Ruth Ann's comeback concert
Read the Review of Ruth Ann Swenson's recital in Dayton's gorgeous Schuster Center. I can tell you, there were a few Cincinnati Opera board members there who were drooling over this beautiful new venue, home of Dayton Opera (overseen by former Cincinnatian Tom Bankston) and the venerable Dayton Philharmonic.
As a concert venue, the superb acoustics and elegant surroundings of the Schuster Center should be a source of great civic pride.
The recital concluded the Dayton Opera season. General and artistic director Thomas Bankston announced next season: Mozart's "Don Giovanni," Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" and the company’s first "Macbeth" by Verdi. The gala artist will be the phenomenal Angela Brown, who will perform arias and African-American spirituals with the Wilberforce University Choir. Information: 937-228-3630, www.daytonopera.org.
posted by Janelle Gelfand at 4:27 PM
10 Comments:
at 5/08/2007 06:56:00 PM 
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at 5/09/2007 04:58:00 PM 
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at 5/10/2007 08:32:00 PM 
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at 5/11/2007 02:20:00 PM 
Janelle Gelfand said...
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at 5/11/2007 06:36:00 PM 
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at 5/11/2007 09:07:00 PM 
Janelle Gelfand said...
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at 5/13/2007 01:34:00 PM 
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at 5/13/2007 10:13:00 PM 
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at 5/16/2007 12:16:00 AM 
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at 5/18/2007 05:08:00 PM 
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Post a Comment*I hear the bell tolling for Music Hall...
Now the Opera folks seem to lust after a newer, more contemporary space.
Very sad...
It may look great... but is it really? There are too many great looking spaces being built that acoustically leave a lot to be desired. And unfortunately, I don't think we can trust most critics to relay the real truth to the public.
What's most sad is how many people don't know that.
I've only spoken with the musicians (not the concert goers) and they love it. For the players the acoustics are very good and make life, ie.,playing, easier. I think you're right to assume that a new space is not necessarily going to be great acoustically. Most of the ones in the news lately, however seem to have been successful with the notable exception in Philly.
I have been there several times and from the audience perspective, the acoustics are terrific. But yes, many new concert halls do have problems. I've been in Miami's new Carnival Center, which I think has some dead spots. Davies Hall in SF took a long time to "tune." I haven't heard music yet in Disney Hall in LA, but I've heard nothing but praise for that.
Ladies and gentelmen... what is your definition of "good acoustics"?
I can only imagine what Memorial Hall's acoustics were like for the Dayton musicians. I have no doubt that the Schuster Center is worlds better than anything they had before.
But how does it really compare to other halls?
Janelle, you mention the Disney Hall. I have not heard anything great about that hall from musicians. The new Segerstrom Hall in Orange County is another disappointment, but not according to critics and laypeople. Verizon Hall in Philly is most definitely a big disappointment.
And then there's our beloved Music Hall, which is also quite mediocre. The CSO musicians hate playing in it. Yet I see too many people on this blog (and I suspect mostly non-musicians) becoming self-proclaimed acoustical experts, praising it, and even going so far as saying the CSO has a recording contract with Telarc only because "acoustically it has no peer."
Give me a break.
I bet Telarc will even tell you that.
It just goes to show how little the residents of this city know about anything. How can they? They've got NOTHING to compare anything to. What other halls are close by? What other orchestras come through here? And how many of you actually travel outside the Midwest to hear some of the great orchestras elsewhere?
Give me a break.
I've heard orchestras (including our own) in halls around the world, from Osaka (one of the world's best, I think) to the Musikverein, Boston, Berlin, Concertgebouw...Verizon Hall in Philly has problems, as do the newish halls in Munich and Cologne. Nagata Acoustics did Disney, and has had lots of success in Japan getting it right. (But again, jury's out for me until I hear it.)
Acoustics: The attributes of a space that affect the production, transmission and perception of music – Leo Beranek
Mr. Anonymous:
I'll be glad to give you a break. No problem.
Sarcastic people like you are the reason there are so few comments on this classical music blog!
I love Janelle's Idea for a beautiful and architecturally innovative hall next to the underground railroad museum! Think of how the Sydney Opera House is one of the national landmarks of Australia!!! We have a musical landmark in the CSO...lets give them a home of equal stature!
Tom (which is just as anonymous as "Anonymous"):
If you've got something to actually argue, then put it out there. Otherwise, I am stating my own opinions which is what commenting on a blog is supposed to be for.
Music Hall is already a fabulous landmark and a home for the CSO... Please, let's stop looking for reasons for the Opera and/or CSO to leave it.
The world has enough chrome and glass throw-away buildings.
Let's appreciate and enjoy and revere Music Hall by keeping it as home to our revered performaing arts organizations.
And to "give me a break" man: you are a schmuck.
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