Thessaloniki Concert Hall

What I can see

This important conference and cultural multipurpose centre consists of two separate buildings named M1 and M2, and is located in the Posidonio area, on the eastern seafront. M1 has nine floors and despite its modern architecture, has byzantine-style features that were incorporated in an effort to make reference to the architectural tradition of the city. On the contrary, M2 is a building with evident virtues, even though it makes no overt reference to local architecture. It features characteristic geometrical lines, while the extensive use of glass and metal allows plenty of natural light to flow inside, creating a feeling of simplicity, in stark contrast to the more maximalist M1.

What I can't see

Apart from a conference and multipurpose centre, the Concert Hall is primarily a place of music, home to the diverse musical tradition of Thessaloniki, which has Byzantine, Oriental, Arabic and Slavic elements. An integral part of this tradition is the rebetika songs of Asia Minor refugees (Tsitsanis, Vamvakaris), the sefaraditika folk songs of the Spanish Jews, and the church music of the “patriarchal” style of Istanbul. The buildings’ interior is technologically advanced. M1 has a central concert hall with a capacity of 1,476 seats, a foyer and conference rooms. M2 houses the Emilios Riadis (500 seats) and Maurice Saltiem (300 seats) rooms, as well as conference rooms (total capacity, 200 seats) and a foyer with a view of the Thermaic Gulf.

Info

• Address: 25is Martiou & Waterfront
• Postal Code : 54646
• Phone: +30 2310 895800
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.tch.gr/

Bibliography