Hamburg's spectacular new Elbphilharmonie concert hall finally hosted
its first concert on Wednesday night, several years behind schedule and
far over the original budget.
President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel were among the guests at the maiden concert that was conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock.
The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester is playing music from the renaissance to the present, including works by Beethoven and Wagner and a new piece by German composer Wolfgang Rihm.
The grand opening was sold out quickly and the almost 500,000 tickets for the first half of this year are also long gone, but curious onlookers were invited to follow a light show on the building's facade.
Hamburg Mayor Olaf Scholz stressed that the concert hall should be accessible to everyone.
"I firmly intend that ... all children who go to school in Hamburg will have once heard a concert at the Elbphilharmonie," Scholz said, according to the German news agency dpa.
The landmark building with its wave-shaped roof and shiny glass facades was built on top of a former cocoa and coffee warehouse jutting out into the harbor of Germany's second-biggest city.
It's also home to a hotel with 244 beds and houses 44 apartments. There's an outside platform that is accessible without charge to everyone.
The main concert hall can seat 2,100 people, none more than 30 meters (100 feet) from the conductor.
The stage is in the center, surrounded by terraced tiers. The hall is covered by plaster paneling, the so-called "white skin," and sits atop 362 bags of feathers for sound insulation. It has been praised for its impressive acoustics.
Construction started in 2007 and was originally supposed to be finished in 2010. The cost to taxpayers climbed from an initially planned 77 million euros to 789 million euros ($835 million).
But the delays and cost increases were set aside for the grand opening.
"Hamburg is setting an example for the great significance of art and culture in a free society," Scholz said.
(AP)
In this Dec. 29, 2016 file picture the sunset reflecting in the windows
of the new 'Elbphilharmonie' Philharmonic Building in Hamburg, Germany.
Hamburg’s spectacular new Elbphilharmonie concert hall is to finally
host its first concert on Wednesday Jan. 11, 2017 night, several years
behind schedule and far over the original budget. Germany’s President
Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel are among the guests expected
at the maiden concert, to be conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock. The NDR
Elbphilharmonie Orchester will present a mélange of compositions from
the renaissance to the present.
This Nov. 4, 2016 file picture shows a view into the great hall,
photographed during a press tour through the The Elbe Philharmonic Hall
(Elbphilharmonie) in Hamburg, Germany. Hamburg’s spectacular new
Elbphilharmonie concert hall is to finally host its first concert on
Wednesday Jan. 11, 2017 night, several years behind schedule and far
over the original budget. Germany’s President Joachim Gauck and
Chancellor Angela Merkel are among the guests expected at the maiden
concert, to be conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock. The NDR Elbphilharmonie
Orchester will present a mélange of compositions from the renaissance to
the present.
In this Nov. 5, 2016 file photo visitors of the Plaza of the
Elbphilharmonie explore the access to the observation platform in
Hamburg, Germany. Hamburg’s spectacular new Elbphilharmonie concert
hall is to finally host its first concert on Wednesday Jan. 11, 2017
night, several years behind schedule and far over the original budget.
Germany’s President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel are among
the guests expected at the maiden concert, to be conducted by Thomas
Hengelbrock. The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester will present a mélange of
compositions from the renaissance to the present.
In this May 5, 2016 file picture the Elbe Philharmonic Hall is
photographed in Hamburg, Germany. a Hmburg’s spectacular new
Elbphilharmonie concert hall is to finally host its first concert on
Wednesday Jan. 11, 2017 night, several years behind schedule and far
over the original budget. Germany’s President Joachim Gauck and
Chancellor Angela Merkel are among the guests expected at the maiden
concert, to be conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock. The NDR Elbphilharmonie
Orchester will present a mélange of compositions from the renaissance to
the present.
This Nov. 4, 2016 file photo shows a view into the staircase in the
foyer, photographed during a press tour through the Elbphilharmonie in
Hamburg, Germany. Hamburg’s spectacular new Elbphilharmonie concert
hall is to finally host its first concert on Wednesday Jan. 11, 2017
night, several years behind schedule and far over the original budget.
Germany’s President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel are among
the guests expected at the maiden concert, to be conducted by Thomas
Hengelbrock. The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester will present a mélange of
compositions from the renaissance to the present.
The architects Jacques Herzog, left, and Pierre de Meuron arrive for the
inauguration of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg, Germany,
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. The concert hall will be inaugurated with a
concert and an official ceremony.
In this Jan. 8, 2017 file photo the building of the Elbphilharmonie, the
philharmonic orchestra concert hall, is illuminated by a light show
test at the harbor in Hamburg, Germany. Hamburg’s spectacular new
Elbphilharmonie concert hall is to finally host its first concert on
Wednesday Jan. 11, 2017 night, several years behind schedule and far
over the original budget. Germany’s President Joachim Gauck and
Chancellor Angela Merkel are among the guests expected at the maiden
concert, to be conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock. The NDR Elbphilharmonie
Orchester will present a mélange of compositions from the renaissance to
the present.
A seagull flies next to the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in the port of
Hamburg, Germany, Wednesday Jan. 11, 2017. The concert hall will be
inaugurated with an official ceremony in the evening.
