The Berliner Philharmoniker to open Switzerland's New Concert Hall in Andermatt on 16 June 2019

The Studio Seilern Architects, which will establish the Swiss Alpine village of Andermatt as an important cultural destination alongside its celebrated sports facilities and breath-taking landscape, all part of the overall Andermatt Swiss Alps development.

The opening concert serves as a prelude to the hall’s ambitious Opening Season, which continues in the autumn with a satellite of Lucerne Festival with three concerts, featuring among others the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. The new hall’s programme is devised by Andermatt Music, an operation managed by a trio of young British producers – Maximilian Fane, Roger Granville and Frankie Parham, who together cofounded Florence’s annual New Generation Festival which showcases young music talent from around the world.

The Andermatt Concert Hall is designed by Studio Seilern Architects led by Christina Seilern and realised by Andermatt Swiss Alps and BESIX, Belgium. Situated in a panoramic area of the village, the intimate 700- seat hall features an exceptionally flexible stage capable of incorporating a 75-piece orchestra. The acoustics and theatre design are respectively by Kahle Acoustics and dUCKS scéno – the same teams behind the Philharmonie de Paris. The London-based Studio Seilern Architects have just completed the Annenberg Centre for the Performing Arts at UK’s Wellington College. As the former Founding Director of Rafael Viñoly Architects’ London office, Seilern was the project lead for the Curve Theatre in Leicester and the Firstsite Contemporary Art Gallery in Colchester.

Andermatt is a mountain village and municipality located in the canton of Uri in the heart of Switzerland. Following major development led by Andermatt Swiss Alps, the former garrison town of the Swiss Federal Army is transforming into one of the world’s finest year-round destinations. Facilities include a new village square at the heart of which is the new concert hall and where the new hotels, residential and chalet facilities are also located.

Samih Sawiris, Chairman of Andermatt Swiss Alps, said, “All my life I have loved classical music. One of my fondest memories goes back to my student days in Berlin – where I lived 100 metres from the Philharmonie and sat in the back of hundreds of concerts by the Berliner Philharmoniker and Herbert von Karajan. Lately I have been concerned that, more than ever, this great art form needs encouragement. Our fantastic new concert hall, which adds enormous value to Andermatt as a destination, will hopefully make a real contribution to music in Europe and bring pleasure to visitors and local people alike.”

Christina Seilern, Principal of Studio Seilern Architects, said: “It was an enormous honour to be asked to create a world class performance venue in one of the Europe’s most exclusive resort destinations. The hall will be an exceptional, light-filled space where audiences can experience everything from solo recitals to full orchestral concerts in equal intimacy and comfort.”

Maximilian Fane, Musical Director of The New Generation Festival said: “At the Andermatt Concert Hall, the New Generation Festival will create a platform for the world’s finest young rising stars to collaborate and inspire a new generation of audiences. The diverse programme will see operas, orchestras, chamber music and recitals rub shoulders with jazz and rock. 50% of our audience in Florence is under 35, and we have the ambition to continue breaking down barriers between art forms and generations.”

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Opening Concert

16 June 2019
Berliner Philharmoniker
Constantinos Carydis, conductor

Mozart, Symphony No. 34 C major, K. 338
Shostakovich, Chamber Symphony in C minor, op. 110a (orchestrated by Rudolf Barshai)
Shostakovich, Two Pieces for String Octet, op. 11 (version for string orchestra)
Mozart, Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504 K. 504 “Prague”

Andermatt Concert Hall
Bärengasse
6490 Andermatt
Switzerland

Andermatt Music

Andermatt Music is the newly formed entity responsible for the programming of the Andermatt Concert Hall and the greater Andermatt Swiss Alps campus in Andermatt Reuss. The artistic team comprises three British producers: Maximilian Fane, Roger Granville and Frankie Parham, the co-founders of The New Generation Festival. The Andermatt Concert Hall is the crown jewel of the Andermatt Swiss Alps project that includes six new 4- and 5-star hotels, along with apartment buildings and chalets. The 5-star luxury hotel The Chedi Andermatt opened in December 2013. Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen opened in December 2018. www.andermattmusic.com

Christina Seilern

Principal, Studio Seilern Architects

Christina Seilern established London-based creative practice Studio Seilern Architects in 2006. Applying her unique style across a range of building typologies, geographies and scales she re-engages in an approach that carefully addresses each project from an in-depth consideration of the detail to the overall massing strategy. She tackles a range of projects from large scale city masterplans, down to the more intricate scale of furniture and light fitting design, both in the emerging and developed markets. Prior to establishing Studio Seilern Architects, Christina Seilern was the founding director of Rafael Viñoly Architects (RVA) and was responsible for key projects such as 20 Fenchurch in London, the Curve Performing Arts Centre in Leicester, Mahler 4 tower in Amsterdam, or Wageningen University Plant Research Centre in the Netherlands. SSA was established with the intent of continuing the strong design ethos developed during Christina’s time at RVA. Her diverse portfolio includes RIBA-award winning projects such as Gota House in Zimbabwe, Ansdell Street in Kensington, a world-class concert hall in the Swiss alpine village of Andermatt, award-winning Wellington College Performing Arts Centre in Berkshire, and Boksto 6 masterplan – a UNESCO heritage site in Vilnius, Lithuania. She is a frequent panellist and guest speaker both in the UK and abroad and is also a regular juror for the AR MIPIM Awards, World Architecture Festival, the RIBA EyeLine, LEAF Awards and PAD London.