Built in 1978, Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall was hailed at its opening as a triumph of architecture and acoustics. “Now, not quite 30 years later, the interior of the 2,700-seat, city-owned facility will become the target of a wrecking ball if voters approve November ballot questions… So what changed? How did a place that had captured the imagination of a city and a nation become a candidate for the scrap heap?”
Tag: 10.06.07
Why Just Hope When You Can Lobby?
The bond campaign to renovate and improve a number of cultural landmarks in Denver has been aggressively promoted by those hoping to gain passage, and financial disclosures show that the cultural groups that would benefit the most from the bill have been contributing large sums to the “vote yes” campaign.
Opera Ontario Canceling Shows, Could Fold
Hamilton-based Opera Ontario has canceled its season of performances in nearby Kitchener, Ontario, citing financial difficulties. The company, “which has been performing at the Centre in Kitchener for 12 years, announced last month that it needed to raise $1 million within 60 days or the opera company was in jeopardy.” Performances in Hamilton are also in jeopardy.
The Bradshaw Legacy
When conductor Richard Bradshaw died in August, Canada lost a powerful presence in its national opera scene. “He spent much of his career insisting that opera was an art form for everyone, that anyone who gave it a chance could respond to soaring human voices performing Mozart, Puccini, Verdi or Wagner.” Now, Bradshaw’s final performances with the Canadian Opera Company, performed outdoors in front of an audience of 20,000, are set to be broadcast nationwide.
MN Orch Musicians Get 5-Year Deal
The musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra approved a new 5-year contract late Friday night, ending speculation that they could be on the verge of a strike. Details have yet to be released, but orchestra officials have been quoted calling the deal “fair and generous.” The old contract, which included an initial wage freeze and minimal raises, expired October 1.