A place where the architectural avant-garde of the early 20th century and the chamber music tradition came together in an amazing way. The hall was opened in 1929 on the initiative of the famous French pianist and teacher Alfred Cortot, who sought to create a space ideally suited for chamber music and educational concerts by the associated École Normale de Musique de Paris. The design of the building was entrusted to the outstanding architect Auguste Perret, who created a rather austere space with expressive geometry and thoughtful acoustics. The interior combines elements of Art Deco and constructive rigor, and decorative reliefs and sculptural details emphasize the musical purpose of the hall, creating a sense of a temple of art without excessive pomp. The Salle Cortot seats approximately four hundred people, making it ideal for chamber ensembles, solo piano evenings and vocal concerts, and its acoustics are considered one of the best in Paris for the chamber repertoire due to its thoughtful proportions and the use of reflective surfaces. So that acoustic waves rise freely and gently reflect off surfaces without losing clarity or creating excessive echoes. The clear geometry and the absence of unnecessary ornaments ensures the purity of reflections and an even distribution of sound throughout the hall, so that each listener finds himself in an acoustically privileged position. Rationality here is manifested in the precise calculation of the proportions of the stage and visual space, in the balance between the depth and height of the volume, in the thoughtful configuration of balconies and walls that work as natural resonators, and expressiveness arises from the structure itself — from the light falling from above and emphasizing the relief of structures. Wood was introduced into the interior as a material capable of softening the sound and giving the space a warmth that "bare" concrete lacks; wall panels, balcony trim, stage elements and chairs form a kind of acoustic shell, where wood acts as a natural resonator, absorbing excessive high frequencies and at the same time maintaining the saturation of the middle register, especially important for chamber music and the piano repertoire. Salle Cortot was originally created as a place for the formation of the musical elite, where students could hear the masters in close proximity, perfecting the tradition of interpretation.

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