Victoria Hall (Geneva)
The Victoria Hall is a 1,700-seat concert venue in Geneva. It is primarily home to the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR), but also hosts performers in jazz, world music and other genres.[1]
History
[edit]It was built in 1891–1894 by architect John Camoletti and financed by the British consul, Daniel Fitzgerald Packenham Barton, who dedicated it to Queen Victoria (and perhaps privately to Victoria-Alexandrina-Julia Peel Barton). Barton gave the hall to the City of Geneva in 1901.[2]
In 1918, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (OSR) was founded by Ernest Ansermet, who served as its music director for nearly five decades.[3] The orchestra became known internationally during his tenure, supported by a long-term recording arrangement with Decca Records. Ansermet worked closely with composers such as Ravel, Rachmaninoff, and Debussy, and conducted several works by Igor Stravinsky.[3] As of 2018, the orchestra consisted of 112 permanent musicians and also performed as the opera orchestra at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.[3]
On December 10, 1931, Mahatma Gandhi gave a public lecture at Victoria Hall, invited by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom during his visit to Switzerland.[4]
Arson caused a disastrous fire on 16 September 1984.[5][6] Much original artwork was lost, including decorative paintings by Ernest Biéler, as was the massive original pipe organ. The building was then slowly restored, with a new and equally large organ being installed in 1993, and today it is registered on the cantonal list of heritage buildings. But the paintings were replaced by a contemporary work by Dominique Appia.[2]
Description
[edit]The main entrance faces east. The auditorium has a parterre and two layers of balconies. The organ dominates the back of the stage.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Official web site
- ^ a b "Victoria Hall : Histoire". Ville-ge.ch (in French). Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ^ a b c "Famous Swiss orchestra marks 100 years". Swissinfo. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "When Gandhi visited Switzerland". Swissinfo. 14 September 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Le feu au Victoria Hall". Rts.ch (in French). 16 September 1984. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ^ "L'incendie du Victoria Hall". Ge200.ch (in French). 9 November 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ^ "VICTORIA HALL, Viewing Report! Final of the Geneva International Competition". Pianotohikouki.com. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Victoria Hall (Geneva) at Wikimedia Commons- Victoria Hall Concert History
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