ST JOHN’S SMITH SQUARE

St John’s Smith Square is one of London’s very finest Baroque buildings, designed by Thomas Archer and completed in 1728. Situated close to the Houses of Parliament, it was nicknamed ‘Queen Anne’s footstool’ because of a disparaging remark made by the Queen, likening its extravagant corner towers to her upturned footstool. Gutted by bombing in 1941, it was at risk of demolition, but was restored as a concert hall in the 1960s. It is a building with a magnificent presence. Bampton has performed operas at St John’s annually since 2002, with occasional additional concerts, and its massive and noble 18th-century pillars and impressive chandeliers create an appropriate setting for our music. One of London’s best-known concert halls, it is notable for its beautiful acoustic.

After some early experiments, we settled on placing the orchestra on the terraced platforms behind the front stage. The unconventional placing of the conductor behind the singers is solved by a video relay system to monitors within the hall. Our staged operas there are always enhanced by the striking lighting effects created by our wonderful technician Ian Chandler. The downstairs crypt provides an excellent venue for pre-performance meals and interval drinks.