New Monograph Explores Music and Architecture Across Europe, 1672–2022

Music and Architecture in Harmony, a new monograph by Michael Webb and Thomas Aujero Small, will be released on October 19 through ORO Editions. Subtitled Opera Houses and Concert Halls of Europe, 1672–2022, the book examines the relationship between opera, aristocracy, and architecture over three and a half centuries. It features ninety halls, from the Baroque Markgräfliches Opernhaus in Bayreuth to modern landmarks such as Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and Snøhetta’s Oslo Opera House. Webb, a Wallpaper* contributor, analyzes how performance modes, taste, and technology have shaped concert hall design, while also addressing acoustics through interviews with Yasuhisa Toyota. Small, a music impresario and writer for ConcertoNet, collaborated with Webb on European travels to research the venues. Nearly 200 images capture the scale and grandeur of the spaces. The book is arranged chronologically and highlights musical capitals Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Prague, and London, offering histories of artistic directors, orchestras, opera companies, and festivals. It serves as a bucket list for performance venue enthusiasts.