House of Music

The Moscow International House of Music (MIHM) is rightfully considered the largest classical music venue not only in the capital but throughout modern Russia. This unique complex, opened in 2002, became the first and only center of performing arts of international level in the country to receive MIPAC status (International Center for Performing Arts). The ten-story building with a total area of about 42 thousand square meters is located on the picturesque Kosmodamianskaya Embankment and is part of the architectural ensemble “Red Hills.” The complex was built on the initiative of the outstanding violinist and conductor Vladimir Spivakov and the Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov, funded by the Moscow Government.

Architectural features and unique construction

The circular MIHM building with continuous glass facades is a true engineering marvel. In addition to ten above-ground floors, the complex includes two underground levels with a depth of six meters. Transparent glass structures, designed as a contrapuntal element to the rest of the “Red Hills” ensemble, fill the lobbies, foyers, staircases, and passageways with natural light. The uniqueness of the construction lies in the fact that the building is detached from its foundation and rests on nearly 500 air cushions with double gas-filled glazing. This bold architectural solution was adopted to reduce noise levels and improve acoustics. The ventilation system is deliberately placed far from the concert halls, ensuring perfect silence during performances. The dome of the House of Music is crowned with an emblem in the form of a treble clef weather vane standing 9.5 meters high, created by the renowned sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. Although the President of Russia referred to the building as a “crystal goblet,” it has popularly acquired the nickname “the saucepan.”

Concert halls of the MIHM

Svetlanov Hall — the jewel of the complex

Svetlanov Hall is a large philharmonic organ hall with a seating capacity of 1,730. The hall is named after the outstanding Russian conductor Yevgeny Svetlanov—the concert dedicated to his 75th anniversary opened the first MIHM concert season on September 26, 2003. The hall is entirely clad in Siberian larch—the finest acoustic wood in the world. The treatment of the walls, floor, and a significant portion of the ceiling with a single material using wooden panels creates ideal acoustics and compositional unity of the space. Audience seating is arranged almost around the entire perimeter of the hall, creating the feeling that the orchestra is located within the audience space. The main attraction of the hall is a unique organ manufactured in Germany by a consortium of renowned firms “Klais” and “Glatter-Gotz.” It is one of the first examples in Russia of the large organ style of the 21st century and has no analogues in the country. The instrument features 84 stops and 4 manuals and consists of six thousand metal and wooden pipes. The longest pipe measures over 12 meters, while the shortest is about 10 millimeters. This massive engineering structure, 14 meters high and weighing 30 tons, was assembled and tuned over the course of six months.

Chamber Hall — a space for intimate concerts

The Chamber Hall, accommodating 550 spectators, is located on the basement levels beneath the Svetlanov Hall. In contrast to the main hall, it is designed in a classical style with semicircular ornate balconies in muted green and purple tones. Seating is arranged in an amphitheater, and there are premium comfort boxes. The hall is equipped with a mobile positive organ by “Glatter-Gotz” featuring seven stops and one manual. In terms of acoustic characteristics, it is one of the best venues in Moscow for chamber music performances.

Theater Hall — a multifunctional space

The Theater Hall accommodates from 400 to 564 spectators depending on configuration. It is designed for multipurpose use thanks to a system that transforms the stalls and stage by retracting the first five rows of seats. State-of-the-art technical equipment enables bold lighting and sound experiments, while the grid ceiling structure allows scenery to be suspended at any point.

Schnittke Hall (New Hall)

The New Hall has a capacity of 286 seats and is intended for chamber concerts and small-scale events.

Musical life and repertoire

Every day, concerts by outstanding Russian and international performers take place in the four halls of the MIHM. The House of Music is the residence of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, the State Chamber Orchestra “Virtuosi of Moscow,” and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra “Russian Philharmonic.” The complex’s playbill is not limited to classical music. Renowned theaters, folk ensembles, jazz orchestras, and pop performers also appear on the MIHM stage. The venue has hosted concerts by world-class stars such as Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, and Jessye Norman, as well as outstanding Russian musicians—Valery Gergiev, Yuri Bashmet, Denis Matsuev, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Zurab Sotkilava, Igor Butman, and many others.

Star Staircase

In 2008, a special attraction appeared at the MIHM—the Star Staircase leading to the Svetlanov Hall. Along its steps are sculptural compositions in the form of open sheet music pages engraved with the names of distinguished artists and musicians who have performed here.

Infrastructure and additional opportunities

The MIHM premises are suitable for hosting festivals, creative evenings, presentations, conferences, forums, corporate meetings, and shows of any complexity. The complex’s infrastructure includes: — A large recording studio with a rehearsal hall — An audio-video complex with an extensive switching system developed according to European standards — An exhibition hall — The “Allegro” restaurant and a summer music café — An underground parking garage — A showroom of the German piano manufacturer Blüthner The building also houses the International Vladimir Spivakov Charitable Foundation.

Practical information for visitors

Opening hours and ticket prices

The Moscow International House of Music is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Ticket prices start from 500 rubles and depend on the specific event and selected seating.

Location and how to get there

Address: Moscow, Kosmodamianskaya Embankment, Building 52, Structure 8. Nearest metro stations are “Paveletskaya” (Circle and Radial lines) and “Taganskaya.” From “Paveletskaya” on the Circle Line, walk toward the Garden Ring along Zatsepsky Val Street to the underpass, then cross the bridge over the Vodootvodny Canal toward the Swissotel “Red Hills” hotel. For those who prefer surface transport, the following stops are convenient: — “Children’s Polyclinic No. 18” — buses 158, 632, and K (400 meters on foot) — “House of Music” — buses 106, 158, 632, B, and K (480 meters on foot) — “Bolshoy Krasnokholmsky Bridge” — buses 158 and K (610 meters on foot) — “Kozhevnicheskaya Street” — buses 13, 106, 158, 632 (720 meters on foot) — “Paveletsky Railway Station” — trams 35 and 38 (780 meters on foot) From the upper gallery foyers, magnificent views open onto the Moscow River, the ancient Novospassky Monastery, and the urban landscape, making a visit to the House of Music not only a musical but also an aesthetic pleasure.