The history and the architecture

The history of Music Hall Esbjerg is just as long and intricate as the basement’s corridors beneath the beautiful construction, which was drawn by the Utzon architects. On this page, you will find the whole history in words and images

On March 14th, 1997, Music Hall Esbjerg opened its doors for the first time in the presence of HM The Queen of Denmark, the then prime minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen – most likely Esbjerg’s most famous fellow-townsman – and thousands of enthusiastic inhabitants from Esbjerg.

It was the culmination of a at the time 15 year-long dream of seeing Esbjerg getting a large and modern music and culture venue. Everything started in 1982, when a group of local music enthusiasts met to discuss their shared dream of a music venue that could raise the cultural life in South West Denmark. Two years later, in 1984, the support association Friends of Music Hall Esbjerg was founded, and thoughts started to concretize.

In 1988, Friends of Music Hall Esbjerg courageously contacted Jørn Utzon – the man behind the Sydney Opera House – and against all odds, the world-renowned architect accepted to draw Music Hall Esbjerg together with his son Jan.

After several years of back-and-forthing about inter alia the location of Music Hall Esbjerg, the construction finally started in August 1995. One and a half year later, the construction was done. The blues legend B.B. King was the first from a long list of international artists that were to perform in Music Hall Esbjerg. The following years, artists like Kenny Rodgers, José Carreras, Willie Nelson, Bryan Adams and Bryan Ferry performed in Music Hall Esbjerg.

After Esbjerg’s old theatre closed, it was decided to erect a new auditorium in Music Hall Esbjerg. Teatersalen (the Theatre Auditorium) was inaugurated in January 2010.

On March 14, 1997, Music Hall Esbjerg celebrated its 20 years, and today, the venue has evolved into a lively and dynamic music and culture venue, which the initiators dreamt about. Each year, 60,000 people visit Music Hall Esbjerg to experience a concert, theatrical performance and other cultural events, and approximately 30,000 people participate in conferences and meetings on a yearly basis in South West Denmark’s largest culture venue.