The Symphony Hall

The Symphony Hall in Osaka opened in 1982 as a project marking the thirtieth anniversary of Asahi Broadcasting Corporation. Designed specifically for classical music, its 1,704-seat auditorium places the audience around the stage. Conductor Takashi Asahina was closely involved in shaping the project, including the provision of a pipe organ and the arena arrangement. Acoustic reflectors, wall treatments and a cork floor contribute to a reverberation time of approximately two seconds. Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic first appeared there in 1984 with Richard Strauss's Don Juan and Respighi's Pines of Rome. Management passed to The Symphony Hall corporation in 2014.