Building work at Luxembourg’s national concert hall Philarmonie is picking up pace after the summer break, as the Kirchberg venue undergoes an extension that is causing disruption for visitors, including fewer parking spaces and the closure of the rear entrance and exit.
The world-famous Berliner Philharmoniker orchestra will play the venue on 6 September, but chief conductor Kirill Petrenko and musicians are not expected to need hard hats – and Mahler’s Ninth will not be embellished with the sound of drills and hammers.
The construction team led by the architectural firms 2Portzamparc and CBA (Christian Bauer & Associés) have, along with Philharmonie management, committed to keeping the venue fully operational throughout the works, which are expected to last until 2027.
Behind a large construction fence, the front of the Philharmonie, facing the Meliá Hotel, will be completely remodelled over a period of more than a year and additional rooms will be created, spokesperson Fatima Rougi said.
“If concertgoers arrive by car, we therefore recommend using the Place de l’Europe multi-storey car park, especially if people have limited mobility. Extra time should also be allowed for finding a parking space,” said Rougi.
The works also mean the restaurant on the south side of the building is inaccessible, so in-house caterer Julien Cliquet is currently working on devising an alternative concept for catering during events at the concert hall.
The outline of the new extension as seen on the site plan drafted by the architects in charge of the project. © Photo credit: 2Portzamparc / CBA Architects
Major challenge to keep shows running
The commitment that the show must go on extends not only to performances but also to daytime events and rehearsals – a pledge which will not be easy to keep in the long-term with areas crucial for shows, such as the backstage, set to be affected by the renovation.
The head of the Philharmonie’s technical team, Laurent Watgen, said it was “a major challenge” in planning new spaces to make daily operations as efficient as possible – “for the audience, the staff, and the suppliers.”
Luxembourg’s Philharmonie celebrates 20 years
“Currently, all the material for the Grand Foyer has to be transported through the main entrance doors or via two administrative lifts from the loading ramp. Another challenge was and remains planning technical installations that are compatible with the existing building systems, whether in terms of the building such as plumbing and electrics or the stage with lighting, audio and video,” said Watgen.
The revamp will ultimately lead to a simpler, more modern layout, said Watgen. “With the extension, a lift will connect all three levels: the loading ramp in the tunnel, the restaurant level on the Place de l’Europe and the new multi-purpose room above, which is connected to the foyer,” he explained.
Philharmonie not only hosts visiting orchestras, but is also the permanent home of the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, which will have its season opening later this month.
Sir Eliot Gardiner will launch a series of guest conductor concerts on 19 September, bridging the vacancy until the official arrival of the new orchestra director Martin Rajna. Among others who will follow Gardiner in the role are: Leopold Hager, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, William Christie, Paavo Järvi, Renaud Capuçon, Tugan Sokhiev and Alexandre Desplat.
Schuman building on track to be classified as national monument
One of the special highlights of the upcoming Philharmonie season is a cycle of Indian music, with organisers hoping that Indian serenity and Buddhist tranquility will radiate onto the construction site.
(This article was originally published by the Luxemburger Wort. Translated by AI, with editing and adaptation by Alex Stevensson.)
