Birmingham’s oldest and most esteemed performance space reopened in 2007 after 11 years of neglect and restoration. It is run and programmed by the same organisation that manages Symphony Hall.

Since it’s completion in 1834 the hall has been used as a home for local government until the 1870s and a forum for political debate and speech-making contiuing throughout to the 20th century. An internationally recognised venue for music, it hosted the Triennial Music Festival (between 1834 and 1912) housed the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra between 1926 and 1991 and showcased many premieres and performances from Elgar to the Rolling Stones, Mendelssohn to the Beatles. Charles Dickens performed readings of his works and the bands of Count Basie, Ellington, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Louis Armstrong have all graced its stage.

Its re-opening festival concerts triumphed the vast cultural tapestry Birmingham has to offer; BBC Big Band playing Quincy Jones reworking of Handel’s Messiah, CBSO performing an orchestral collaboration with Guillemots, Soweto Kinch paying homage to the black artists of the 1800’s, a set from Giles Peterson with support from Sugarbeats and Summary, avant-garde electronic Birmingham bands Pram and Modified Toy Orchestra, Classical and Bollywood artist Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and a 20^th Century programme from the Ex Cathedra choir.

The BBC Big Band and Soweto Kinch are resident Associated Artists the former playing a series of six concerts to be aired on Radio 2 throughout the 2007 season and the latter producing a major commission.

The hall is spacious and grandiose and brilliant for acoustic music. However, it is not the best venue for largely amplified music. Seating can be altered or removed for both seated and standing events.  Maximum capacity is 1088 persons.