One of the finest concert halls in Europe, opened in 1991 and consistently rated among the best acoustic venues in the world. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which rose to international prominence under Simon Rattle's directorship in the 1980s and 1990s, is the resident orchestra. Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla held the position from 2016, maintaining the CBSO's reputation as one of Britain's finest regional orchestras.
The hall seats around 2,200 and the acoustic design — with adjustable elements that can be tuned for different types of music — allows it to handle everything from full orchestral programmes to chamber music and organ recitals. The organ itself, built by Glyndebourne and Klais, is one of the finest modern concert organs in Britain. Visiting the hall as an audience member is the obvious approach, but guided tours of the building are also available.