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.