The Stage

Barbican criticises theatres’ attitude to capital spending

Published Tuesday 23 March 2004 at 13:35

Barbican artistic director Graham Sheffield has attacked the culture of “capital spending for capital spending’s sake”, saying that only redevelopment along artistic grounds has proved successful.

Speaking at the launch of the venue’s Great Performers season, Sheffield said the Corporation of London’s £7 million investment in the Barbican Hall’s refurbishment had enabled it to attract some of the finest musicians and orchestras in the world for its new season. The refit is ongoing, with £2 million being invested into the art gallery and £12 million into the building’s public spaces.

“This is capital spending for art’s sake and not for its own sake, which seems to be the case elsewhere,” he said, although he refused to cite examples

He continued: “Only two years ago the Corporation of London, our principal funders, made possible the renovation of this hall, including substantial improvements to the acoustic and the ambience. It enabled us to compete at the highest level with our peer venues in Europe. We are attracting the top orchestras.”

Featured in the Great Performers 2004/2005 are debuts from Natalie Dessay and the Berliner Philharmoniker, who continue Bernard Haitink’s 75th birthday celebrations, as well as concerts with Cecilia Bartoli, Daniel Barenboim, Mariss Jansons with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and Valery Gergiev with the Mariinsky Opera - formerly the Kirov.

Barbican managing director John Tusa added: “It is no coincidence that such artists are coming to the Barbican after the Corporation of London’s £7 million investment in the Barbican Hall and its acoustic. And the Corporation’s investment continues in the months ahead. The moral? Great art follows sound investment.”