The Great Auditorium features a unique balcony that encircles the whole auditorium and stage, forming a complete oval. The decorative light wood panels give the auditorium a special character and ambience.

Equipped with multi-functional systems, the auditorium and stage can host concerts, theatre, opera, ballet and contemporary dance performances, as well as conferences and social events. The auditorium comfortably seats 800, but the number of seats can be changed and adjusted to suit the nature of the event.

The auditorium can be quickly and easily re-configured, making it truly multi-functional: part of the seating is set on a mobile platform that can be transformed in a mere 30 minutes into a terraced arrangement for concerts, or a level stalls area ideally suited to banquets and balls.   

There is a big platform at the front of the auditorium, next to the stage, which can be elevated or lowered for use as a stage extension or an orchestra pit.

The Great Auditorium has natural acoustics. The reverberation time is approximately 2 seconds; at events using sound amplification equipment, reverberation can be reduced to 1.5 seconds. The reverberation time is changed with the help of acoustic curtains and additional portable acoustic panels that can be used to improve the quality of sound.

The main acoustic objective for the reconstruction of Cēsis Concert Hall was to achieve the two-second reverberation time which is optimal for concert halls, without losing any of its clarity and spatial qualities. Challenges were posed both by the insufficient capacity of the auditorium and by the architect’s decision to create an open stage and a perimetric balcony. This led to a number of innovative solutions, which hadn’t been implemented anywhere in the Baltic countries: a system of blinds for the glass roof and the option of extending the auditorium acoustically by adding the lobby and attic space, as well as creating a completely new sound diffuser structure for the finish of the wings of the stage and the balcony railing. As a result, the visible space of the auditorium is significantly smaller than its actual ‘acoustic capacity’; the historically important wooden supporting structure ensures a somewhat dampened bass sound that is characteristic of ‘wooden’ auditoriums. Acoustically designed leather chairs were custom-made for Cēsis Concert Hall, a first in the Baltic countries. All of which guarantees a wonderful sound for opera and chamber music, with a particular emphasis on strings, whilst also ensuring suitable conditions for events featuring electroacoustic sound.

Andris Zabrauskis, acoustics expert (LAA, EAA and LBS), author of the Cēsis Concert Hall acoustics project

Area of the Great Auditorium (incouding stage): 500 m²

Area if the stage: 12 x 10 m, with the platform: 12 x 16 m