https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/gallery/2024/jan/30/the-20m-renovation-of-rochdale-town-hall-in-pictures
This building is totally, unbelievably stunning - a jewel in what I imagine is now a poorer ex-industrial cotton mill town. I don't know who runs the Rochdale council, but I have to hand it to them, and all the citizens of that town, they have done something truly worthwhile, kept and lovingly looked after this treasure in their midst. Apparently Hitler so admired this building he was planning to dismantle it stone by stone and re-erect it in Germany if he won the war. Instead, he oversaw the destruction of a vast quantity of Germany's very own architectural treasures.
This wealth of architecture in the UK (and Europe) often in the most surprising places is something that this emigrant to NZ really misses. Just being able to pop in to the local cathedral or minister or beautiful square and meditate....
The Binns organ in Rochdale Town Hall is admired throughout the UK, not only as perhaps J. J. Binns’s finest organ but also as a first-class instrument in its own right. Among Town Hall / Concert Hall organs, it ranks at the same level as those in Huddersfield Town Hall, St George’s Hall Liverpool, Bridgwater Hall Manchester, and Albert Hall Nottingham. It is finer than most other similar organs, and has the highest approval rating among organ enthusiasts because of its superb tone and sheer power - it has a avoided too much tinkering and retains the sound as it was when installed in 1913 - though it is now in need of repair and its action upgraded. I love the organ sounds from these civic buildings, their echos are less strong and muddying than in a cathedral and you can hear the organ in a more magnificent and pleasing manner
you can hear Jonathan Scott play his own arrangement of Smetna's "The Moldau" on this wonderful musical instrument. Jonathan (a Mancunian) is a virtuoso organ player and arranger, put your headphones on or play on a good hi-fi please for a stunning effect. His brother Tom takes the videos and is a concert-standard pianist himself, and there are lots of Youtube videos of them playing, together or solo, even duets for piano and organ. Thoroughly recommended.
Just to take your mind off other things happening around the world presently.