An unusual ship under a glass sail, entering the mouth of a river, or a wave crest that rises above the roof of a former port warehouse - this is how a majestic structure appears to the eyes of an inexperienced tourist - the Philharmonic Hall on the Elbe in Hamburg.
Construction for 10 years
Thanks to the unique, masterfully embodied design, this project by Herzog & de Meuron (Switzerland) is a materialized metaphor of music.
Arousing endless associations, the Elbe Opera fascinates day and night, for which it deserves the title of the new symbol of the city.
Moreover, the history of its construction is one of the most scandalous in modern Germany. The construction of the building was delayed for 10 years instead of the planned three, and the budget also increased more than 3 times.
On April 2, 2007, construction began on the building of the Elbe Philharmonic. The design and implementation of the project was entrusted to the architectural bureau Herzog & de Meuron, among whose works are the famous Tate Gallery in London and the Olympic Stadium in Beijing.
In 2021, commissioning was planned, and the budget was 241 million euros. Already in 2008, the cost of the project increased to 450 million, and in 2021 - up to 500 million.
The work was completed only on October 31, 2021, while spending 789 million euros. The media called the new Philharmonic the most scandalous long-term construction in Germany.
To find out the reasons for the delay in construction and the increased budget, a special parliamentary committee was created. Among the main reasons that influenced the duration and high cost of construction are the incompetence of local authorities, chaos at the construction site and ill-considered plans. As a result, the investigation came to court proceedings.
Now the scandal is slowly forgotten, and the Philharmonic building pleases the eyes of the townspeople and guests of Hamburg.
The grand opening took place on January 11, 2021, and was attended by German President Joachim Gauck, Chancellor Angela Merkel and 2,100 guests. They enjoyed the symphony orchestra and the singing of eminent opera masters Philippe Jarusski, Pavol Breslik, Brin Terfel and others.
A triumph of architecture
The Elbe Philharmonic is 110 meters high on 26 floors and is considered the tallest building in Hamburg. The partially curved glass panels create waves that symbolize the movement of sound.
The glass and steel façade weighs 78,000 tons and is assembled from 1,100 individual elements. It was built on the roof of a port warehouse in the mid-twentieth century, serving as a "stylobate" with a red brick facade. The architects combined the facade with a superstructure, a mesmerizing reflection of water and sky.
Elbphilharmonie also includes a cultural and residential complex, which houses 45 private apartments, a Plaza observation deck with panoramic city views, a five-star hotel with 244 rooms, a fitness room, a conference center, shops, parking, etc.
For musical performances, the Philharmonic has a large concert hall for 2,100 people and a chamber hall for 55 people.
Special attention should be paid to the large hall - Grand Concert Hall. It was planned according to a unique technology - like a "vineyard on a mountain": the stage is located in the middle of the hall, and each seat is no more than 30 meters away from the conductor's seat. The "cosmic" design and the giant reflector, which provides excellent sounding anywhere in this hall, are just as impressive as the grandiose view of the Philharmonic's façade.
Seasonal program
The official website of the Elbe Philharmonic contains information about concerts and festivals scheduled for the season, as well as prices. The repertoire is based on classical music.
Among the upcoming concerts at the time of this writing is the performance of Amaryllis Quartett, which will be performed by works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky. As well as a children's concert with the Hamburg chamber orchestra Nola Note im großen Orchester.
This season will also include Emptyset, Yul Anderson, Symphoniker Haadmburg, Marianne Crebassa with Fazıl Say, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Hamburg International Music Festival and other interesting events.
Ticket prices range from 10 to 25 euros.
Location
The Philharmonic is located in HafenCity on Grand Grasbrook Island. Getting here is quite simple: you need to take the U3 metro from the town hall, you need to get off at Baumwall station.
It will be useful for tourists to know that the entrance to the observation deck is free.
Philharmonic Hall in Hamburg: a must-have tourist destination
This architectural gem of Northern Germany, unusual inside and out, will impress any traveler! The Elbe Philharmonic attracts attention at any time of the year. Even if you are not a fan of classical music, you can just walk inside, go to a cafe or admire the building.
