Danmarks Radio Reviews

Concert hall with great acoustics and interesting architecture

With DR Concert Hall, Denmark gets a national and international concert venue and a new architectural landmark for the capital. The complex, part of the TV network's new Headquarters in Copenhagen, contains all facilities for Danish Broadcasting Corporation's music production.

Nouvel's design encloses a series of volumes, housing a different program or function, in a 45 meter tall rectangular box with transparent blue "screen" walls. The building will be constantly changing depending on the lighting conditions and the time of day; both revealing and concealing the interior. At night the building lights up with images projected on the "screen."

The architecture dematerializes and becomes a matter of light and surface effects.

The first idea for the building was the concept of the blue screen, a kind of lantern magic, because of the exceptional situation of the urban condition being a new development. I try to be a contextual architect and generally like to have a dialogue with my neighbors, but in this new urban situation I did not know my neighbors. So I tried to think about myself an an architect in the 11th century who had to build a Cathedral in a city in Europe, and how the buildings then happened around the Cathedral. This was possible because this is probably the largest and most public building here.
The idea after was to create a kind of question "What is this building?"
When you see the building during the day you have a kind of feeling for what is behind the screen, but not really, and it changes a lot with the light. When the sun is lower you see the skyline of the building inside and the framing of the glass facade behind the screen. It is a paradox between a very simple building, and you feel that inside, but you don't really know what is there, only that it is complex. So it is this relationship between simplicity and complexity that is the base of the design.
So the idea was to create a kind of small world belonging to the Concert Hall with a lot of specific singular details, materials and spaces, so when you open a door from one studio to another it is always a new feeling, a new ambience.
That is really the basic architectural idea of the building.
/ Jean Nouvel

Outstanding sound quality and amazing architecture. Definitely worth a visit

Dazzling experience. What a beautiful concert hall. And what a beautiful and enthralling music. Both the two choirs, orchestra and soloist managed to touch me max. Fantastic evening.

Great atmosphere, interesting architecture, easy to get to using public transport, will come back if there is something I'd like to enjoy live.

Fantastic weed and bold concert with Billy Ocean. Fantastic sweet and helpful staff

Although the building from the outside is, to an extent, an eye island, it is exciting within and everyone has a nice view.
However, two things dropped: 1) only toilets in the basement and 2) lack of legroom - it was so bad as a trip with the cheapest airline companies. Now make things comfortable, and like with a cup holder (heard a few clicks when people overturned their bottles)

Good sound, but it was not so easy to see the scene.

Beautiful locales. Sadly many places in the concert hall (on the sides and behind of the orchestra) have terrible sound conditions for classical music. The bar prices are stupid expensive.

Fantastic and unique experience even though it was live

Fantastic building. Super sound IF the sound guy is bothering!

Fantastic place, great acoustics for classoc and modern musoc

Super cool sound on Jamie Cullum! Good experience :)

The concert with Villazon did not live up to expectations

Great place to hear music. It all goes into a higher unit and everything "plays"

Great concert with great music and song with the theme of Agents are Forever;)

The ugly building but the concert hall is amazing and the restaurant is excellent.

Lovely place. Was in studio 3, which is a cool little venue. Sound was so-so, but maybe had to do with the specific act.

One of the best concert houses in Europe in terms of sound quality. Beautiful architecture

Fantastic house architecturally and the acoustics are top notch.

Cool architecture designed to enhance the music in the best way. Wow effect.

Great acoustics. The building is not very interesting from the outside though.

The sublime concert hall, the sound reaches all the hooks and there is good view from all the seats. You do not therefore have to take the big reservations for where you are sitting. Lovely building and friendly staff.

Fantastic place. However, several hits on sound during the concert, half-shattered signage. Good restaurant, nice staff.
Maps guided us wrong in regards to parking.

Great concert venue, delicious sound and likes it is a smaller music venue with an intimate feel

Great musical experience. Remember to open an hour before the show. We were many who waited ...

Always nice in the concert hall - the acoustics are terrific. Remember to order drinks for the break before the concert starts. And don't order their red wine (on a glass basis) it's sour.

Fantastic interior and architecture. Concert hall is unique.

One evening in the DR's Concert Hall with Rasmus Walter, I have never been to a Concert with such good sound.

You sit really bad. No legroom even for middle-aged people. Two hours can be pure torture.
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The sound in the concert hall is wonderful. The concert with Michel Camillo and Tomatito was a beautiful, beautiful experience.
I wish I could afford to enjoy the incredible frames more often.

Good service. Everyone we met was sweet, weird and helpful. There was good staff that could guide one around. Super good experience

Good place with lots of good events, but too few places

Easy walkways, so you can quickly find your seat. Nice legroom. Elevator for walking difficulties.
Very nice view of the stage. Good acoustics Fine toilet conditions in the basement floor. Close to Metro

Great experience with Bobby McFerrin in the concert hall ... !!!

Incredibly nice hall with good sound. The house orchestra is also recommended.

Nice surroundings, good sound but a little overwhelming with the techno lighting on the staircase

Good audience facilities, pleasant staff and great concert hall

Great Bill Bailey, but incredibly poor indoor climate.

All the way through a perfect concert with the wonderful and humble Branford. Marsalis.

Really nice place to go to a concert. Was inside and heard "The Girl Choir in the Dark" which is definitely recommended

Fantastic beautiful concert house, also a beautiful hall and good sound