Miami is an ascending hotbed of culture. Another haute locale to add on to the list of reasons why this is so: New World Symphony’s new Frank Gehry-designed campus and concert hall is set for its first season next year. The $200 million-dollar project, proclaimed as, “brilliance in the making,” has caused the world to stop and take notice and will continue to do so come February 2011.
Its grand opening performance, scheduled for February 5-6, 2011, will consist of the New World Symphony under award-winning conductor, pianist, composer and NWS Founder Michael Tilson Thomas. They’ll be presenting From the Steeples and the Mountains and The Unanswered Question by Charles Ives, Robert Schumann‘s Symphony No. 1 (Spring) and, with guest violinist Christian Tetzlaff, Bela Bartók‘s Violin Concerto No. 2.
The new campus will be inaugurated with a small series of events in January, with the lineup including 22 free performances and presentations and six concerts at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The last event at the Lincoln Theatre, which has been its longtime home, will take place December 18-19 with pianist Orli Shaham and guest conductor David Robertson, artistic director of the Saint Louis Symphony.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of this brilliant project. In a print edition of Haute Living magazine, we covered the project when details were first released in 2008, describing the project as a first in Florida for Pritzker Prize-Winning Frank Gehry. He is globally recognized for his architectural works such as the titanium-covered Guggenheim Museum in Balboa, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
“WhenThe new Miami campus is sure to inspire, as is the NWS fellows. NWS is a three year fellowship program comprising of the most talented musicians to prepare them for full time positions in the world’s top orchestras. This is one of the reasons Miami is considered a cultural landmark. And having such distinguished persons considering Miami their home, they deserve nothing but the best. Bravo, City of Miami Beach, for recognizing this.
For those looking to attend a Saturday night soiree, don’t miss this weekend’s “Symphony with a Splash,” which starts at 6:30 on April 3 with mojitos and wine, in preparation for the 7:30 performance (comp for VIP members of Friends of New World Symphony, $40 for non-members). Volume 7 of Symphony After Hours will take place at The Penthouse at Marquis Residences.
Source The Miami Herald
