over 600 concerts a year across various genres, but many design specifics cater to classical music, including the audience's experience.
• 👥 The audience's engagement and energy are crucial to the performance, influencing the musicians and the overall concert experience.

Q & A

What is the significance of the design process for concert halls, especially in relation to acoustics?

The design process for concert halls is crucial for achieving optimal acoustics. It involves a collaboration between architects and acousticians to calculate the exact angles, shapes, and materials needed to manage sound reflections and ensure clarity for every listener.

Why is the Elbphilharmonie considered the most expensive concert hall in the world?

The Elbphilharmonie is considered the most expensive concert hall due to its cost of 866 million euros to build, its advanced acoustics, and the elaborate design that combines a modern concert hall with an old warehouse structure.

How does the Elbphilharmonie's design contribute to the acoustic experience for the audience?

The Elbphilharmonie's design includes a unique vignette style hall, white skin walls with gypsum fiber, and specially crafted indentations, all of which contribute to a clear and spacious acoustic experience, allowing the audience to hear every sound distinctly.

What role does the audience play in the classical music experience at the Elbphilharmonie?

The audience plays a significant role in the classical music experience as their presence, focus, and energy interact with the performers, influencing the overall atmosphere and the musicians' performance.

How does the Elbphilharmonie handle the challenge of soundproofing with its proximity to a noisy environment?

The Elbphilharmonie is built on a giant suspension mechanism with two thick layers of concrete and sits on top of an isolation mount made up of 362 groups of large springs, effectively containing the sound within the hall and blocking external noise.

What is the significance of the pipe organ in the Elbphilharmonie and how does it contribute to the acoustic experience?

The pipe organ in the Elbphilharmonie is a crucial element, providing a massive yet detailed sound that fills the hall. The organ pipes are integrated into the hall's design, making the entire hall resonate when played, enhancing the intimacy and grandiosity of the space.

How does the Elbphilharmonie ensure that every seat in the hall is acoustically perfect?

The Elbphilharmonie ensures acoustic perfection for every seat through meticulous planning, including the distance from each of the 2100 seats to the conductor's podium, which is no more than 30 meters, and the careful consideration of materials and shapes for sound reflection and diffusion.

What is the significance of the Elbphilharmonie's location on top of an old warehouse?

The Elbphilharmonie's location on top of an old warehouse adds a unique architectural and acoustical challenge, combining modern design with historical elements. This also contributes to the hall's distinctive sound characteristics, as it is acoustically optimized for the space it occupies.

How does the Elbphilharmonie's design accommodate different musical genres and performances?

The Elbphilharmonie features a grand hall and a smaller recital hall, both designed to accommodate a wide range of musical genres and performances. The flexibility in design allows for over 600 concerts a year, catering to diverse audiences and musical styles.

What is the role of the audience's age in the Elbphilharmonie's ticket pricing strategy?

The Elbphilharmonie offers a discount for individuals under the age of 30, encouraging younger audiences to experience classical music and participate in the cultural events, thus fostering a new generation of classical music enthusiasts.

How does the Elbphilharmonie's design approach the balance between aesthetics and functionality?

The Elbphilharmonie's design strikes a balance between aesthetics and functionality by integrating architectural grandeur with advanced acoustic technology. Every detail, from the gypsum fiber walls to the fabric of the chairs, is crafted to both enhance the visual appeal and support the acoustic performance.

Outlines

00:00

🎼 The Acoustic Marvel of Elbphilharmonie

This paragraph delves into the intricate design and acoustic superiority of the Elbphilharmonie, the world's most expensive concert hall. Opened in 2017 at a cost of 866 million euros, the hall's unique architecture, situated atop an old warehouse, offers a spacious and clear acoustic experience. The collaboration between architects and acousticians resulted in a venue that not only impresses visually but also excels in sound clarity. The hall's design, including its 'white skin wall' made of gypsum fiber with unique indentations, and specially chosen fabric for the chairs, all contribute to the exceptional acoustics. The paragraph also highlights the hall's ability to host a wide range of music genres, with over 600 concerts a year, and the importance of the hall in supporting the efforts of musicians to deliver the best live performances.

05:00

🔊 Sound Engineering and the Perfect Seat at Elbphilharmonie

The second paragraph explores the meticulous planning and sound engineering that goes into making every seat in the Elbphilharmonie's 2100-seat concert hall acoustically perfect. It discusses the hall's innovative design features, such as the use of tiny loudspeakers and microphones for measurements, and the precise angles, shapes, and materials chosen to manage sound reflections. The paragraph also touches on the audience's experience, including the best seat selection based on personal preferences for viewing and hearing specific instrument groups. Additionally, it highlights the hall's soundproofing measures, such as its suspension mechanism and isolation mount, and the importance of the pipe organ, which turns the entire hall into an instrument when played.

10:01

🎻 The Cultural and Artistic Significance of Concert Halls

The final paragraph reflects on the broader implications of the extravagance found in concert halls like the Elbphilharmonie. It questions the necessity of such grandeur and then acknowledges the ever-rising standards of classical music, which are evident in both the music practice and the venues that host it. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of experiencing live music in a dedicated space that combines architectural and acoustic excellence. It concludes by recognizing the social and cultural aspects of attending a concert, the mutual influence between the audience and the performers, and the transformative experience of being in a space designed for music and shared cultural appreciation.

Keywords

💡Acoustics

Acoustics refers to the properties of a space that determine how sound is transmitted within it. In the context of the video, acoustics are critical to the concert hall experience, as they influence the clarity and quality of sound heard by the audience. The script mentions that the El filiboni concert hall has advanced acoustics, achieved through meticulous design and the use of algorithms to craft the hall's surfaces for optimal sound reflection and absorption.

💡Architectural Landmarks

Architectural landmarks are buildings or structures that are famous for their design, historical significance, or cultural importance. The video script discusses how concert halls, often being the most upscale and grandiose buildings in a city, can be considered architectural landmarks. The El filiboni, for example, is highlighted as an extravagant venue that is both a symbol of cultural heritage and a testament to modern architectural innovation.

💡Concert Hall

A concert hall is a venue specifically designed for the performance of live music, often featuring superior acoustics and seating arrangements to enhance the audience's experience. The script describes the El filiboni as the most expensive concert hall in the world, emphasizing its unique design and the advanced acoustics that make it exceptional for classical music performances.

💡Classical Music

Classical music is a genre characterized by its long-standing tradition, complex compositions, and the use of a wide range of instruments. The video script explores the relationship between classical music and the concert hall, noting that the El filiboni was designed with classical music in mind, and that the acoustics and atmosphere cater to the needs of this genre.

💡El filiboni

El filiboni refers to a specific concert hall mentioned in the script as the most expensive in the world. The script delves into the unique aspects of this venue, including its construction cost of 866 million euros, its acoustic design, and its role as a cultural hub for music performances.

💡Acoustic Experts

Acoustic experts are professionals who specialize in the science of sound and its behavior in different environments. The script mentions that teams of acoustic experts worked alongside architects to perfect the sound quality in the El filiboni concert hall, crafting every detail to achieve state-of-the-art acoustics.

💡Algorithms

Algorithms are sets of rules or processes used to solve problems or perform tasks. In the context of the video, algorithms were used to design the unique indentations in the hall's white skin wall, ensuring that each one is different and contributes to the overall acoustic performance of the space.

💡Gypsum Fiber

Gypsum fiber is a material used in construction for its sound-absorbing properties. The script describes the white skin wall of the El filiboni, which is made of gypsum fiber, and how its indentations were specifically crafted to enhance the hall's acoustics.

💡Organ

An organ is a large musical instrument that generates sound through the use of pressurized air, typically found in churches and concert halls. The script highlights the organ at the El filiboni, emphasizing its massive sound and the unique experience of playing it within the hall's acoustic environment.

💡Soundproofing

Soundproofing refers to the process or materials used to prevent sound from escaping or entering a space. The video script mentions that the El filiboni has soundproofing measures to contain the loud volumes of a symphony orchestra while also protecting the surrounding environment from external noise.

💡Reverb

Reverb, short for reverberation, is the persistence of sound after the sound is produced. It adds a sense of space and depth to the sound. The script humorously refers to the 'world's most expensive Reverb' experienced in the El filiboni, indicating the high-quality acoustics and the significant investment in creating an optimal listening environment.

Highlights

El filiboni is the world's most expensive Concert Hall, costing 866 million euros to build.

The hall's acoustics are considered advanced and exceptional, offering a clear and spacious sound experience.

The unique design of El filiboni includes a concert hall built on top of an old warehouse.

Architects and acousticians collaborated to create a balance between aesthetics and sound functionality.

The hall features a vignette style with a unique acoustic clarity due to its construction on an old warehouse.

El filiboni hosts over 600 concerts a year, catering to a wide range of music genres.

The cost of a symphony orchestra performance includes decades of training, top-notch instruments, and extensive rehearsals.

Every detail in the hall, including the white skin wall and chair fabric, is crafted for optimal acoustics.

The hall's design ensures that every seat is acoustically perfect, with no more than 30 meters from the conductor's podium.

The concert hall is built on a giant suspension mechanism with isolation mounts to contain sound and prevent external noise.

The pipe organ in El filiboni is a massive instrument that utilizes the entire hall as part of its sound production.

Playing the organ allows one to feel the hall's intimacy and grandiosity, with pipes located in the reflection dome.

The video explores the importance of quality and refinement in classical music performance spaces.

The audience's experience is integral to classical music, affecting the performance's energy and interaction.

The video challenges the notion of extravagance in concert halls, suggesting it contributes to a higher standard of classical music.

The meticulous planning of El filiboni ensures every aspect serves the purpose of enhancing the live music experience.

The video concludes by emphasizing the value of experiencing music in a dedicated space optimized for sound and culture.

Transcripts

[Music]

that's crazy the whole design was was

computer-based so we had 2 000 little

puppets in this model

some of the greatest architectural

landmarks in the world belong to music

concert Halls are oftentimes the most

upscale and grandiose buildings within a

city and among these it's hard to beat

the extravagance of venues built mainly

for classical music within the culture

you'll find the fancy structures that

are extremely impressive yet also enough

to intimidate any newcomer to the scene

wondering how formally to dress and when

to clap so I want to know how much of

these hauls are just for the sake of

glamor and what parts functionally serve

the sound of the hall itself

I think an appropriate place to explore

this question is at the outfiller money

which is apparently the most expensive

Concert Hall in the world it opened in

2017 and cost 866 million euros to build

in order to find out what makes the

Acoustics in this Hall so Advanced and

exceptional I got permission and support

from Elf philimony to explore the whole

building in person I was even shown

parts of the hall and the operations

that no one gets to see this is crazy

what I'm about to share about Concert

Hall Acoustics really heightened my

understanding of sound and space which

to me as a musician is invaluable the

hall is a vignette style Hall but

actually it's rather unique due to the

fact that the El filiboni is a concert

hall on top of an old Warehouse

acoustically it's very clear very

spacious you hear exactly where every

sound is coming from it was a compromise

in a very good collaboration between the

Architects and the acousticians when you

enter the building it takes 10 minutes

until you are finally on the concert

level you have the huge escalator then

you have the great views of the Plaza

then you go up to the concert part which

also great inner architectural worlds so

when they finally arrive at the hall

they are open for something new and

something exciting which is the opposite

what you usually have in classical music

concerts where the audience thinks

they'll give me Brahms and Beethoven and

I don't want them not modern stuff and

it's more or less the other way rounds

they're extremely excited in listening

to music they don't know yet of course

the big Hall of the infillamon is

perfectly suitable for complex big

scores of the 20th century the 21st

century we have the grand hall and the

smaller Recital Hall that hosts together

over 600 concerts a year there is always

something going on

foreign

while it hosts concerts for all genres

across the board many specifics in the

design were built with classical music

in mind

it's hard to even calculate the real

cost of getting a symphony orchestra

onto the stage because we have to factor

in the Decades of training behind every

single musician their top-notch

instruments and tireless hours of

rehearsal in order to give the best

possible live performances of the music

the concert hall is what's supporting

all of this in order to provide the most

Optimum listening experience for every

person in the audience who is paying

high costs to be there unless of course

you are under the age of 30 which makes

you eligible for quite the discount

foreign

[Applause]

this is the sound of a clap with I guess

the world's most expensive Reverb every

little detail in the hall was perfected

by teams of acoustic experts Architects

and algorithms to achieve

state-of-the-art sound quality all

across the concert hall you have this

white skin wall which is made up of

gypsum fiber and each one of these

indentations are different because they

have been specifically crafted by an

algorithm even the fabric of these

chairs is a big part of the calculations

for the Acoustics because of the way

that it absorbs and reflects the sound

this Fabric in particular is

specifically chosen to mimic someone

sitting here so whether or not there is

an actual person in the seat it will

reflect the sound in the same manner

this is necessary because classical

music is an entirely acoustic art form

they're of course modern exceptions but

traditionally speaking there's no

amplification all of the sounds coming

from the symphony orchestra must be

heard with absolute Clarity both on

stage stage and from every single seat

in the house the shape of the grand hall

is specifically optimized for this the

acoustic experience is not only what

comes from the stage but but to 50 what

comes back from the hall in this kind of

hallway you have less walls and they are

very oddly shaped or in very oppositions

you really have to think about every

Square centimeter

is this place should it reflect directly

or should it just burst or should it not

reflect at all the interesting thing was

that of course first they all had it in

the computer and the whole design was

was computer-based but the Acquisitions

didn't rely on on the calculations in

the end they built a 1 to 10 scale model

uh with with tiny puppets for every

little seed so we had two thousand

little puppets in this model and then

they made really measurements of with

tiny little loudspeakers and Tiny

microphones for years Architects and

sound experts had to collaborate in

order to calculate the exact angles

shapes and materials needed to deal with

all of the reflections of sound with the

hull of this shape sounds can easily

turn into Echoes so there needs to be a

lot of diffusion other materials such as

the wooden floors and lighting were all

carefully considered to strike a balance

between serving the atmosphere and the

sound of the hall and get this the

planning is so meticulous that the

distance from every one of the 2100

seats in the house is no more than 30

meters from the conductor's podium I

wanted to know what the best seat in the

house is but no one could give me an

answer apparently every single seat is

acoustically perfect but choosing one

will depend on what you want to focus on

visually and what instrument groups you

specifically want to hear more or less

of for example for an orchestra concert

I would personally love to sit behind

the orchestra to get a better view of

the conductor and to see the percussion

section and if I want to focus on a

Pianist I would sit at a reasonable

distance from the stage on either side

to get a view of the pianist's hands

while having enough space for the sound

to disperse before hitting my ears

do you mind if I ask you a few questions

to be filmed yeah okay great when you

chose your seats how did you choose it

this

is random kind of like

right okay so it's area L okay and I

don't know it seemed pretty good from

the perspective that you had so it's at

the choir sort of things in your

direction and everything it's supposed

to sound equally good at every

spot in the hall but can't really rely

on that do you come to the El filomoni

often it's the first time I got a ticket

I think it's very interesting to see the

yeah the orchestra and to feel the

atmosphere and it's being said that the

sound should be very um yeah interesting

and yeah unique so nice of you yeah

thank you now any space for music making

needs soundproofing and the alpha Noni

is no exception especially because just

meters away there are ships with loud

sirens and whistles and all kinds of

docking noise

in reverse the sound of the hall must be

contained the average Symphony gets

Extremely Loud because you have 50 to

100 plus people on stage and volume

levels get as high as 110 DB which is

around the same as a jacket

Jack the solution to this is incredible

the concert hall is on this giant

suspension mechanism it's wrapped around

by two thick layers of concrete and is

sitting on top of an isolation Mount

made up of 362 groups of large Springs

now of course all grade Halls must have

a pipe organ and as a huge surprise to

me I was actually able to play on this

instrument

I mean obviously

I seriously couldn't believe how massive

this sound can get while maintaining so

much detail it was kind of surreal to be

controlling pipes that are 30 meters

away and this really made me feel the

Hall's intimacy and grandiosity at the

same time the pipes are against the wall

so when the organ is played the whole

entire Hall becomes the instrument I

wish all musicians could experience this

at some point because my perception of

sound and space completely changed

so when you play on the organ here there

are actually pipes above you in the

reflection dome which I can't believe

I'm about to say this but I was able to

climb directly into

experiencing all of these things in the

Hall made me realize more about the

importance of top-notch quality and

refinement when it comes to the art of

making classical music and any music for

that matter the concept is a an opera

performance it's a social Gathering and

it's very important that we experience

something together with like-minded

people the sound the energy that comes

from the stage and every artist will

tell you the audience was strange

tonight they don't really hear it they

just feel it in the room are they all

focused are they energized are they a

bit distracted so so it always it's it's

it always goes in both directions

sometimes I honestly forget this world a

bit these days since I spend most of my

time making music at home for an online

audience but these aspects of the

classical music culture are what

inspired me as a kid going to concert

halls and being completely awestruck by

the whole experience to sum all of this

formality and intensity can seem rather

stuff fee or intimidating sometimes to

me as well which is why I originally

posed the question about how necessary

all of this extravagance is in the

bigger picture my thoughts are now

shifting away from this because it isn't

really something you can measure or

Justify the bar for classical music is

constantly being set Higher and Higher

and it's reflected in different ways

whether it's in the practice of the

music itself or the locations that house

it it doesn't mean that you can't

experience the beauty of classical music

in let's say a small living room on an

Out Of Tune Piano but what I learned

here is a great representation of what's

possible when the best resources in

architecture and Acoustics come together

to create a space entirely dedicated to

live music and culture there's so much

more I have to share about this

experience especially while interacting

with some of the musicians that were

there to perform so make sure you're

subscribed to stay tuned for future

videos from this exploration in the

meantime you can check out an interview

I hosted with Angel batawid and the

Brotherhood were important artists that

represent afrofuturism that's available

on the alphaimoni YouTube channel so

again look out for those future videos a

massive thank you to Alpha money for

making this video possible and to my

patrons on patreon for your continued

support