Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall (EGH), one of Canada’s renowned premium recital halls, celebrates 20 years at The University of Winnipeg. Located in Centennial Hall, EGH opened in January 1993 and is home to UWinnipeg’s Virtuosi Concert series, the Agassiz International Chamber Music Festival, as well as numerous prominent lectures and symposia.
The hall was created by the late Dr. Ferdinand Eckhardt, who frequently attended UWinnipeg’s Music at Noon classical music concert series in the 1980s. Eckhardt made a generous donation of $600,000 through his Eckhardt-Gramatté Foundation, the largest single donation to the University at that time. He dedicated the hall to his wife, Sophie Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté, who was a musician and composer.
EGH contains a Steinway concert grand piano originally selected by John Steinway and pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy for the opening of Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall in 1982. Legendary pianist Claudio Arrau performed on the Steinway at the inaugural recital and inscribed the piano with his signature.
In 1993, pianist Antonin Kubalek recommended EGH acquire the piano, which has resided in EGH ever since. The Steinway was completely restored and is now lovingly maintained by Steinway technician Fred Redekop.
UWinnipeg also had the good fortune to add the new Eckhardt-Gramatté Library this past December. This unique collection contains the professional and personal library of Eckhart, Sophie Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté, and the German Expressionist painter Walter Gramatté. This notable collection valued at $185,000 and housed in Bryce Hall, was also donated to UWinnipeg by the Eckhardt-Gramatté Foundation.
The Eckhardt-Gramatté Foundation is a charitable organization established in 1982 by Dr. Ferdinand Eckhardt, former director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery, in memory and honor of his late wife, the composer and musician Sophie Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté, and her first husband, German Expressionist Walter Gramatté. The Eckhardt-Gramatté Foundation works to advance public appreciation and understanding of their musical and artistic works. For more information visit www.egre.mb.ca/egf/index.html
