Players have already had a chance to test out the building's acoustics. And, for music lovers and professionals, that is what it's all about.
Until now, the city's orchestras have had to make to do with Finlandia Hall, built 40 years ago a bit further down Mannerheimintie. Alvar Aalto's last major work is pretty to look at -- but has notoriously poor acoustics.
An acoustic guru
The new hall, which includes half-a-dozen venues tailor-made for various types of music, was designed with sound in mind. The man in charge was one of the world's leading acoustics experts, Japan's Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics. He is also responsible for Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall and renovation of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
Designed by LPR Architects, the complex is the new home of the Sibelius Academy as well as city's two main orchestras, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and YLE's Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Born in controversy
Planned for two decades, the building was not created without controversy. It was constructed on the site of the nineteenth-century VR railway warehouses, which had become an informal cultural centre.
In September 2000 some 8,000 protesters formed a human chain around the former building, arguing that they should be preserved or at least incorporated into the new structure. Two years later 41,000 people signed a petition calling for them to be saved.
On May Day 2006 a group of youths started a fire and a small-scale riot on the grounds. A few days later, the warehouses were badly damaged by an apparently unrelated accidental blaze.
The HMC's budget also soared beyond original estimates to around 180 million euros, at one point causing the financially-strapped YLE to consider pulling out of project.
Sopranos and screaming cellos
With all of that receding into the past, a wide-ranging opening season of concerts is planned to show off the centre's auditory charms to the public.
Performers range from soprano Karita Mattila (Sept. 7) and German conductor Kurt Masur (Sept. 16) to folk and jazz groups as well as cello-based Finnish metal band Apocalyptica (Sept. 12) and 60s Britpop group the Hollies (Sept. 26), albeit with none of the five founding members.
The festivities kicked off on August 31 with a gala opening concert, featuring soprano Soile Isokoski, the Sibelius Academy's vocal group, electronic artists James Andean and Visa Kuoppala and many others. The show culminated in a massive joint performance of Jean Sibelius's "Finlandia" by the two orchestras under the baton of conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste.
Interview with acoustic designer Yasuhisa Toyota
YLE's Music Centre preview spot