The work of French architect Albert Galleron, who also designed the National Bank of Romania, the Romanian Athenaeum was inaugurated on Feb. 26, 1888, and it was built almost entirely with money donated by ordinary citizens, when a campaign called 'Give a penny for the Athenaeum' rescued the project after the original patrons ran out of funds. The first concert of the Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra took place on Mar. 5, 1889, under the Athenaeum’s dome. Between the two Wars, the hall was embellished with a superb fresco, and at George Enescu's suggestion, was endowed with an organ. Romanian Athenaeum is situated in Revolution Plaza (on Bd. Calea Victoriei). With its sublime baroque cupola, it stands proudly at the flux of the city's busiest public square, competing with the Athenee Palace Hilton hotel, the Royal Palace and the old National Library. The auditorium can seat 1,000 spectators comfortably, and is renowned worldwide for its outstanding acoustics.