Originally opened in 1972, the Christchurch Town Hall, with its 2,500 seat auditorium and pioneering acoustics was one of the top concert halls in the country. Now it has risen from the dust of the Canterbury earthquakes.
The building has been off-limits for eight years but last weekend the public was invited to look around its beautifully restored space. Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Woolston Brass entertained as people flooded the Douglas Lilburn Auditorium.
Christchurch Town Hall Douglas Lilburn auditorium Photo: CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
It was touch and go whether the 47-year-old building would even be repaired due to major damage; the original blueprint for Christchurch’s redevelopment did not include the Town Hall but pressure from the public to retain one of New Zealand’s top concert halls, persuaded the council to commit to rebuilding it.
Christchurch Town Hall earthquake damage Photo: CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
Warren and Mahoney designed Christchurch Town Hall Photo: CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
Originally opened in 1972, the Warren and Mahoney designed building employed the brutalist style of architecture current at the time, and a 2,500 seat auditorium with pioneering acoustics that made it one of the top concert halls in the country. Radio New Zealand broadcast the opening concert on 30 September 1972. RNZ producer Dorothy Hitch and sound engineer Kevin Newcombe continued to record concerts for broadcast from the hall for the next few decades.
Main auditorium of the Christchurch Town Hall (Warren and Mahoney) 1972 Photo: CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
The $167 million refurbishment price tag is nearly one-third more than the original budget of $127.5 million but brings the Town Hall up to 100 percent of New Building Standard and includes the construction of a purpose-built facility for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO), giving it a permanent home in the complex for the first time.
Sir Harold Marshall, Lianne Dalziel, Sir Miles Warren, and Gus and Connor Jensen Photo: CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
In a speech ahead of the official re-opening, Mayor Lianne Dalziel spoke of the Town Hall's history and of the significant work that had been done inside, and underneath, the building over the past three years. The Mayor was then joined by Sir Miles Warren, and Sir Harold Marshall, who designed the acoustics, for the ribbon cutting. The other original architect of the building Maurice Mahoney, died before the repairs could be completed, but two of his great-grandchildren, Gus and Connor Jensen, were there in his memory.
The original character and style of the building with its white marble, dark timber, rich red fabrics and vibrant artworks, has been preserved as part of the restoration.
The mural Rainbow Pieces by New Zealand artist Pat Hanly, has been restored and rehung in the upstairs foyer. It is made up of 50 panels and was commissioned for the Town Hall by architect Miles Warren in 1971.
The Town Hall's distinctive 1970s style has been retained Photo: Supplied
The Rainbow Pieces mural by Pat Hanly Photo: Supplied
While the building looks the same, acousticians Marshall Day have been involved in fine tuning the Douglas Lilburn auditorium, regarded worldwide as the birthplace of modern-day music hall acoustics.
Many people in Christchurch have strong connections to the hall through concerts, graduations, Rock Quest, citizenship ceremonies or other personal memories and on the first open day last weekend hundreds queued along Kilmore Street, just like they did four decades ago, for an opportunity to see inside.
Hundreds queue along Kilmore Street to see inside the Christchurch Town Hall in 1971 Photo: CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
The first concert in the main auditorium is Friday 1 March, with Christchurch band Shapeshifter returning to perform with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. They were last heard together in 2006.
The following evening the CSO will open its 2019 Masterworks Series with a celebratory concert sparkling with orchestral delights giving everyone a chance to hear just how fine those acoustics are.
Fittingly the opening work Phoenix is a commission from Christchurch composer Chris Cree Brown. The theme of a mythical, flaming bird is also referenced with Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.
The concert features former Christchurch pianists Michael Houstoun and Tony Chen Lin and the city’s prize winning brass band, Woolston Brass.
Phoenix will be broadcast live by RNZ Concert at 7.30pm on Saturday 2nd March during Music Alive.
City organist Martin Setchell will give a free concert on the Town Hall Organ on as part of the reopening celebrations on Wednesday 6th March at 6.00 p.m.
The Rieger organ in the Christchurch Town Hall's Douglas Lilburn Auditorium has been restored and upgraded. Photo: CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL
The whole Town Hall complex will not be opened just yet. The James Hay Theatre will reopen in April, the CSO's new headquarters will be complete in May and the whole complex will be restored by August 2019.
