Musikhuset Esbjerg is the city's concert and theatre hall, designed by Jørn Utzon and his son Jan and opened in 1997. The Utzon family had a long relationship with Esbjerg — Jørn's father was a naval architect in the harbour — and the building is one of the most personal in his catalogue. Two intersecting shells of weathering steel and concrete contain a 1,100-seat concert hall and a separate theatre stage; the foyer between them swoops and curls in the way only Utzon could draw.
Programming is broader than you might expect: classical concerts, opera, Danish theatre, touring jazz and rock, and a steady run of family shows during school holidays. Even if you do not catch a performance, the foyer is open during the day and the café is a pleasant spot to take in the architecture from inside. The walk from the central square is no more than ten minutes.