It is located in the town of Erl, primarily known for its Passion Mysteries, which have been held there since the early 17th century. In 1957–1959 a special hall was built for them - the Pasjonspielhaus (architect R. Schuller), which is distinguished by its unique acoustics. However, it was empty almost all year round, as the Mysteries are only held on Good Friday, until in 1997 the conductor Gustav Kuhn founded the Tyrolean Music Festival in Erle.
The scale of these performances required larger areas, so a Festival Hall has now been built next to the Pasionspielhaus building. The black color of its walls and the "tectonic layers" of the volume contrast with the light facades and the streamlined shape of the Schuller building. Two buildings against the backdrop of wooded mountains seem to perform an avant-garde dance.
The building of the architects "Delugan Meissl" (total area of 10 thousand m2) contains a spacious foyer and an auditorium for 732 permanent and 130 additional seats. The official opening is scheduled for December 26, 2012 - the start of the Winter Festival, which takes place when most of Europe's opera houses are closed. In between festivals, the hall will be used as an educational and rehearsal center for performers and professionals from all opera related professions.
N. F.
