History

From Then to Now

The plans for a concert hall in Eindhoven had existed for decades. After several failed attempts, the people of Eindhoven finally got the hall they longed for in 1992: an acoustic world-class venue of international allure, where since its opening, thousands of world-famous orchestras, soloists, bands, and artists have made their appearances. Dive into nearly a century of Muziekgebouw Eindhoven’s history.

1900 – The First Attempt

Although the city of Eindhoven was rapidly developing around 1900, there was an urgent need for a concert hall. It didn’t take long before a committee was formed to prepare the foundation of an Eindhoven concert hall. In the initial discussions, a closer collaboration between the Royal Harmonie Apollo’s Lust and the Eindhoven Men’s Choir was considered. While the harmonie already had its own hall on the Vestdijk, it was by no means considered ‘modern.’ The same applied to the hall on Stratums Eind, used by the men’s choir.

The committee, chaired by notary J. Fens, maintained a high pace. In the first half of 1900, the regional press reported the following:

“Both associations will be able to use a large, grand, practical, and modern building, which will meet all the requirements of a contemporary temple of art, so that Eindhoven, like other cities, will have its own concert hall and will not hesitate to invite strong vocal or instrumental talents from outside the city.” (source: Meierijsche Courant, 19 June, 1900)

Nothing seemed to stand in the way of the establishment of the Eindhoven Concert Hall, especially when, a few weeks later, the newspapers announced the joyful news that ‘the necessary funds are almost secured.’

“Now our finest expectation will come true; our good city will soon proudly point to a concert hall, elegant in design and fulfilling all the requirements of the time.” (source: Meierijsche Courant, 12 July, 1900)

However, this optimism proved premature. The realization of the concert hall required the associations to merge. On November 30, 1900, the members of Apollo’s Lust agreed to the terms set by the committee. However, the Eindhoven Men’s Choir was more divided. The board could not agree to the financial terms and voted against it, although the majority of the members supported the plans. A few days later, the entire board resigned. The attempt to establish a concert hall thus ultimately ended in failure.

Alternatives

In the years that followed, numerous committees were established to realize a concert hall, but no results were achieved. Funding, in particular, remained a tricky issue for the municipality of Eindhoven. However, the need for a concert hall remained strong. As a result, local entrepreneurs took matters into their own hands. Gradually, more initiatives emerged for buildings with a cultural function, without the municipality playing a crucial role.

In 1927, the Rembrandt Theater opened on Vrijstraat, a theater with a cinema function that could accommodate 1,000 visitors and 50 orchestra members. Architect Batenburg also designed a wooden emergency theater, but the plan was rejected due to the fire risk associated with the wooden structure. The most successful initiative, however, was the Philips Recreation Center (POC), opened in 1929 by Anton Philips. Initially, the building housed a dining hall, library, meeting rooms, and a billiard room. However, five years later, Philips decided to convert the dining hall into a true theater space. Although this temporarily fulfilled the need for a decent concert and theater venue, it was well understood that it was far from ideal.

Muziekcentrum Frits Philips

In 1985, it became clear that the long-awaited concert hall would finally become a reality. The city council recognized a significant shortfall in the downtown area’s existing infrastructure and embraced the long-held desire to establish a concert hall. The demolition of Katholiek Leven, which had a nationally acclaimed acoustic hall, had left a void in the city. Additionally, the Philips Recreation Center (POC) was set to close its doors in 1992, but not before hosting only musical performances in the lead-up to the opening of the new music center.

A 1987 report outlined why Eindhoven needed a music center at that specific time: it would serve as the home of the Brabants Orkest, and local businesses would greatly benefit from the arrival of the concert hall. Moreover, activities that were previously unthinkable in Eindhoven could now take place in the city.

It was decided that the new music center would be integrated into the plan for the Heuvelgalerie. The estimated construction costs were almost 34 million guilders (about 15 million euros), with the municipality of Eindhoven covering over two-thirds of the expenses. However, when the design for the entire Heuvelgalerie was presented, it became clear that the costs for the music center would increase by an additional 10 million guilders. As a result, the municipality opted for a rental model, where the investor, rather than the city, would own the music center. Construction began in 1990 under the leadership of Dr. Ir. Frits Philips and former conductor of the Brabants Orkest, Hein Jordans.

In September 1991, the official name of the music center was announced: Muziekcentrum Frits Philips, named after the passionate music lover and prominent Eindhoven figure, Frits Philips. The motivation for this choice was explained as follows: “With this name, we want to honor the company Philips, and in particular the man who, for so many years, has personified the connection between the city and the company. In many ways, Frits Philips still represents this bond. He is not only a great industrialist but also a genuine person and a true Eindhoven native.”

The Muziekcentrum was officially opened on September 2, 1992, by then-Queen Beatrix, marking the culmination of nearly 100 years of anticipation. Finally, Eindhoven had the concert hall it had long desired.

Muziekgebouw Eindhoven

In the years following the opening of the Muziekcentrum, everything progressed smoothly. International top performers found their way to the Eindhoven concert hall, and visitors were visibly pleased that “their concert hall” had finally become a reality. However, after eighteen years, a decision was made to undertake a major renovation, focusing on a more modern appearance. The aim was to create the “concert hall of the future,” with particular attention paid to lighting, which would bring the foyers to life.

The large-scale renovation also aimed to enhance the building’s community function. It was important for people to be able to gather there without barriers; enjoying beautiful music with a drink in hand should be an accessible experience. This modernization was accompanied by a name change. The concert hall would no longer be called Muziekcentrum Frits Philips but rather Muziekgebouw Frits Philips Eindhoven.

Today, it is commonly referred to as Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, though Frits Philips remains ever-present in the concert hall. The distinctive yellow chair in the Hertog Jan Zaal serves as a tribute to Frits Philips. Additionally, the Frits Philips Foyer features a bust of Frits, overseeing the concertgoers.