The Moscow International House of Music (MMDM) is a state budgetary cultural institution of Moscow and one of the largest philharmonic complexes in Russia and the world. It is a multifunctional cultural center aimed at developing contemporary performing arts. In the four halls of the House of Music – Svetlanovsky, Chamber, Theater and Novy daily performances of Russian and foreign symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, instrumental soloists, opera and ballet artists, theater, jazz, pop and folk groups, international forums and festivals, creative evenings and presentations, festive shows and conferences take place.
The complex is located on the Kosmodamianskaya embankment of the Moscow River. It is the main element of the large architectural ensemble “Red Hills.”
Vladimir Spivakov is the President of the Moscow International House of Music, a violinist and conductor, a People’s Artist of the USSR, a “UNESCO Artist for Peace,” and a full holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.
The House of Music is a ten-story building with a three-story stylobate and a two-story basement that goes six meters underground. The height of the building is over 46 meters and the total area of the complex is about 42,000 square meters.
The project of the complex was developed by the Association of Theater Architects LLC (architects Yu. Gnedovsky, V. Krasilnikov, D. Solopov, M. Gavrilova, S. Gnedovsky). The initial construction plan of the MIDM building included two halls for 1800 and 600 seats. Later, at the suggestion of the project’s authors, the complex was supplemented with a third theater and concert hall that could accommodate up to 524 spectators. In addition, the construction program also included a large recording studio, a restaurant (Allegro), a music store (Blüthner musical instrument showroom) and an exhibition hall.
On the dome of the building, there is an emblem depicting a treble clef 9.5 meters high and weighing more than 6 tons (author – Zurab Tsereteli).
The most complex roller mechanism allows such a heavy structure to rotate according to the principle of a weathervane. The composition is made of stainless steel, and its center – the key and the leaves – is covered with gold leaf. The weathervane was hoisted onto the roof of the building using a helicopter.
At the XI International Festival “Architecture-2003,” the building was awarded the highest professional award – Crystal Daedalus.
Working hours: daily, 10:00–21:00.
Nearest metro: Paveletskaya.
