Massey Hall facts for kids
Massey Hall in August 2017
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| Address | 178 Victoria Street |
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| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°39′15″N 79°22′44.50″W / 43.65417°N 79.3790278°W |
| Owner | The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Capacity | 2,752 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | July 14, 1894 |
| Years active | 1894–present |
| Architect | Sidney Badgley |
| Website | |
| Official name: Massey Hall National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | June 15, 1981 |
| Type: | Municipally-designated |
| Designated: | 1975 |
Massey Hall is a famous place for live shows in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is a concert hall where people enjoy music and other performances. It first opened its doors in 1894.
Massey Hall is known for its amazing sound quality. For many years, it was home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. When it first opened, it could hold 3,500 people. After big changes in 1933, the number of seats became 2,765.
Many of the most famous artists from the past and present have performed here. They play all kinds of music. Massey Hall was a gift to Toronto from a businessman named Hart Massey. It became a National Historic Site of Canada on June 15, 1981.
The hall closed in July 2018 for a big update and repair project. This project added a new seven-story building. It includes a new studio and another concert space called the Allied Music Centre. Massey Hall reopened in 2021. The main hall now has 2,550 seats. The Allied Music Centre can hold 500 people.
A non-profit group called The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall runs the venue. It is in downtown Toronto, at Shuter and Victoria Streets.
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History of Massey Hall
The idea for Massey Hall started with Hart Massey. He wanted to build a place where people could enjoy music together. He especially wanted a place for choral music that was not religious. Mr. Massey also built the hall to remember his son Charles, who loved music very much.
Hart Massey did not want the hall to make a lot of money. He wanted everyone, rich or poor, to be able to attend events. He hoped that tickets for a whole season of shows would cost only $1.
Building Design and Features
The building looks like an old Greek or Roman temple from the outside. This style is called Palladian architecture. Inside, it has beautiful arches that look like those in the Alhambra Palace in Spain. This inside style is called Moorish Revival architecture.
Hart Massey's daughter, Lillian, liked the classical look for the outside. Around the top of the hall, there are thirty stained glass windows. Each window shows a famous composer. These windows were made by the Faircloth Brothers glass company. The front entrance area, called the foyer, has an Art Deco style.
Architect Sidney Badgley designed Massey Hall. It was finished in 1894. The cost was about $152,390.75. Mr. Massey, who started the Massey Manufacturing company, paid for the building. The first concert was a choir performance on June 14, 1894. They sang Handel's 'Messiah'.
After a big fire in Toronto in 1904, fire escape staircases were added to the front of the building. These stairs were a well-known part of Massey Hall for many years. They have since been removed. Some windows at the front were also changed into doors. The front doors were painted red, and a large neon sign was put above the main entrance.
In 1917, a building next door was added for staff. Later, it became space for performers backstage. This building was taken down during recent renovations. In 1933, the hall was updated again, and its name became simply Massey Hall. More updates happened in the 1940s.
Roy Thomson Hall Connection
Another concert hall, Roy Thomson Hall, was planned to be called New Massey Hall. It was meant to be the main place for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. However, Massey Hall was always planned to stay open for other shows. Roy Thomson Hall got its permanent name in 1982. This was after a large gift from a generous person named Roy Thomson.
Centuries Bar and Renovations
In 1994, for the hall's 100th birthday, the basement was updated. A bar area called Centuries was added. Before this, alcohol was not allowed in the hall. Centuries has many photos of artists who have performed there. Many of these photos are signed. It can hold 220 people and often hosts parties after shows. Later, another bar was added in the balcony area.
In 2013, Massey Hall started a big renovation project. This included taking down the old building next door. In July 2018, the second part of the renovation began. This project was called "Massey Hall Forever." It included major updates to the outside and inside of the hall. The stage was made bigger, and new seating was added that can be moved.
A new seven-story building was also added. It has two smaller concert rooms. This new part is called the Allied Music Centre. It has spaces for artists to work, a studio, and a lounge. It was finished in 2022.
Historic Designations
In 1973, the city of Toronto named Massey Hall a Heritage Property. This means it is a special building that needs to be protected. On June 15, 1981, Massey Hall was also named a National Historic Site of Canada.
Famous Performers and Events
Massey Hall is mostly used for music concerts. But it has also hosted many other types of events. These include public memorials, talks, and even boxing matches. Many important people have visited the hall since it opened. In 1901, the future King George V and Queen Mary visited. The Canadian Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier was also there.
Many famous choirs, comedians, musicians, and speakers have performed at Massey Hall. Before television became popular, the hall was also a key place for political speeches.
Musical Greats
Until 1984, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra was the main group performing at the hall. The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir also performed there often.
Famous opera singers who have performed include Montserrat Caballe and Luciano Pavarotti. Classical musicians like George Gershwin and Glenn Gould have also played there.
Many popular music stars have graced the stage. These include Joni Mitchell, Justin Bieber, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Rush, Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Harry Styles, and Kiss.
Gordon Lightfoot played at Massey Hall more than any other artist. He performed over 170 times. He played the last show before it closed for renovations in 2018. He also played the first show after it reopened in 2021.
Speakers and Comics
Famous speakers at the hall include Winston Churchill and Helen Keller. The Dalai Lama has also spoken there. Comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Russell Peters have made audiences laugh at Massey Hall.
Notable Concerts and Recordings
In May 1953, a very important jazz concert took place at Massey Hall. Five famous jazz artists performed: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach. Their performance was recorded and released as an album called Jazz at Massey Hall.
Neil Young's concert on January 19, 1971, was also recorded. It was later released as a live album, Live at Massey Hall 1971. Neil Young has performed at Massey Hall many times since then.
In June 1976, the band Rush recorded their live album All the World's a Stage here.
On January 8, 1995, Ronnie Hawkins celebrated his 60th birthday with a concert at Massey Hall. This concert was recorded for an album called Let It Rock. Many famous musicians joined him on stage.
A performance by Matthew Good in May 2008 was released as Live at Massey Hall.
In 2013, the band Whitehorse played at the venue for the first time. They released an album called The Road to Massey Hall. It had songs by other musicians who had played there before.
In 2015, the Canadian band Spirit of the West performed at Massey. A movie called Spirit Unforgettable was made about their preparations.
Comedian Russell Peters recorded his Netflix special Almost Famous at Massey Hall in April 2016.
For the Juno Awards of 2021, the band the Tragically Hip performed with Feist. This was their first TV performance since their singer, Gord Downie, passed away.
On February 29, 2024, singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith had a special concert at the hall. It was to celebrate his sixtieth birthday.
Revitalization Project
In 2013, the group that runs Massey Hall announced a big project. They planned to close the hall for a while to make it better. The building was 119 years old at the time. The project had two main parts. It aimed to bring back some of the building's old beauty. It also added new spaces to help the community.
Phase One of Renovations
The first part of the Massey Hall Restoration started in 2013. It was finished in 2017. This phase involved taking down the building next door. This cleared the way for a new tower that would be built in Phase Two.
Phase Two of Renovations
The second and main part of the renovation was a very large project. It cost about $113 million. The governments of Ontario and Canada helped pay for it. This phase finished in 2022. However, Massey Hall opened for shows again in November 2021.
Full Restoration Details
The inside of Massey Hall was updated with new technology. They added seats that can be moved. This allows for standing areas during some shows. The sound and lighting systems were also made much better. These changes allow for more types of performances. The sound was improved by adding special plaster to stop echoes.
The updates also brought back the original look of the building's interior. It has a mix of Moorish, Palladian, and Art Deco styles. Workers made sure the building was strong and safe. They repaired old wood and steel beams. They also fixed details and made new plaster molds where needed. The ceiling used to be covered to protect people from falling debris. Now, audiences can see the beautiful, repaired ceiling. The original brass railings were kept, and new seats were added that look like the old ones.
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The renovation also fixed 100 original stained-glass windows. These windows had been covered since the 1950s because of noise. Now, they have special shades to block sound during concerts. The hall was also updated to be more accessible for everyone. This included adding an elevator and walkways to connect different parts of the building. The main stage was rebuilt and raised. This gives people in the upper seats a better view. New backstage areas for artists were also created.
Allied Music Centre
The new seven-story glass building is called the Allied Music Centre. It was built to add more support spaces for the hall. You can reach it through outdoor walkways. This new building has practice rooms, a performance studio, a lounge, and new washrooms. It also has dressing rooms for performers and a loading area for equipment.
On the fourth floor is the new 500-seat TD Music Centre. The basement has a bar with another performance space. The new glass walkways connect the old brick hall to the modern new building. This creates a cool mix of old and new styles. This new facility is designed for the community, helping artists grow, and outreach programs.
Architects of the Project
The two-part renovation of Massey Hall was led by Marianne McKenna from KPMB Architects and Christopher Borgal from GBCA Architects. KPMB focused on the building's design and interior. GBCA focused on keeping the building's historic look and feel. The total cost for the project was about $184 million.
Getting There by Public Transportation
You can get to Massey Hall using public transit. An entrance to Queen subway station is nearby. It is at the corner of Shuter Street and Yonge Street.
The 501 Queen streetcar also stops close by. It stops at the corner of Victoria Street and Queen Street.
See also
In Spanish: Massey Hall para niños
- List of music venues in Toronto
