“The acoustics are truly outstanding. You hear everything completely differently. I found it overwhelming.”
With these words, Holger Schultze (Artistic Director, Heidelberg Theatre and Orchestra) describes his first impression following the ceremonial reopening of Heidelberg’s Stadthalle, capturing precisely what many guests experienced live on 1 February 2026.
After several years of extensive refurbishment, Heidelberg’s Stadthalle has once again opened its doors to audiences and cultural practitioners. In his address, Lord Mayor Eckart Würzner emphasized the significance of the venue for the city and highlighted the successful combination of listed historic architecture, modern technology, and contemporary use.
A central focus of the refurbishment was the acoustic redesign of the Wolfgang Marguerre Hall. The objective was to create a space that meets the requirements of both classical concerts and contemporary event formats.
The new acoustic concept ensures precise sound perception, balanced distribution throughout the hall, and significantly improved audibility—regardless of seating position.
The reopening of Heidelberg’s Stadthalle was met with great enthusiasm: around 2,400 visitors took the opportunity to explore the renovated venue as part of a diverse opening programme. The musical highlight was the inaugural concert by the Heidelberg Philharmonic Orchestra, which not only framed the occasion ceremonially but also vividly demonstrated the hall’s enhanced acoustic quality.
The concert evening was complemented by a range of additional programme elements, including:
The event provided not only outstanding musical moments but also tangible insights into the renewed use and facilities of the Stadthalle. Photographs and video impressions from the reopening convey a vivid sense of the special atmosphere of the evening.
We congratulate all project partners, thank them for the trustful and constructive collaboration, and wish the venue many inspiring, vibrant, and acoustically rich events in the future.
Discover more of our cultural projects here.
Bildrechte: PR Stadt Heidelberg, Nicolaus_Niebylski, Philipp Rothe
