The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam is one of the world’s most renowned concert halls, famous for its exceptional acoustics and rich musical history.
It serves as a major venue for classical music performances and is home to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO).
History
In the early 1880s, before the Concertgebouw was built, Amsterdam had three music halls.
One was old and on the verge of collapse…
One was tiny…
One had the worst acoustics…
The people of Amsterdam wanted a new hall.
The citizens of Amsterdam requested the government to build a new music hall, but their request was not granted.
So six citizens of Amsterdam founded the Concertgebouw Society.
Cuypers, a member of the Concertgebouw Society, was the architect in charge of designing the Rijksmuseum, a national museum that was under construction at the time. With his advice, the location for the new hall was decided to be opposite the Rijksmuseum.
Design
In 1882, the Concertgebouw Society established the Concertgebouw Company, and construction preparations began in earnest.
They decided to raise the construction budget of 400,000 guilders through stock certificates, but only half of that, 250,000 guilders, was sold.
So they changed the construction budget to 300,000 guilders and held a design competition for a 2,000-seat music hall.
Dolf van Gendt’s design was selected in the competition, and construction began. (Dolf van Gendt was the man who later designed Amsterdam Central Station together with Cuypers.)
Opening
The building was completed in 1886, but the music hall could not be opened.
In order to open the music hall, the local government requested the surrounding area to be improved, such as filling in the canal and installing street lights, but there were no funds to meet these requests.
It took two years to resolve the problem, and the Concertgebouw had its grand opening in 1888.
The premiere concert was a grand success, with a 120-person orchestra and a 500-person choir.
Architecture
Dolf van Gendt’s design combines neoclassical and neo-Renaissance architecture to create an imposing façade.
To build the enormous hall on the weak foundations of the Netherlands, 2,186 wooden piles were used to create a solid foundation.
However, subsidence continued, and by 1983, 100 years after its completion, the building was at risk of collapse.
So a major renovation added 400 metal piles to create an even stronger foundation.
Concert Hall Design
A typical concert hall design places emphasis on sound reflection and reverberation. Therefore, the design must take into account the arrangement of the stage and seats, the shape of the walls and ceiling, and the materials used for the finishing.
However, Dolf van Gendt did not have sufficient knowledge about music hall design. This resulted in a unique design that was unprecedented in concert halls.
The Concertgebouw is a rectangular space where reverberation scatters, and there is a skylight that scatters the reverberation. There were concerns that the reverberation would be harsh if a performance was held in such an unplanned music hall design.
When an orchestra actually performed in the Concertgebouw, something incredible happened.
The ideal reverberation time for a hall of this size is roughly 2 seconds. The Concertgebouw’s reverberation time is 2.8 seconds, and 2.2 seconds when the auditorium is full. This is perfect sound! This was an amazing, brilliant music hall design.
This is a mystery, a wonder, a miracle. With its perfect acoustic design, the Concertgebouw is ranked in the top three in the world as the best concert halls for symphonies.
Events
The Concertgebouw is home to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO), one of the world’s finest orchestras.
It also hosts more than 900 concerts a year, featuring performances by world-class musicians and ensembles.
On Wednesdays they hold a “Free Lunchtime Concert.” This popular concert sells out quickly.
The Concertgebouw is a must-visit for music lovers, offering an unforgettable experience in one of the best acoustic venues in the world.
Amsterdam Tour