The Maison du Concert aux Cordeliers no longer exists today

The concert house, also known as the Concert Hotel, which you see in the photo behind the Meridian column and just in front Basilica of Saint Bonaventure at the Cordeliers, had several uses over time.

 Originally built in 1724, it included a large auditorium, which was the main space dedicated to music. This room occupied the entire height of the building and was preceded by a square vestibule. Above the vestibule was the music master's quarters. In addition, two rooms behind the room served other purposes: one was used as a library and the other as a foyer for the artists.

Over the years, this house has had different functions.

  • In 1759, one of the rooms hosted classes at the Free School of Practical Geometry.
  • In 1774, it was used by the surgeons of Lyon for their public and private meetings.
  • Later, before 1787, lodgings for the King's officers were installed there, as well as the lodgings of the controller of the bourgeois militia.
  • In 1787, it became the seat of the sessions of the Intermediate Commission of the Provincial Assembly of the Generality of Lyon.

Despite the changes in use, the concert house has always retained part of its original vocation linked to music. Indeed, even when the District Council rented the building and considered removing the organ from the concert hall, the municipality refused this request, thus expressing its hope that the building could return to its original function.

Major urban planning works of the Second Empire; opening of the Rue Impériale and construction of the Palais du Commerce and the Bourse
The House before its destruction

After the revolutionary period, the Hôtel du Concert was converted into a residential building before finally being demolished in 1856 during the transformation of the Place des Cordeliers.

Mozart played in this house 

Texts mention a concert in Lyon dating from Wednesday August 13, 1766, where the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, aged nine, was announced as a composer and music master, performing several solo harpsichord pieces. The evening's programme also included works by other composers such as Bury and Rameau. Also notable were the performers at the event, including Mme Charpentier and Jean Lobreau.

Apart from this event, few details are available about Mozart's activities during his stay in Lyon. It seems that he visited the city's shops and met a few people during his four-week stay. A letter dated 16 August 1766 suggests that Mozart and his family took advantage of their stay to buy new clothes and explore the city.

Place des Cordeliers, created by Louis Lumière (1895).

Share this article:

Related articles

This Headline Grabs Visitors' Attention

A short description introducing your business and the services to visitors.
en_GB

Pierre Bossan

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.