Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall
Historicist 1902 concert hall in Vilnius Old Town, home of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra.
The building on Aušros Vartų Street was put up between 1899 and 1902 to designs by the engineer Konstantin Korojedov, on the site of earlier merchants' houses. Known at first as the City Hall, it was conceived for theatrical performances, concerts and public meetings, and is counted among the most elaborate surviving examples of historicist architecture in Vilnius. In December 1905 its main auditorium hosted the Great Seimas of Vilnius, the assembly that formulated early demands for Lithuanian autonomy, and the event is commemorated in the hall.
A state philharmonic organisation was founded in 1940 and has used the building ever since, apart from a break in 1943. Today it is the base of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and of chamber ensembles including the Čiurlionis Quartet and Musica Humana, and it also presents visiting soloists, early-music programmes and concerts for children. The Great Hall retains its ornamented plasterwork and balconies, while the foyers preserve decorative detail from the original scheme.
Highlights
- Great Hall with historicist plasterwork and tiered balconies
- Site of the Great Seimas of Vilnius in December 1905
- Home of the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra
- Chamber, orchestral, early-music and family concert programmes
