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ASO’s new pavillion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CLASSICAL BLOG
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra yesterday announced a deal to build a new covered amphitheater in Alpharetta, not so much as a suburban foot-hold for the orchestra as “a major revenue stream” to boost the budget.
What are folks saying about this plan? North Fulton county boosters speak of “arts hungry” Alpharettans and Roswellians, although a new alfresco mega-venue that’s only usable in warm-weather — and will primarily host the same sorts of pop acts that go to Gwinnett Arena — might be less than a fine-arts patron had hoped for.
And while the ASO maintains that its El Dorado Symphony Center will be the land paved with diamonds and gold — great acoustics, sold-out audiences, an international symphonic “destination” — its $300 million price tag keeps the thing always just past the horizon. I think the current opening date is no sooner than 2013 — a date that keeps getting pushed back. (When the ASO first announced the Symphony Center plans, the opening date was hoped to be 2008!)
Your thoughts on Encore Park?
Also: Critic on the hot seat. In a possible bid to turn the tables on the AJC’s classical music critic, ASO pre-concert lecturer Ken Melzer —- dubbed “the ASO Insider” —- has invited me to speak with him before the ASO’s Jan. 25 performance.
We’ll talk about that evening’s program —- music by Haydn and Strauss and led by ASO principal guest conductor Donald Runnicles.
We’ll talk about the role of criticism in newspapers and online. We’ll talk about the state of classical music in America. Best of all, we’ll take questions from the audience.
7 p.m. Jan. 25. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. Free, but requires a ticket to the ASO’s 8 p.m. performance ($10-$68). 404-733-5000, www.atlantasymphony.org.
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