Kleinhans Music Hall
Posted by: 
Rayman
N 42° 54.088 W 078° 52.980
17T E 672831 N 4752047
Kleinhans, located in Buffalo, NY, is one of the most acoustically perfect music halls in the world.
Waymark Code: WM1GTA
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 05/06/2007
Views: 31
Kleinhans Music Hall was designed by the Finnish-American father-and-son team of Eliel and Eero Saarinen in the International style between 1938-1940. It was so named by Edward Kleinhans as a memorial to his wife, Mary Seaton Kleinhans, and his mother, Mary Livingston Kleinhans. Kleinhans was one of the founders of the locally popular Kleinhans men's clothing store in 1893.
The predominant lines of the music hall both outside and inside are smoothly curvilinear and sweeping, suggesting not only the shape of a stringed musical instrument but the shape of music itself in its motion and flow. The design resembles the shape of a violin or cello with the two lobes of the instrument housing the larger and the smaller concert auditoriums in the building.
The concert hall quickly gained renown for its acoustical excellence and became a place of pilgrimage for architects and acoustical engineers from all over the world. Many post-World War II concert halls show its influence, notably, Festival Hall in London.
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has used the hall as its home since Kleinhans first opened.
Source: Buffalo Architectural Museum website
Street address:
Symphony Circle
Buffalo, NY United States
14201
County / Borough / Parish: Erie
Year listed: 1989
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1925-1949
Historic function: Recreation And Culture: Music Facility
Current function: Recreation And Culture: Music Facility
Season start / Season finish: From: 01/01/2007 To: 12/31/2007
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Privately owned?: Not Listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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