A new state-of-the-art recording centre and augmented reality studio was unveiled at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall. The facility, presented by Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, enables technicians to record and control live performances in real time using advanced equipment, without requiring large orchestras to relocate to external studios.
The new centre aims to enhance the city's capacity for music production and attract major artistic projects. The studio features specially designed spaces for setting up a chamber orchestra, as well as a separate room for percussion instruments, while the recording equipment, from the central console to microphones and speakers, represents the latest generation of professional technology in a significant investment in cultural infrastructure in the region.
Officials say the studio is unique in northern Greece and could help position Thessaloniki as a regional hub for music production. According to Mendoni, "Thessaloniki, through the Concert Hall, acquires an extremely important space," adding that the recording and augmented reality centres "give a new dimension to the many possibilities of the city and the Concert Hall."
"The aim is its full utilisation by the wider region, not only of our country but also of the Balkan states," she said, noting that the new infrastructure could also prove financially beneficial for the venue. Further upgrades to the concert hall are planned, including a €2 million investment from the culture ministry to restore heating and cooling systems.
The artistic director of the Thessaloniki Concert Hall said the new recording centre, funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility with a total cost of €1.5 million, will boost contemporary artistic creation and strengthen the international profile of Thessaloniki, the Balkans and South-Eastern Europe.
Officials highlighted its cutting-edge technology and role in the digital transformation of culture, alongside collaboration with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The centre was inaugurated with a recital by internationally acclaimed baritone Dimitris Platanias and pianist Sofia Tambakopoulou, the first event recorded in the new facilities.
