Famous Concert Halls Around The World

Whenever possible, I try to take in a show of some variety – music, theater, dance – in a famous venue in cities around the world. Let’s explore the (many) options.

Architecture certainly says a lot about a city – its history, its planning, its priorities and inspiration – but so do their arts, and their support them. I find this is most readily on display through the glorious venue & theater spaces dedicated to housing countless performances. Now these may be judged by many factors – from design to acoustics – so with that said, let’s talk about some of the most famous concert halls around the World. (*Photographed here is Toronto’s Massey Hall, opened in 1894)

1.Musikverein, Vienna, Austria

2. Symphony Hall, Boston, USA

3. Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

4. Konzerthaus Berlin, Germany – a shoebox hall with 1,600 seats. It opened as a theater in 1821.

5. Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Japan – a shoebox hall with 1,632 seats. It opened in 1997.

6. Stadtcasino Basel, Switzerland – a shoebox hall with 1,500 seats. It opened in 1876.

7. Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England – a  shoebox design with 2,262 seats. It opened in 1991.

8. Culture and Congress Centre (KKL), Lucerne, Switzerland – a shoebox design with 1,840 seats. Designed by Jean Nouvel, it opened in 1998.

9. St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, Wales – a surround hall with 2,000 seats. It opened in 1982.

10. Paris Philharmonie, France – a surround hall with 2,400 seats. Designed by Nouvel, it opened in 2014.

11. Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Germany – a surround hall with 2,100 seats. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, it opened in 2017.

12. Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Moscow and Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg, Russia – Tchaikovsky Concert Hall has 1,505 seats. It opened in 1609. Mariinsky Theatre has 1,609 seats. It opened in 1860.

13. The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles – it seats 2,265 people, opened 2003