The cannon sound of the Arsenal de Metz
A “violin”, a Romanesque basilica, a “temple”: this is what the lucky ones discovered on February 26, 1989 – a Sunday – at the inaugural high mass of the Arsenal in Metz. When THE cellist Mstislav Rostropovitch sounded the first notes of the Concerto in C by Haydn, the case was settled: one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world had just been created in the Lorraine city. It will also be ranked in 2010 in the top twenty of the planet. The Orchester philharmonique de Lorraine (this is what the current Orchester national de Metz – Grand Est was then called), conducted by Jacques Houtmann, won the jackpot, and so did the city of Metz! On the guestbook, Rostropovitch wrote (in French): “I am very anxious to write the first page of the guestbook, as I had while playing today to inaugurate this beautiful room with golden sound! with all my heart. »
For the realization of his first concert hall, the famous Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill, in close collaboration with the Metz firm GHA Architectes, had struck a blow. And then, the transformation of an old cannon factory into a peaceful universe for so-called “acoustic” music, what a symbol!
A standard value
Thirty-four years later, everyone agrees that Arsenal are “aging well”. An intelligent program, memorable concerts of classical and contemporary music, jazz, world music, dance; artists and creators in residence; exhibitions ; private and public events: the success of the room, now within the Cité Musicale, is undeniable.
In terms of acoustics, the Arsenal has become a kind of standard in Europe and many record companies are not mistaken when they come to make their recordings there.
