State Academic Philharmonic, Yekaterinburg (must see)

Sverdlovsk State Academic Philharmonic was founded in 1936 to develop professional classical music in the Ural region. It grew out of the Sverdlovsk Radio Committee Orchestra and introduced a regular system of symphonic and chamber concerts. From its early years, it became the main center for academic music in the region, combining performances with education and outreach.

The main concert hall occupies a building constructed in 1915–1917 as the Civic Assembly Building. It was originally intended as a club for merchants and industrialists and was later adapted for concert use, keeping its role as a public cultural space.

The Philharmonic is home to several permanent ensembles, including the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, the Yekaterinburg Philharmonic Choir, and the Ural Youth Symphony Orchestra. Their repertoire includes works by composers such as Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, as well as music of the 20th and 21st centuries, with regular commissions and attention to contemporary composers.

Today, the Philharmonic presents concerts throughout the year and reaches remote audiences through its Digital Concert Hall, which broadcasts live performances across the Sverdlovsk region. It hosts major events such as the Eurasian Music Festival and the Russian edition of La Folle Journée, while educational programs, including the Sverdlovsk State Children’s Philharmonic Society, introduce classical music to students and new listeners. From 2018 to 2025, the institution has also been linked to an expansion project by Zaha Hadid Architects, planning a new concert hall next to the historic building.