The Romanian Athenaeum is the symbol of the city as far back as its 1888 inauguration. The work of French architect Albert Galleron, who also designed the National Bank of Romania, the building was inaugurated on February 26, 1888, and was built almost entirely with money donated by ordinary citizens of the capital, when a campaign called 'Give a penny for the Athenaeum' rescued the project from folly after the original patrons ran out of funds.The first concert of the Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra took place on March 5, 1889, under the Athenaeum’s dome. Between the two Wars, the hall was embellished with a superb fresco, and at George Enescu's suggestion, was endowed with an organ.
Romanian Athenaeum is situated in Revolution Plaza (on Bd. Calea Victoriei). With its sublime baroque cupola, it stands proudly at the flux of the city's busiest public square, competing with the Athenee Palace Hilton hotel, the Royal Palace and the old National Library.
Romanian Athenaeums is the place to hear classical music; the resident orchestra is the George Enescu Philharmonic. The auditorium can seat 1,000 spectators comfortably, and is renowned worldwide for its outstanding acoustics.
