Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie is one of the largest and acoustically most advanced concert halls in the world. (Chris Redan / Shutterstock.com)
After 16 long years of planning and construction, Germany's newest, and without a question most impressive concert hall is finally opening its doors on January 11 and 12, 2017, with inaugural concerts and a colorful light display on the façade of the building.
The Elbphilharmonie - the newest landmark in Germany's northern metropolis of Hamburg - was constructed in the city's sprawling harbor district and rests on top of a massive brick warehouse overlooking the harbor. The architectural masterpiece designed by Swiss architects Herzog and De Meuron is fully covered in a sweeping glass front, built to resemble a ship in full sail. Every corner of the sprawling concert hall, offers another architectural gem, the most impressive of all being the central auditorium.
The round room looks almost like a monochromatic coral reef, brought to life by tens of thousands of unique wall panels, which serve to enhance both the beauty and function of the auditorium. The architects even developed a special algorithm to perfectly design every one of the one million cells embedded in the wall paneling.
In anticipation of the opening of this jewel of Hamburg's harbour, the Elbphilharmonie let loose two drones to film the entirety of the building. With a press of the space bar, viewers can switch between the slow cinematic footage and the action packed clip filmed with a small racing drone, zipping through the concert hall at mind-boggling speeds.
Concert tickets in the Elbphilharmonie will be availabe for as little as $30, and with no seat in the round auditorium being further than 30 meters away from the conductor, everyone can enjoy an amazing music filled evening here. The building's location was chosen with more than just great views in mind. Located where the old and new parts of the city meet, combining history and futuristic design, the Elbphilharmonie will serve as a cultural meeting point for all of the city's 1.7 million inhabitants.
Hamburg’s culture department also started educational outreach projects to make sure that every schoolchild in Hamburg will visit the Elbphilharmonie at least once as part of their education. In March of 2017, the Elbphilharmonie will even host a festival dedicated to Syrian music and culture to bring together residents and refugees in projects including a community choir and creative workshops.
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