Page 503 - Aldeburgh Festival 2022 FINAL COVERAGE BOOK

Snape Maltings Concert Hall

This isn’t unique to Snape and Aldeburgh – I observed Roger Wright do a
similar thing at the BBC Proms when he’d appear talking to the many
Prommers queuing for their place in the arena. But here in a building that
reaches above everything around it casting a strong distinctive line in the
wide Suffolk skies, the sense of a connected community and a shared
experience is much much stronger than in London.

We are not punters at Snape Maltings; we’re joining up with fellow fans to
soak up the atmosphere and restore ourselves. On occasion, this might even
include listening to music too.

The Concert Hall restaurant is also where I bump into old friends. Some from
twenty-five years ago, others I’ve made connections with in the past five. Wide
smiles and warm embraces compliment the vast expanse of nature beyond the
windows that consistently delights our eyes whatever the weather.
Here we talk about concerts we’ve been too, the atmospheres they’ve created
and debate whether the seat cushions on sale in the gift shop are as effective
mitigation for the wicker Concert Hall seats, compared to a much-loved
feather cushion brought from home.