In the middle of the 19th century the call for a permanent professional orchestra became louder and louder in Zurich.

The British Consul Daniel Barton (1850-1907), who has lived in Geneva since his youth, enjoyed music passionately. In 1883 he founded a Symphony orchestra and, in honour of his Queen Victoria, built the concert hall designed by the Geneva architect John Camoletti in the classic and Renaissance style...

La salle Smetana, située au centre et accessible depuis le foyer du premier étage, représente la plus grande zone de la Maison municipale. Le nom de la salle de concert est un hommage rendu par Prague au créateur de la musique tchèque moderne – Bedřich Smetana.