A Closer Look: Kleinhans Music Hall
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
Kleinhans Music Hall, designed by the father and son team of Eliel and Eero Saarinen, was built between 1938 and 1940 to be the permanent home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Its construction was funded in part by a $1 million gift from department store magnate Edward Kleinhans and in part with money from the Works Progress Administration. It ranks as a signature architectural achievement, complementing the curves of Frederick Law Omsted's streetscape, suggesting the shape and form of a musical instrument and capturing Goethe's notion of architecture as "frozen music."
Kleinhans Music Hall, which was designed to evoke the body of a stringed instrument, was officially opened Oct. 12, 1940, with a concert by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
The view from the balcony in the main auditorium at Kleinhans Music Hall, which is known for its extraordinary acoustics. Finnish architects Eliel and Eero Saarinen, a father and son team, managed to make the hall simultaneously classic and contemporary
The view looking up from the stage. Kleinhans is named after Edward and Mary Seaton Kleinhans, owners of a famous clothing store who died within months of each other in 1934. The hall was completed using money from the Depression-era Public Works Administration.
A curve of the cutout from a vestibule in the lobby.
The Porter Avenue entrance to Kleinhans Music Hall.
The curves on the west side of Kleinhans Music Hall.
Kleinhans is nestled next to the First Presbyterian Church in Symphony Circle which is the intersection of (clockwise from top left) Wadsworth, Pennsylvania, Porter, Richmond and North.
First Presbyterian Church is reflected in the pool outside of Kleinhans Music Hall.
Kleinhan's Music Hall was designed by Finnish father and son duo Eero and Eliel Saarinen.
The stage at Kleinhans. Like Frank Lloyd Wright, Eliel and Eero Saarinen even designed accessories especially for the building. Couches, chairs, and water fountains have a streamlined design meant to complement the hall.
The 47-year-old seats in the main auditorium were recently replaced with new seats featuring the same blue upholstery, wooden seatbacks, metal frames as the originals.
Detail of house lights on the wall in the main auditorium.
The view from the balcony main auditorium. Architect Eliel Saarinenu2019s aim was to create u201can architectural atmosphereu2026so as to tune the performers and the public alike into a proper mood of performance and receptiveness, respectively.u201d
Detail of an outlet cover on the stage.
The curve over the stairs to the balcony level. It has been said that there are no straight lines in Kleinhans Music Hall, that the hall is completely curves.
The view from inside the bar on the upper level of the lobby.
A lighted sign at the entrance to the Powder Room.
A row of mirrors in the Powder Room.
The main stage.
The corner of the brass railing on the conductor's podium on stage.
Detail of a vent on the side of the stage.
A staircase leads to the maze of areas backstage.
Backstage dressing rooms feature mirrors and lights unique to Kleinhans.
A pingpong table nearly fills one of the group dressing rooms backstage.
In one of the group dressing rooms, musical-themed cartoon clippings decorate the wall.
The conductor's dressing room backstage at Kleinhans Music Hall.
Rows of filing cabinets house overflow of the massive private collection of musical scores in a space below the main auditorium.
A vintage lobby sign is stored among other items in a space below the main auditorium.
Rows of lockers for the musicians line a curved hallway behind the main stage.
Instrument shipping containers are stored in a hallway backstage.
A marimba is stored in a hallway backstage.
A dark hallway below the stage at Kleinhans Music Hall.
A sign at the Pennsylvania Street entrance.
A vestibule that now holds an elevator in the lobby.
Detail of lights in the lobby.
Detail of a marimba stored backstage.
Percussion instruments in a storage area backstage.
Detail of an instrument shipping case.
Detail of hardware on a set of auditorium doors.
The main auditorium at Kleinhans Music Hall.
The tunnel leading into the balcony in the main auditorium.
The main auditorium at Kleinhans Music Hall.
The rows of seats in the main auditorium.
The main auditorium at Kleinhans Music Hall.
The main auditorium at Kleinhans Music Hall.
Steps lead up to the balcony.
The view over the lobby.
The curve over the stairs to the balcony level in the lobby.
Detail of the glass lighting fixtures that surround the upper lobby.
Henry's at Kleinhans, the restaurant on the basement level of Kleinhans Music Hall.
Columns on the upper level of the lobby.
A sign above the entrance to the men's lounge.
Detail of a fixture in the entrance to the Men's Lounge.
The stage is dimly lit as bassist Jonathan Borden rehearses alone in the main auditorium at Kleinhans Music Hall. The acoustics of the main auditorium are extraordinary.
Kleinhans Music Hall and the First Presbyterian Church in Allentown at dusk.
Contrasts between lines and textures on the exterior of Kleinhans Music Hall.
The Pennsylvania Avenue entrance to Kleinhans Music Hall, with the steeple of First Presbyterian Church across the street.
A stepped roof on the exterior of Kleinhans Music Hall.
The Porter Avenue entrance.
The stage entrance outside Kleinhans Music Hall.
The eastern end of Kleinhans Music Hall curves around a reflecting pool, drained for winter.
A statue of Verdi outside Kleinhans Music Hall.
Detail of masonry on the exterior.
The cornerstone at Kleinhans Music Hall.
The First Presbyterian Church, left, and the reflecting pool on the east end of Kleinhans Music Hall, right, in Allentown.
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