About this place
Auditorio Alfredo Kraus is a concert hall in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, widely regarded as one of the most distinctive buildings in the island's capital. It stands right at the end of Las Canteras beach, exactly where the city meets the Atlantic Ocean, and its bold, sculptural shape catches the eye of anyone walking along the seafront promenade.
Who designed the auditorium and when was it built?
The building was designed by Spanish architect Óscar Tusquets. Construction ran from 1993 to 1997, and the hall officially opened on 5 December 1997. Tusquets envisioned the structure as a kind of lighthouse, standing guard over Las Canteras beach against the force of the ocean. That idea explains the auditorium's heavy, fortress-like silhouette, so different from the boxy shapes of most traditional concert halls.
Where does the name come from?
The venue is named after Alfredo Kraus, a tenor born on Gran Canaria and one of the most celebrated Spanish opera singers of the twentieth century. Naming the hall after him was a way for the island to pay tribute to his artistic legacy and to thank him for a career that brought him to the world's leading opera stages.
What can visitors see from inside the concert hall?
The auditorium's signature feature is an enormous window of around 100 square metres, set into the main hall behind the stage where the orchestra performs. It gives the audience an open view of the Atlantic Ocean while the music plays, a rare combination of live performance and natural seascape that sets this hall apart from most European concert venues, which usually shut performers and listeners off from the outside world.
Why is it worth seeing even without a concert ticket?
The building itself, rising above the shoreline of Las Canteras beach, is one of the visual landmarks of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. A stroll along the promenade naturally leads visitors toward the auditorium, which works as both a landmark and a resting point while exploring the city's seafront, whether or not a performance is taking place inside.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus? Spanish architect Óscar Tusquets designed the building, which was constructed between 1993 and 1997.
Why is the auditorium named after Alfredo Kraus? The name honours Alfredo Kraus, a tenor born on Gran Canaria, as a tribute to his artistic achievements.
What was the architectural idea behind the building? Tusquets designed it to resemble a lighthouse symbolically protecting Las Canteras beach.
What is the main highlight inside the concert hall? A huge window of nearly 100 square metres behind the orchestra, offering a view of the Atlantic Ocean during performances.
When did the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus open? It officially opened on 5 December 1997.
Where exactly is the auditorium located? It sits by Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, right where the city meets the ocean.
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