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Symphony Hall Birmingham's 21st anniversary
As Birmingham's iconic venue celebrates a landmark birthday, we take a look at some of the hall's finest moments, from its opening to the many world-class musicians that graced its stage.
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1. Symphony Hall under construction
A shot of Symphony Hall in its early stages. The hall is founded on 120 concrete pillars which are interspersed with 800 rubber cushions to reduce vibration from the railway line which runs directly below the site. The hall is also famed for its acoustics - a test carried out demonstrated that if a pin was dropped on stage, the sound could be heard from anywhere in the Hall.
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2. Medal given to first night audiences
A medal given to members of the audience at the very first performance in Symphony Hall, with Simon Rattle conducting the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
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3. Andre Previn conducting RPO
The month that Symphony Hall Birmingham officially opened, June 1991, conductor Andre Previn took to the stage with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
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4. Sir David Willcocks
Sir David Willcocks conducts his last annual Bach St Matthew Passion at Symphony Hall Apr 1998. The work had been a regular appointment for Sir David for 38 years. Photo by Simon Livingstone
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5. Symphony Hall Birmingham's largest organ pipe
The largest organ pipe (32ft long) arrives by narrow boat on 25 July 2000. This was the final leg of the pipe's journey from Germany, and the inauguration of the Symphony Hall Organ a year later finally marked the official completion of Symphony Hall Birmingham, ten years after it first opened. Photo by Adrian Burrows
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6. The Symphony Hall Organ
Klais workers with largest pipe from the Symphony Hall Organ Photo by David Warren Picture Team
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7. Alfred Brendel
The legendary pianist Alfred Brendel bids farewell to Birmingham in 2008. Brendel had been a regular visitor to the hall ever since his cycle of all the Beethoven sonatas in Symphony Hall's second season. His final concert, which took in great works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert was Brendel's 15th appearance at Symphony Hall.
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8. Musical Picnic at Artsfest
Symphony Hall opens its doors for a Musical Picnic as part of Artsfest, an annual urban festival based in Birmingham. Made up of a large variety of artists, Artsfest is the UK's biggest free arts festival. Photo by Jason Sheldon
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9. Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky & CBSO
The Orchestra and Chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre team up with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev. The concert, which took place in 2009, also featured tenor Sergei Semishkur.
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10. Sing For All 2009
Hundreds of schoolchildren join forces at Symphony Hall Birmingham for Sing for All 2009, an annual event that celebrates the wealth of choral talent in the city of Birmingham
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11. Berlin Staatskapelle
The acclaimed Berlin Staatskapelle take to the stage at Symphony Hall Birmingham in 2010. The orchestra were joined by the celebrated pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim. Photo by Adrian Burrows
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12. Symphony Hall Birmingham
Valery Gergiev views his portrait by artist Norman Perryman, part of the Symphony Hall Collection Photo by Marc Kirsten
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13. Hugh Masekela
South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela performed with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 2010. He performed Jason Yarde’s Flugelhorn Concerto as well as a brand new composition he wrote for the Town Hall Gospel Choir.
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14. Simon Rattle & CBSO
Simon Rattle & CBSO celebrate Symphony Hall's 20th birthday on 12 June 2011. Simon Rattle was appointed Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 1980, and it was under his leadership that the orchestra gained a reputation as one of the finest orchestras in the world. It was this rise in international acclaim that would help pave the way for Symphony Hall to be built. Photo by Alan Wood
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15. The Wizard of OZ at Symphony Hall Birmingham
In May 2012 audiences were treated to a very special screening at Symphony Hall Birmingham of the magical 1939 movie The Wizard of OZ, with live accompaniment from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Wilson.
