Free concerts launch new complex

The City Halls combines a number of performance spaces

Glasgow's oldest purpose-built concert hall will officially reopen on Friday night after a £15m makeover.

The City Halls complex will be home to the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, which will celebrate its new home with a series of free concerts.

The renovated building, which has seen historic performances from Charles Dickens and William Gladstone, will also house the Scottish Music Centre.

The cost of renovating the 165-year-old building was far higher than expected.

The move will be the most significant for the orchestra in its 70-year history but it has not gone without hitches.

We want to bring people into this wonderful venue to demystify the whole business of classical music Hugh Macdonald SSO director

Renovating the Victorian building took longer and was more expensive than expected.

There has also been a dispute over the name of the complex, which had been known as The Gait and now returned to its old title of City Halls.

The new building will also house Glasgow City Council's music education service and will be used by music organisations such as Celtic Connections and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Director Hugh Macdonald said they use their new home to bring classical music to a wider audience.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "There's a lot of facilities here for education for example, for young people to do after school workshops in music and so on.

"We've got a very active learning programme, going out into the community, working with community groups.

"We want to bring people into this wonderful venue to demystify the whole business of classical music and orchestral music and make them feel comfortable hearing great performances by the orchestra and learning from our players."