PERTH CONCERT HALL
Following the sale and 1966 demolition of the Capitol Theatre, the West Australian symphony Orchestra lost its permanent home.
It was designed by local architects Jeffrey Howlett and Don Bailey in the Brutalist mid-century style with acoustic consultant Sir Harold Marshall. Perth Concert Hall is praised for having some of the finest acoustics in the Southern Hemisphere.
“The design of the Perth Concert Hall was initiated in 1968 by the City of Perth. The architects, working with acoustic consultant Sir Harold Marshall, produced a rectangular shoebox design with two balconies, seating 1,729 patrons. Opening on Australia Day 1973, Perth Concert Hall quickly established itself as one of Australia’s most cherished performance venues.”
PERTH CONCERT HALL – FIRST PERFORMANCE
In August 1972, Jack Harrison, the Principal Clarinet of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra was the first musician to perform in the Hall during its construction.
First Tune
Perth Concert Hall
The first music played in Perth’s Concert Hall was a solo clarinet version of the opening theme of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”. It was played on the dusty and incomplete concert platform yesterday by Principal clarinettist of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Mr Jack Harrison, who was inspecting his future workplace with about 40 other musicians. [1]
The Perth Concert Hall officially opened on Australia Day, January 26, 1973. It was opened by the Governor-General Sir Paul Hasluck.
The next day, WASO together with the South Australian Symphony Orchestra and the University Choral Society, performed in the first public concert in the presence of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and a capacity audience.
The performance was followed by a ball:
It is currently being refurbished;
[1] The West Australian Thursday August 24 1972