Interest in the new people's concert hall was high when its doors opened a century ago. Since then, it has hosted a long line of concerts of all kinds, from Arvo Pärt to Frank Zappa, with ticket prices starting at 50 öre. The house has remained open during both world wars and pandemics.
The music has been there in all contexts; it has never fallen silent, says Susanne Rydén, CEO of Konserthuset Stockholm.
Except possibly in the 1930s, when the Swedish wrestling championships were held in the Concert Hall.
On several occasions, wrestling matches were organized in the house and at one performance a live lion was allowed to appear on stage. The Polar Music Prize and the Nobel Prize have been awarded. The milestones are many.
On the actual birthday, April 7, concerts, lectures and a full evening of dancing à la 1920s will be on offer. In addition to the music, the house's art treasures and an anniversary book "Konserthuset Stockholm – Med det röda hjärtat" will also be highlighted.
Worry and faith in the future
Architect Ivar Tengbom's idea was that everyone would meet on equal terms in "The Red Heart," as he called the Concert Hall. It would become a musical abode of democracy where all people were welcomed through the same door, something that was not a given 100 years ago.
It was a new and bold move that everyone, rich and poor, would use the same door at that time. It would be a democratic, inviting place with low thresholds and high ceilings. And the democratic move still feels incredibly relevant today, says Susanne Rydén.
Construction began in a time similar to ours, characterized by both anxiety and faith in the future.
It is in times like these that you realize the power and rest you get through music. It sheds light on the importance of music in people's lives, says Susanne Rydén.
More young visitors
She says that the Concert Hall has gained a wider audience recently, perhaps precisely because of the unrest in the world.
We also see that more and more young people are yearning for music.
However, her hope is that it will become even broader and that the people who usually just pass the Concert Hall on their way across Hötorget will step in and enjoy the beautiful surroundings during the 100th anniversary.
Above all, I hope that those with different cultural backgrounds will feel just as at home in our house as those who come from the inner city.
The Stockholm Concert Hall opened on April 7, 1926.
It is now considered one of Sweden's architectural masterpieces. It also houses art by leading artists and designers of the time, such as Carl Milles, Isaac Grünewald and Carl Malmsten.
The 100th anniversary celebration takes place between April 7 and 11.
On the opening night in 1926, Beethoven's Seventh Symphony was performed.
It will also be performed during the anniversary concert "100 years in the Concert Hall" on April 9 and 11, together with the premiere of a newly composed cello concerto.
Guided tours and lectures about the house's artwork and rooms will be given during the celebration.
For younger visitors, there are special children's tours, craft stations and instrument testing.
On the evening of April 7, a dance to music from the 1920s will be held in the Grünewald Hall.
