The magnificent, neo-baroque structure of the Laeiszhalle provides a wonderful ambience for an unforgettable evening of classical music, not to mention the jazz, pop and children's concerts.
The Laeiszhalle, Germany's largest and most modern concert hall at the time, was ceremonially inaugurated on 4 June 1908. The well-known Hamburg shipping company owner Carl Heinrich Laeisz had left instructions in his will that the company F. Laeisz should donate 1.2 million Reichsmarks for the construction of "a place worthy of the performance and for the enjoyment of noble and serious music". The sum was later increased by his widow Sophie Christine Laeisz. The neo-baroque concert hall was built by architects Martin Haller and Erwin Meerwein – who had already made a name for themselves as architects of the impressive Hamburg town hall – and it remains to this day one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Invited guests: The stars of classical music
The Laeiszhalle Hamburg has had its role to play in musical history right from the very beginning: Prominent artists such as Richard Strauss, Sergei Prokofiev, Igor Stravinsky and Paul Hindemith all performed and conducted their own works here. The 12-year old wunderkind Yehudi Menuhin played his violin to great acclaim at the Laeiszhalle in 1930, and Maria Callas' legendary concerts at the Laeiszhalle will never be forgotten. After the Second World War, the Laeiszhalle, having survived the bombing of Hamburg undamaged, experienced an unusual intermezzo: The occupying British forces used the building as studios for the military broadcasting station BFN and stored over 60,000 jazz records in the Brahms-Foyer. Chris Howland started his career as a radio DJ at the Laeiszhalle.
Multifaceted music culture
Today, the Laeiszhalle continues to welcome stars from the international music scene, and at the same time it is a meeting place for Hamburg's musical life. The city's famous orchestras are also based here – Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the NDR Symphony Orchestra, the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra and the Ensemble Resonanz as the »Ensemble in Residence«. Audiences value such quality and high profile concerts: more than 400,000 people visit the Laeiszhalle every year.
Laeiszhalle and Elbphilharmonie
The Laeiszhalle will remain at the centre of Hamburg's musical life, joining forces with Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie. That both concert venues are under the single artistic management of Christoph Lieben-Seutter is a guarantee for their joint artistic goal.
