National Forum of Music

The National Forum of Music on Plac Wolności is one of the largest concert venues in Europe and also a cultural institution that runs its own orchestras and choirs. The building opened in September 2015, and in 2023 it was recognised by an international awards panel for architecture and acoustics.

A construction with a pause

Planning permission was issued in February 2008, and work began in December 2009. A consortium with Mostostal Warszawa as main contractor halted construction in October 2012, and the building stood unfinished for a time. A new consortium completed it, and the National Forum of Music was officially opened on 4 September 2015.

Architecture and acoustics

The exterior was designed by the Kuryłowicz & Associates studio, and the interiors by Towarzystwo Projektowe. The acoustic design was the responsibility of Artec Consultants, now operating under the name Arup. The building has six storeys above ground and three below, and its usable floor area reaches 35,300 square metres. In 2023 the International Classical Music Awards gave the institution an award for architectural and acoustic achievement, regarding the Wrocław building as a model for similar venues worldwide.

Four halls and an organ

The building houses four concert halls: the Main Hall, seating 1,804 people, and three smaller chamber halls, the Red Hall, the Black Hall and the Chamber Hall. Each has a different acoustic character, suited to different repertoire. The Main Hall houses an organ built by the German firm Orgelbau Klais of Bonn, with 4,700 pipes and eighty stops, able to produce sounds from 16 to 18,000 hertz.

Ensembles and festivals

The institution runs its own artistic ensembles, including the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, the Leopoldinum Chamber Orchestra, the Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, the NFM choirs and chamber quartets. The National Forum of Music also organises recurring festivals, including Wratislavia Cantans, Jazztopad, the Academy of Early Music and Forum Musicum. The institution is jointly run by the Municipality of Wrocław, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

Surroundings

The building stands on Plac Wolności in Wrocław, next to the Royal Palace and several of Wrocław's museums. From here it is also close to the Market Square and Plac Solny (Salt Square).

Practical information

• Address: Plac Wolności 1, Wrocław
• The building lies in the centre, in the Old Town, within walking distance of Wrocław's main historic sites
• It is worth checking the programme of concerts and festivals, as well as the availability of hall tours, on the institution's website before your visit