Gentlemen's Concert Hall: Redecoration

RENOVATION OF THE CONCERT HALL - For many months the directors of the gentlemen's concert hall have been engaged in planning and effecting judicious improvements in their beautiful hall; and no sooner was the last concert of the season over than the hall was delivered up to various artists and tradesmen, who, under the superintendence and direction of Mr. J. White, architect, have undertaken and succeeded in effecting a complete transformation of the interior as regards its appearance and effect which is an admirable practical illustration of the growth of purer taste amongst us.

It is highly honourable to the committee when about to decorate their hall, that they acted on the advice of their architect, Mr. White, and by adopting this principal changed the character of the interior of the Concert Hall, from severe Greek into chaste Italianate. The contrast will be recognised by the subscribers immediately on entering the room. The cold formality of horizontal and perpendicular lines has been broken up, and variety and play of curve Introduced which satisfy the eye and excites in the mind those feelings of pleasure which always result from the development or the true. principles of any department of art.  It was not only the constructive branches of industrial art, that the prevalence of Greek taste was detrimental to progress. The almost total absence of the use of colour reduced the painters' art below mediocrity., the pleasures arising from a well-arranged variety and true harmony of colour were seldom enjoyed and the only relief to the monotony of two drabs were. The ill-designed productions of the paper stainer. The improving taste has compelled ignorance to resort to a false practice, and by the Introduction of a large amount of gilding to conceal defective knowledge. In this hall a successful attempt has been made, by a judicious arrangement of tints and harmony of colours suited to artificial light, to produce the required effect without resorting to those meretricious aids at once expensive and glaring.  The prevailing colour of the walls is a pale bright green.  The ceilings and coves are a light azure blended with tints of orange, cream colour and white, the gilding being confined to a few architectural lines.  The effect produced is at once cheerful and harmonious. It is essential to the enjoyment of intellectual pursuits that the surrounding circumstances should be such as to cause no sensation of oppression, that the faculties of the mind may be free. Hence the many attempts to secure those sanatorial arrangements in our dwellings and placed of public resort which we hear so much of at the present time.  The means resorted to in this building to attain this end, are simple in and will be found efficacious in action. The arrangements for the escape of vitiated air are ample, and the means or keeping the column in constant motion are brought under command and can be so regulated that by the admission of heated or cold air an equable temperature can be maintained. From the following experiment it will be seen that with upwards of 300 jets gas burning at full pressure the temperature of the room was maintained for four hours at 73 degrees, the external temperature being 60 degrees; the cold air apparatus had little influence. In the mode of lighting, great alterations have been made by elevating the chandeliers near to the ceiling, anti the introduction of an illuminated arch over the orchestra. The coffered arch band which divides the orchestra from the body of the hall has been perforated and an argand burner and reflector introduced into each coffer. The subdued lighting that falls into the body of the room removes that fatigue so often felt, and enables the auditor to watch the performance with repose and comfort. The seats have been re-upholstered and covered with crimson. As a combination of architectural forms, harmony of colour, or arrangement of light and ventilation, there few public rooms to compete with it.

The ornamental decorations, designed by Mr. G. Jackson, and executed by Messrs G Jackson and Company, Brazennose Street: the harmony of colours, by Mr W Froggott, George Street and Hall Street; the ventilation and light by Messrs Hall and Wilson, King Street, the upholstery. by Messrs. Hulme and Son., Mosley Street. The whole of the works executed under the superintendence and instructions of J. White. Esq. architect, Manchester,

Reference           Manchester Guardian 28 August 1852 page 8