Hamburg Mayor: The Elbphilharmonie changed this city

At the anniversary of the concert hall’s real-time opening, the mayor made a strong statement about its impact:

Mayor of Hamburg, Olaf Scholz: ‘The last year significantly changed Hamburg. As of today, a total of 4,235,000 enthusiastic guests have visited the Elbphilharmonie. This proves that the Elbphilharmonie has won a firm place in the hearts of both Hamburg residents and visitors from farther afield. On this day, the first anniversary of the Elbphilharmonie, I want to express my special gratitude to the architects for creating not just an exceptional building, but also one that fits so perfectly into the local landscape that it’s already impossible to imagine life in Hamburg without the Elbphilharmonie!’

Hamburg’s Minister for Culture & Media, Dr Carsten Brosda: ‘With the Elbphilharmonie, culture has gained a permanent location at the heart of the city, and millions of people, Hamburg locals and visitors alike, want to experience this exceptional concert hall. It makes me happy to see just how many people not only wanted to visit the Plaza in recent months, but have also made the entire Elbphilharmonie their own. This immense interest in culture has made its mark on the way the city sees itself, so that Hamburg is rediscovering its status as a cultural centre.’

Elbphilharmonie’s General and Artistic Director, Christoph Lieben-Seutter: »Although the inaugural concert didn’t take place until January 2017, the Elbphilharmonie already took off at the beginning of November 2016, when the Plaza, the Tube, the hotel and the catering services were opened and the Elbphilharmonie team moved into its offices. Since then, the Elbphilharmonie has been the subject of a wave of enthusiasm from visitors both local and international, providing ample recognition for everyone who worked on the project for many years.’