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Musikverein

Coordinates:48°12′02″N16°22′20″E/ 48.20056°N 16.37222°E/48.20056; 16.37222
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Wiener Musikverein
View of theMusikvereinfromKarlsplatz
Map
General information
TypeConcert hall
Architectural styleNeoclassical
Town or cityVienna
CountryAustria
Coordinates48°12′02″N16°22′20″E/ 48.20056°N 16.37222°E/48.20056; 16.37222
Current tenantsVienna Philharmonic
Inaugurated6 January 1870(1870-01-06)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Theophil Hansen
Website
musikverein.at

TheWiener Musikverein(German:[ˌviːnɐmuˈziːkfɐ̯ˌaɪn]orGerman:[ˌviːnɐmuˈziːkfəˌʁaɪn];Germanfor 'Viennese Music Association'), commonly shortened toMusikverein,is aconcert hallinVienna,Austria, which is located in theInnere Stadtdistrict. The building opened in 1870 and is the home of theVienna Philharmonicorchestra.

The acoustics of the building's 'Great Hall' (Großer Saal) have earned it recognition alongside other prominent concert halls, such as theKonzerthausin Berlin, theConcertgebouwin Amsterdam andSymphony Hallin Boston.[1]With the exception of Boston's Symphony Hall,[2][3]none of these halls was built in the modern era with the application of architectural acoustics, and all share a long, tall and narrowshoeboxshape.

Building

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TheMusikverein's frontfaçadeby night

TheMusikverein's main entrance is situated on Musikvereinsplatz, betweenKarlsplatzandBösendorferstraße[de].The building is located behind theHotel Imperialthat fronts on Kärntner Ring, which is part of theVienna Ring Road(Ringstraße). It was erected as the new concert hall run by theSociety of Friends of Music in Vienna,on a piece of land provided by EmperorFranz Joseph I of Austriain 1863.

The plans were designed by Danish architectTheophil Hansenin theNeoclassicalstyle of anancient Greek temple,including a concert hall and a smallerchamber musichall. The building was inaugurated on 6 January 1870.[4]A major donor wasNikolaus Dumba,an industrialist and liberal politician ofAromanian Greek - Albanian (Voskopoja)descent, whose name was given by the Austrian government to a small street (Dumbastraße[de]) near theMusikverein.

The Golden Hall

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The Great Hall, also known as the Golden Hall
Staatskapelle Berlin,Wiener SingvereinandVienna Boys' Choirat the Golden Hall, 2009
PianistYundiat the Golden Hall, 2024

The Great Hall (Großer Musikvereinssaal), also called the Golden Hall (Goldener Saal), is about 49 m (161 ft) long, 19 m (62 ft) wide, and 18 m (59 ft) high. It has 1,744 seats and standing room for 300. TheScandal Concertof 1913 was given there, and it is the venue for the annualVienna New Year's Concert.

The Great Hall's lively acoustics are primarily based on Hansen's intuition, as he could not rely on any studies onarchitectural acoustics.The room's rectangular shape and proportions, its boxes and sculptures allow early and numerous soundreflections.

The Great Hall originally included a historicpipe organbuilt byFriedrich Ladegast.Its first organ recital was held byAnton Brucknerin 1872. The present-day instrument was originally installed in 1907 by the Austrian firm ofRieger Orgelbau,highly esteemed by musicians such asFranz SchmidtorMarcel Dupré,and rebuilt in 2011.

In 2001, a renovation program began. Several new rehearsal halls were installed in the basement.


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Halls

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Gläserner Saal / Magna Auditorium
Brahmssaal
Venue Size Height Seats
Großer Musikvereinssaal(Goldener Saal) 48.8 × 19.1 m 17.75 m 1744 seats and c. 300 standing
Brahmssaal 32.5 × 10.3 m 11 m 600 seats
Gläserner Saal/Magna Auditorium 22 × 12.5 m 8 m 380 seats
Metallener Saal 10.5 × 10.8 m 3.2 m 70 seats
Steinerner Saal/Horst Haschek Auditorium 13 × ~8.6 m ~3.3m 60 seats
Hölzerner Saal(not used for concerts) 11.5 × 7.5 m 3.4m 60 seats

The names of the six halls refer to gold,Johannes Brahms,glass, metal, stone and wood respectively.

References

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  1. ^Long, Marshall,"What is So Special About Shoebox Halls? Envelopment, Envelopment, Envelopment",Acoustics Today,April 2009, pp. 21–25.
  2. ^"The History of Symphony Hall".Boston Symphony Orchestra.Retrieved12 August2018.
  3. ^Gerrit Petersen; Steven Ledbetter & Kimberly Alexander Shilland (26 June 1998)."National Historic Landmark Nomination: Symphony Hall [Boston]"(PDF).National Park Service.Retrieved12 April2020.[page needed]
  4. ^"Großer Musikvereinssaal".Wiener Musikverein. Archived fromthe originalon 22 December 2015.Retrieved20 December2015.
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