It’s the dawn of a new era for the Jakarta music scene with the opening of Aula Simfonia Jakarta (the Symphony Concert Hall) late last year.
Located in the Kemayoran area, the new facility boasts more than 1000 seats of which 97% command a clear view of all the performers.
The hall is specifically designed to suit a wide range of performers, including solo, chamber, instrumental, choral and grand symphony.
It is equipped with a Steinway and Sons Concert Grand (CT) piano, and Indonesia’s largest pipe organ.
The Cassavant organ consists of 3,217 pipes ranging from 15cm to 4.9m long and weighs more than 10 metric tonnes. San Diego Pipe Organ curator Robert Knight describes Aula Simfonia Jakarta’s organ as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of organs.
Aula Simfonia Jakarta designer Dr. Stephen Tong says he hopes the concert hall will attract international performers to Jakarta.
“I am so grateful that the concert hall has made it possible for great performers from both local and foreign countries to perform good classical music here,” he says.
“Indonesia is now ready to host international orchestral performances and we are humbly and ready to serve all world class guests.”
Indonesian-born and world-renowned conductor Dr. Jahja Ling compared the Aula Simfonia Jakarta to some of the world’s best concert halls.
“I have conducted more than 450 concerts and 600 works in Cleveland alone, plus many others in the US and around the world and I have seen good to the best concert halls,” he said.
“But this Aula Simfonia Jakarta is one of the world’s most beautiful aesthetically and acoustically sounding concert halls, combining the classic beauty and modern functionality. This should be considered an absolute necessity and a valuable treasure to this country.”
Soprano Ms. Huang Wei says the concert hall meets all her performance needs.
“When I first arrived here and saw this concert hall, I was astonished and have to admit that I have never seen anything like this before. The classic yet natural style of the interior with good acoustical sound gives me an intimate and warm feeling to enjoy this hall,” she said.— Tania Butterfield
