Abravanel Hall - Salt Lake City, UT

Abravanel Hall is a premier concert hall located in the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah. Adjacent to Temple Square and the Salt Palace on South Temple Street, the hall serves as an architectural landmark in scenic downtown Salt Lake. Abravanel Hall is part of the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts, and is home to the Utah Symphony and Opera.

Originally known as Symphony Hall, Abravanel Hall has been in existence since 1979. The name change came about in 1993, and was in honor of the Utah Symphony conductor Maurice Abravanel. An expansion and remodel took place in 1998 to accommodate the Hall’s growing needs and popularity.

Abravanel Hall is an acoustic masterpiece by design, created by renowned concert hall design consultant Dr. Cyril M. Harris. Harris was also involved as an acoustic consultant during the remodel of Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, as well as the Kennedy Center in D.C., and Orchestra Hall in Minnesota. The brick building encloses a concrete building, and is strategically rectangular in shape, mimicking several of the world’s finest symphony halls in Amsterdam, Boston and Vienna.

The stage was strictly designed as a concert hall. There is no separation between the stage and the audience, creating a so called “extension” of the audience. Sound lock corridors isolate the chaos of the lobby from the concert hall, and provide a noise proof entrance to the hall. Once inside of Abravanel Hall, convex curved surfaces comprise the walls and ceilings, again promoting the acoustic perfection in the design. Hand cut beads and imported crystals from Austria and Czechoslovakia embellish the 16x16 foot chandeliers suspended from the hall’s ceilings. The lobby isn’t so shabby, either, with an elaborate staircase, geometrical shapes and tiers, gold leafing accents of the stairs and balconies, and a glass sculpture displayed prominently in the center. The description can truly do no justice, as this architectural marvel should simply be absorbed in person.