[1] The foundation stone for the theater was laid 3 September 1894, a day after the centennial of the founding of Odesa.

[5][6] The interior is paneled with dark Lebanese cedar, and the windows are set in white Carrara marble.

[9][10] It is an enduring myth that everyone in the city knows (and continues to promulgate) that since the building was originally designed as a Stock exchange rather than a concert hall it was made to be sound-resistant, rather than sound-conducting, in order to provide more privacy to visitors.

[11] This supposedly explains why the acoustics are rather poor, as compared with other theaters and concert halls, and performers must use microphones and amplifiers to be heard adequately.

The precise and technical reasons for the acoustic problems at the hall were reported by world famous acoustics consultant Russell Johnson, the specifics of which can be found on the Philharmonic's website (https://web.archive.org/web/20180530074859/http://www.odessaphilharmonic.org/pages.php?page=conc) ...a handsome building of oriental architecture [it] is a center of activity.