Victoria Concert Hall

The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall along Empress Place, are two separate buildings built more than 40 years apart and joined by a Clock Tower. Also known as the Town Hall and the Victoria Memorial Hall, respectively, they have long been a meeting place for Singaporeans, forvarious functions ranging from political meetings to musical and stage performances.

Located in the heart of it's civic district, The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is a grand stately building built in the memory of Queen Victoria who passed away in 1901. Completed and opened in 1905, Victoria Concert Hall has figured prominently in Singapore's Historical and Cultural life. Victoria Concert Hall has also been the proud residence of the World Famous Singapore Symphony Ochestra Since 1980.

The design of the building is considered to be Palladian in style, a common style for the 19th century British Singapore. It was the first building in Singapore to adopt that style, with its Italianate windows and rusticated columns. Originally, it served a dual function with a theatre on its ground floor and offices and meeting rooms on its second floor. However, with a growing administration and an increasing population requiring entertainment, it eventually proved too small for both functions.

In the course of its nearly 150-year history, apart from being a focal point for arts and cultural entertainment, this handsome Victorian-era colonial landmark with its distinctive Palladian clock tower, Italianate windows and rusticated columns was once a town hall, hospital and a war crimes trials court. In the period before World War II, the Victoria Theatre and Memorial Hall staged many concerts, musicals and plays, including a performance by Noel Coward in 1930. It was lucky to have survived intact during the Japanese air raids, and during the Japanese Occupation its strategic location in the city saw it being used as a hospital.

Between 1952 and 1958, the buildings underwent major renovations with the interiors restructured so that air-conditioning and soundproofing could be added. In 1979, the Victoria Memorial Hall was renovated again, with a gallery added to bring the total seating capacity to 937. With this extensive renovation, the Victoria Memorial Hall was renamed the Victoria Concert Hall.

The Hall underwent an extensive renovation program to faithfully preserve its neoclassical architectural integrity, after which it was reopened in 1 October 1980 by Then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. With a performing stage fit for a 100 member ochestra, The Hall has an impressive interior completed by the grand Klais Pipe Organ, installed in 1987. The Hall had a spacious yet intimate setting, with warm acoustics and great staff which adds a unique identity to it.

Victoria Concert Hall has since been a venue for concerts of classical music, orchestras, theatre productions, and even modern art. It has also been a one of the places of interests mainly for tourist who come to Singapore, because of it's rich history and unique look.

Arts In Singapore

What is Art? Many have asked but none have the specific answer to it. Reason being, there is no universally accepted definition of art. Art is diversified in different prospects - Visual arts, Applied arts and Performing arts.

In Visual arts, we have things such as paintings, drawings, printmaking and sculptures. Applied arts include fashion design, interior design, photography and architecture. Performing arts on the other hand are more to the public performance event such as opera, theatre, music and ballet.

In this small city, many must be wondering what type of art is available here in Singapore. Well, many must have overlooked about us. The art scene in Singapore is rather overwhelming. We have various places where art is involved! From architectures to museums. We even have places for these 'art people' to shine! Some of the places are like The Esplanade.

Esplanade or most of the locals call it "The Durian" because of its durian-shaped like, is where most of the Art scene is located at. It's actual main purpose is to be the centre for performing arts for the island nation of Singapore. These days, The Esplanade is mostly used as a showcase or concert venue for local and international acts from everywhere. It contains a Concert Hall which seats about 1,600 and a Theatre with a capacity of about 2,000 for the performing arts.

The Concert Hall is a venue for concerts, recitals and other performances. The four storey high Theatre is designed for all genres of the performing arts, including but not limited to Asian and Western arts, Musicals and plays, classical, traditional and contemporary forms and advanced multimedia performances, whether they are large scale, or intimate in size. There are also other venues in The Esplanade for a smaller audience and they are the Recital Studios, Theatre Studios, The Outdoor Theatre, library@esplanade and the "Jendela", where art exhibitions can be held for the public.

Aside from The Esplanade, there are several other oraganisations, centres and clubs in Singapore that offers themselves as a platform for local or even international artists to showcase their art or performances such as The Victoria Concert Hall.

To know more about Victoria Concert Hall, just wait for our upcoming post!