Heichal HaTarbut


Heichal HaTarbut, also known in English as the Culture Palace, officially the Charles Bronfman Auditorium, until 2013 the Fredric R. Mann Auditorium, is the lagest concert hall in Tel Aviv, Israel, and home to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

History

Heichal HaTarbut, originally named the Mann Auditorium, opened in 1957 at Habima Square. The building was designed by Dov Karmi, Zeev Rechter and Yaakov Rechter. Leonard Bernstein conducted the inaugural concert, with the Israel Philharmonic and pianist Arthur Rubinstein as a soloist.
Until 2013, the hall was officially known as Fredric R. Mann Auditorium, bearing the name of the donor. Renovations under the supervision of Israeli architect Ofer Kolker were undertaken from 2011-2013. The new acoustics were designed Japanese Yasuhisa Toyota.
Heichal HaTarbut reopened in May 2013 with a performance of Gustav Mahler's 5th Symphony by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under its Music Director Zubin Mehta.
The hall is now officially called Charles Bronfman Auditorium' after Canadian-American businessman and philanthropist Charles Bronfman.