Originally constructed between 1899 and 1902 as a theatre, the building arose from a reconstruction of what had been a merchants’ house complex. Its architectural design, by city architect Konstantinas Korojedovas, marked a shift toward grand cultural- purpose buildings — combining historicist style with refined features such as a street-gate arch, arcade, and even a bridge on the third floor that once connected hotel quarters directly to the hall. The Philharmonija was officially founded in 1940, becoming the country’s oldest and largest state-owned concert institution. After a brief wartime interruption in 1943, it resumed operations in 1944; in 1998 it was granted the status of a national cultural institution. Inside, the main concert hall seats approximately 678 — complemented by a smaller chamber hall of around 200 seats. A major renovation, completed in 2019, upgraded seating, lighting, ventilation and audience comfort while preserving heritage- protected elements, ensuring the hall remains a top-class venue for both performers and listeners. Beyond architecture and music, the Philharmonija’s history intertwines with important moments of national and cultural significance. The building once hosted the first Lithuanian bookstore (after press restrictions were lifted) and served as the assembly site of the historic Great Seimas of Vilnius in 1905, a foundational event for Lithuania’s national awareness.
Gediminas Tower
A very special place: photo from the 2021 Vilnius Tourism campaign ©whereisvilnius.com
70TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN VILNIUS
25
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online