ERSO director Kristjan Hallik said that the Estonia Concert Hall is too small for ERSO. Even the planned extension to Estonia would not solve the problem, as the opera house fills the building with its activities.
Tallinn Mayor Peeter Raudsepp proposed the idea of demolishing Tallinn Linnahall and building a new structure in its place. Hallik said that ERSO and the Philharmonic Chamber Choir need a new hall with proper acoustics.
The Estonia Concert Hall does not meet modern requirements for symphonic music. The hall is too small both in terms of stage and acoustics. Additionally, there are issues with stage audibility and noise. Rehearsal rooms are also too small.
A new hall would help the orchestra develop its sound and improve audience comfort. It could become Estonia's flagship building and a cultural hub for city dwellers and tourists.
ERSO and the Philharmonic Chamber Choir have been working on the project for a new concert hall for years. The current spaces do not meet professional requirements. There is a low ceiling, unsuitable acoustics, and excessive humidity.
One possible solution is to use part of the ice hall at Tallinn Linnahall. It is large enough to accommodate both the hall and rehearsal and work spaces.
The new hall would allow for better performance of large-scale works and organizing various concerts. It would also support experimentation with new concert formats and the creation of new programs. A larger hall would also enable collaboration with top-level conductors and soloists.
Modern rehearsal spaces and backstage conditions are essential for both the orchestra and instrument preservation. Better conditions would help young musicians return to Estonia to work.
Estonia is in a similar situation to Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. In these countries, there are good concert halls outside the capital, but the capital lacks a hall that meets modern requirements. In Warsaw, Vilnius, and Riga, the construction of new halls is underway.
Hallik said that the lack of a modern hall hinders the development of ERSO and the Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Although the Estonian National Opera desires an extension, it would not solve the space issues for ERSO and the choir, as opera houses fill their buildings with their activities.