Brand new jazz concert hall becomes Hamburg's latest pearl

25 June 2021

Spectacular architectural setting brings scene together at "Hochule für Musik und Theater"

The new Jazz Hall on the campus of the "Hochschule für Musik und Theater" (HfMT) in Harvestude has held the first concerts near the Outer Lake Alster after its opening in mid-June. The brand new venue, which resulted from a two-year build, is set to stage concerts in an impressive architectural setting and to train jazz musicians as well.

Venue setting new standards

"The Jazz Hall may yet become a crowd pleaser in the heart of the city and with views of Lake Alster. Residents can look forward to great concerts in an extraordinary concert hall," said Dr Peter Tschentscher, Mayor of Hamburg. Prof. Elmar Lampson, President of HfMT, remarked: "The university is getting a place where new emphases in jazz are set, creativity and impulses become tangible and further developments are possible." The building is also exceptional in terms of architecture. Designed by MPP architects, the Jazz Hall is located just below the gardens of the listed Budge Palais and arches out of the lawn. It offers space for up to 300 concertgoers and was built by Sprinkenhof GmbH as part of the city's tenant-landlord model (MVM).

Hamburg to become a world jazz city?

The entrepreneur, Dr. Ernst A. Langner, is the main mover and shaker of the project, and the brain behind Hamburg Jazz Prize launched in 2007. "Hamburg is well on course to become a world jazz music city as well," Langner remarked. The Dr. E. A. Langner Foundation is paying EUR 5.7 million of the EUR 6.4 million in costs while the City of Hamburg is contributing EUR 700,000. Plans are being laid to expand the master's degree course in jazz and to build a lab with more space for rehearsals and performances. The Jazz Hall, the Jazz Laboratory and the expanded jazz studies course would raise the university’s international appeal and of Hamburg as a centre of music signicantly, according to Katharina Fegebank. Senator for Science, Research and Equality. "Jazz students as well as national and international stars are getting an excellent venue for new kinds of concerts and to excite audiences," she added.

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