Millennium Centre
From Cardiffpedia
Wales Millennium Centre, opened autumn 2004, is Cardiff's newest concert venue.
It is situated in Cardiff's recently developed Bay area and is surrounded by a host of restaurants, entertainments and art.
(Photograph by Jen Thornton. Copyright 2006)
The Centre is often considered an opera house and is the home of the Welsh National Opera, who usually perform in the Donald Gordon Theatre, but also hosts touring musicals and other performances. In addition to this larger erformance room there is the smaller Weston Studio and foyer concerts are held on the Tesco stage. There are two cafes, a brasserie and a restaurant which serve food and drink throughout the day. A gift shop retails souvenirs of the centre, Wales and other musical gifts. Art exhibitions are held on the upper floors and are free to view. The arts explorer activity room next to the Glanfa foyer is an interactive place for people to learn about music, the orchestra, putting on an opera. Some of the opera costumes are also on display here.
(Photograph by Jen Thornton. Copyright 2006)
The Millennium Centre is distinctive in design - often being called 'the armadillo' because of its bronze curving roof. The rest of the building is made of layered slate.
The exterior is frequently featured in the BBC's newest science-fiction show Torchwood as their secret base is right outside! The centre was also used as the set for a futuristic hospital in the first of David Tennant's episodes as The Doctor in Doctor Who.
On the front of the bronze roof is a poem which, in English, reads 'In These Stones Horizons Sing'.
(Photograph by Jen Thornton. Copyright 2006)
The Wales Millennium Centre official website can be found here
[Article: ViolaJen, January 16th 2007]
