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City Recital Hall
City Recital Hall
One of the most acoustically exceptional live entertainment venues in Australia
About the building
City Recital Hall opened in 1999 and was the first purpose-built music venue to be established in Sydney since the Sydney Opera House in 1973. The mid-sized venue was designed specifically for solo recitals, chamber music and the spoken word, being small enough to maintain the intimacy between artist and audience, but large enough to be commercially viable for concert producers.
Created through a public–private partnership between City of Sydney and AMP, City Recital Hall occupies the lower levels of the Angel Place corporate tower, designed by Peddle Thorp & Walker.The Hall is renowned for its classical programming, and is the CBD home of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Musica Viva Australia, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Pinchgut Opera. In recent years, the Hall has earned a new legion of fans thanks to a rapid increase in contemporary music programming, including jazz, rock, indie, cabaret and world music. In 2023, the Hall began hosting electronic and dance events, removing the seating on level one to create a dance floor.
In 2024, Archer Office undertook a major refurbishment of the foyers, bars and amenities, expanding the programming potential of City Recital Hall by creating a series of spaces around the central auditorium that can be activated separately or together. The sound system was also replaced, with the d&b Soundscape cementing the venue as one of the most acoustically exceptional live entertainment venues in Australia.
Talks & Tours
Architecture tour at the City Recital Hall
Join Tomek Archer, Director of Archer Office, for a tour of the City Recital Hall and hear architectural insights from his award-winning renewal of the iconic venue.
Time: 12pm, 2pm
Backstage tours of City Recital Hall
Ticketholders can add more to their visit with a backstage tour of City Recital Hall. The tour will include exclusive access to the piano room and will end on the stage.
Time: All Day
Building info
Built
1999
Architect
Original architect: PTW Architects
Additional architect: Archer Office, 2024 (Contractor: Baseline)
Awards
Australian Institute of Architects NSW Architecture Awards – Commendation, Interior Architecture, 2025
Australian Interior Design Awards – Shortlist, Public Design, 2025
Interior Design Excellence Awards – Shortlist, Public Space, 2025
Archello Awards – Finalist, Theatre Building of the Year, 2025
Find out more about this building here
City Recital Hall
2 Angel Place, Sydney
Entry details
Attendees can access the ground and first levels, with exclusive access to the backstage and stage areas via tours
10am–5pm
4.45pm
Talks, tours and more
Need to know
Accessible featuresThere is ramp or level (step-free) entry and lift access to all public levels. Assistance animals are welcome
Toilets availableToilets, accessible bathrooms on all levels
Photography allowed
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