Massey Hall

Massey Hall
Massey Hall in August 2017
Address178 Victoria Street
LocationToronto, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates43°39′15″N 79°22′44.50″W / 43.65417°N 79.3790278°W / 43.65417; -79.3790278
OwnerThe Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall
TypeConcert hall
Capacity2,752
Construction
OpenedJuly 14, 1894 (1894-07-14)
Years active1894–present
ArchitectSidney Badgley
Website
masseyhall.com
Official nameMassey Hall National Historic Site of Canada
DesignatedJune 15, 1981 (1981-06-15)
TypeMunicipally-designated
Designated1975 (1975)

Massey Hall is a performing arts auditorium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1894, it is known for its outstanding acoustics and was the long-time hall of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Although originally designed to seat 3,500 patrons, after extensive renovations in 1933 the capacity was reduced to 2,765. Its extensive history includes concerts by many of the most famous artists of the past century and more, across many musical genres, which is a pattern that continues to the present day.

Massey Hall was a gift to the people of Toronto from industrialist Hart Massey. Massey Hall was designated a National Historic Site of Canada on June 15, 1981. The hall closed in July 2018 for a two-year-long renovation and restoration. The project includes a new seven-storey addition incorporating a performance studio and a new concert space, the Allied Music Centre. Massey Hall's re-opening was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic until 2021. The seating capacity of the main hall is currently 2550, and of the Allied Music Centre 500.

It is operated by The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, a non-profit charitable organization. It is located at the intersection of Shuter and Victoria Streets, just east of Yonge Street, in downtown Toronto.