THALIA HALL

Starting October 7, 2004, Thalia Hall is the new location of the State Philharmonic of Sibiu. Thalia is a cultural edifice of national importance. In 1990, after the fire of 1826 and 1949, the County Council of Sibiu started the reconstruction of the hall, which was finished in May, 2004. The first concert took place on May 29, 2004.

HISTORY

Thalia Hall was built in 1787 by Martin Hochmeister, the founder of the first book-store in our country. The construction was a true architectural wonder with two balconies and a loge for the Governor of Transylvania. Today, the main function of the hall is to serve music, as opposed to its initial purpose which was hosting theatre representations.
Lacking the necessary space in the center of town, the theatre was built in the Thick Tower of the defense belt of the town.
The construction was ready within one year, offering the opportunity for the first performance to take place in June 1788, and thus becoming the first theatre in the country and one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Throughout the years, many of the famous names of the Romanian culture such as George Enescu or Mihai Eminescu stepped on stage at Thalia. Our national poet acted as prompter in a play performed by Mihai Pascaly’s company during “an artistic and national propaganda trip in Transylvania” in 1867.
It was the first play ever to be performed in Romanian. The company did not pay for the location because they offered free performances to the poor of the town. It was said then in the press that the performances were sold out and that the town officials were present at some of the shows, as well as people from the Romanian villages around Sibiu.
THE FIRES
The first fire took place in 1826 and Hochmeister, himself, repaired the damages. However, the second one, caused on February 13, 1949 by a lit cigarette, was more powerful and the activity of the theatre had to be moved to the building of the former cinema Apollo, where “Radu Stanca” Theatre is located today.