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Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall has been the centre of music and cultural life in Zagreb and Croatia for more than 45 years. It was the first concert venue in the country after the building of the Croatian Music Institute, which opened in 1876. Alongside the existing editions and relevant papers about the Lisinski Hall, this article presents a historical overview of the concert venues in Zagreb in comparison with the development of musical life in former Yugoslavia and other countries. Building on the existing literature, periodical articles and especially archival sources, the article also chronologically traces the process of the building's construction, from the initial concept and the selection of the location through the Conceptual Design Competition for the Croatia heritage foundation in 1957, to the choosing of the hall's name and the two-day gala opening on December 29 and 30, 1973. Finally, a contemporary perspective on the Lisinski Hall is presented and its significance for the musical and cultural life in Zagreb and Croatia addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]