The Gasteig is a currently closed cultural center in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

, opened in 1985, which hosts the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. The Richard Strauss Conservatory, the Volkshochschule, and the municipal library are all located in the Gasteig. Most of the events of the Filmfest München, and many of the events of the Munich Biennale take place here. As of 2025, the Gasteig is closed and planned to undergo major renovation and reconstruction until at least 2035. A provisional venue for many of its functions is Gasteig HP8.

History

The estate behind the Gasteig was until its demolition in 1979 the location of the Bürgerbräukeller, stage for the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch and the 1939 Hitler assassination attempt by Georg Elser.
memorial plaque
for Elser i
located
outside the GEMA building. A
illuminated information board
in the passage next to the Glashalle describes the historical context for the memorial plaque.

Venue

* Philharmonie, 2,387 seats, with a Klais Organ * Carl-Orff-Saal, 528–598 seats * Black Box, 120–225 seats * Kleiner Konzertsaal (small concert hall), 191 seats The Philharmonic Hall, opening like a great wood-panelled seashell, has an intimate atmosphere but poor acoustic qualities. The smaller hall "Kleiner Konzertsaal" offers slightly better acoustics for

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...

. The Gasteig comprises the Carl Orff Hall with a stage for drama, the Richard Strauss Conservatory, the Black Box studio theatre, the Münchner Volkshochschule (Adult Education Centre) for further education, various cafés and shops, e.g. the 'Pappnase' (cardboard nose) offering a selection of dramatic requisites, and the central branch of the Municipal Library with its extensive stock of books and periodicals. When famed conductor Leonard Bernstein was asked on his opinion of the hall, he remarked, "Burn it."
Controversy over Munich's new planned hall

References

External links

Official website
(in German) Music in Munich Music venues in Germany Tourist attractions in Munich Buildings and structures in Munich Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Munich Philharmonic {{Bavaria-struct-stub