West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
Get WSR FREE in your inbox

Search the site

No Result
View All Result

AVAILABLE NOW!


HERE

Get WSR FREE in your inbox

“So Close You Can Almost Hear It” — October Debut for Renovated David Geffen Hall

March 11, 2022 | 7:54 AM - Updated on June 5, 2022 | 11:43 PM
in ART, NEWS, OPEN/CLOSED, POLITICS
6
Photo by Peggy Taylor of the still-papered windows as the interior overhaul continues.

By Peggy Taylor

For two years these words have sprawled across the entire width of the white marble home of Lincoln Center’s New York Philharmonic. That home, David Geffen Hall, formerly Avery Fisher Hall, has been closed since March 20, 2020, after the pandemic struck and the orchestra played its last concert.

Scaffolding can still be spied inside the Hall through its partially papered windows; dumpsters are still emptying their debris into grinding carting trucks, and construction hoists are still moving up and down the Hall’s north side on West 65th Street.

But last Wednesday, in the glassy Hauser Lounge of Alice Tully Hall overlooking the Geffen, Lincoln Center made it official— the newly renovated home of the Philharmonic will reopen its doors to the public this coming October.

On hand to celebrate were the architects of the new auditorium, the architects of the new public spaces, the acousticians, stage designers, construction workers, as well as the Board Members of the Philharmonic and of Lincoln Center, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Back row: Leah Johnson, chief marketing officer at Lincoln Center, Peter May and Oscar Tang, co-board chairs, NY Philharmonic. Front Row: Deborah Borda, president and CEO of NY Philharmonic, Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams. Photograph by Peggy Taylor.

Katherine Farley, Chairman of the Lincoln Center Board called the reopening “a historic moment” and noted that the $550 million makeover was “two years ahead of schedule, and on budget.” She hailed it as a “state-of the-art auditorium which will enhance the concert-going experience, revolutionize the acoustics, and provide flexibility for artists and audiences in the future.”

The original renovation plan had called for work to last four years with the reopening planned for 2024, but “when the pandemic struck, we knew we needed to build straight through to generate jobs and drive the economic recovery of New York,” she said.

Photograph of reporter with Turner construction crew, supervisors, and executives.

It was a bold and propitious decision which supported 6,000 jobs and $600 million in economic development. It also contributed to greater equity since 42% of the firms involved are female or minority-owned and 52% of the workers come from underrepresented communities.

New York Governor Kathy Hocul described the project as the “one silver lining resulting from a pandemic which brought us to our knees.” She lauded the ”Lincoln Center and Philharmonic visionaries who believed in the potential of the City, and who knew that even when we were knocked down, we could build our way back.”

Since its opening in 1962, the auditorium, whether known as Philharmonic Hall or later Avery Fisher Hall, has been panned by musicians, critics, and patrons for its “subpar,” “dull,” and “mediocre” acoustics. Musicians complained that they couldn’t hear themselves, and in the December 1977 issue of High Fidelity Magazine, derided Avery Fisher Hall as “A Very Fishy Hall.” Extensive renovations were undertaken in 1976 and 1992, but to no avail.

Photo of the gutted interior by Richard Barnes/JBSA.

Not to worry this time around, said Peter W. May, Co-Chairman of the Board of the New York Philharmonic, who promised that the acoustics would be vastly improved and that the revamped Hall will “make our hometown orchestra proud.” He shared the anecdote that the Philharmonic’s principal trumpet player, Chris Martin, had recently played in the Hall and that even with the interior scaffolding still standing had found the sound “spectacular.”

So who is responsible for this “spectacular” sound? That would be Acoustician Paul Scarborough of the acoustical design firm, Akustiks, which achieved this, first, by reducing the number of seats in the auditorium. “We eliminated 500 seats and brought the total to 2200 because the house had only been operating at 75% capacity anyway. By reducing the number of seats we reduced the amount of sound absorbed by human bodies thus increasing the amount of sound produced from reflective surfaces. The fewer the bodies, the more reverberation, the more resonance.”

Secondly, Akustiks installed battens along the side walls at changing elevation and angles to achieve “a balance between the sound being projected to the audience and the sound being projected back to the musicians, so that they can hear themselves play.”

But the Hall is not just getting an aural makeover. It is also getting a visual one thanks to Diamond Schmitt Architects who completely reimagined the interior. Principal Architect Gary McCluskie explained that the stage has been advanced 25 feet into the auditorium, (where Row J would have been) thus allowing the audience better views of the musicians. “The straight-lined balconies have become curvilinear, and the seating is wrapped around the orchestra, so that the audience will enjoy an in-the-round feeling of intimacy with the musicians.” The new Hall will also use a “vineyard” seating configuration, (thus named for resembling vineyard terraces), a configuration increasingly popular with concert halls throughout the world.

The Dream Team, left to right. Paul Scarborough of Akustiks and Gary McCluskie of Diamond Schmitt Architects. Photograph by Peggy Taylor.
Rendering David Geffen Hall House. Photo Credit: Diamond Schmitt Architects.

The Philharmonic actually began using vineyard seating back in 2005, but only for its summer Mostly Mozart Festival. In winter, it reverted to its original “shoe-box” space, “leaving the audience removed from the musicians and being spectators not participants,” McCluskie regretted. The orchestra seating will be more steeply raked to provide patrons a better view of the stage.

McCluskie praised the theater design firm Fisher Dachs Associates for the versatility of the new stage which will facilitate a variety of performances—choirs, small operas, theatrical productions, and pop concerts with amplified sound. “The Philharmonic had done all these things in the past, but each time they had to build a different stage and bring in speakers and lighting trusses; all that is now mechanized and built in.”

Rendering of the 65 ft. digital screen in the newly revamped lobby by Billie Tsien Tod Williams Architects.

McCluskie also stressed the partnership that Diamond Schmitt enjoyed with Billie Tsien Tod Williams Architects who reconfigured the lobbies and public spaces in an effort to attract new audiences.

“The blue and red fabric that we’re using for the auditorium seats is the same fabric they’re using in the lobby, so you’ll feel a real sense of cohesion as you move from the lobby to the auditorium.” Swatches of the fabrics used for the new decor were on display for the attendees to view and touch. The Hall’s revamped public spaces will include seating areas, cafes, space for small music performances and a 65 ft digital screen for public viewing of rehearsals and performances. McCluskie stressed that Tsien and Williams had “beautified and enlivened the lobbies” and created something which would entice visitors to come to the Hall.

Swatches of fabric. Photograph by Peggy Taylor.

Henry Timms, President and CEO of Lincoln Center, stressed that Lincoln Center was “particularly proud of this project” because it was part of the Workforce Development Program which promotes careers in the construction industry where workers receive five weeks of paid instruction paired with mentors and apprenticeships. Some of the construction workers were among the reporters, politicians, and community leaders invited to the event.

One of the workers participating in the Program was Dominican-born Milton Angeles, a civil engineer, who was hired by Turner Construction. He came to the podium briefly and expressed his gratitude to Turner and Lincoln Center for giving him this opportunity.

In a Zoom appearance, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the project and called the arts “central to New York’s economy, identity and to our souls.” He reminded us of the $10 million in Federal relief funding he had procured for the project and promised to work to procure even more, not only for Geffen but for smaller arts institutions as well. “This will help revitalize tourism and supercharge the city’s comeback.”

Socks to match the fabric?

In his remarks, Mayor Eric Adams expressed the hope that the “beautiful music played by the Philharmonic would extend out into society where, too often, people have been out of tune.” He praised Lincoln Center for its participation in the Workforce Development Program and its commitment to “remove the inequities we have experienced for far too long.” Ever the City’s number one cheerleader, the Mayor compared the reconstruction of Geffen Hall during Covid to the construction of the Empire State Building during the Great Depression and predicted that New York would “continue to be a leader and inspiration to the world.”

Share this article:
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Melanie
Melanie
10 months ago

Wonderfully written, incredibly informative and good news always an asset !

0
Reply
Gretchen
Gretchen
10 months ago

Terrific article! So glad they finally fixed the long-standing acoustics problem, which always eluded them despite fixing tries. I even remember the “Rug Concerts” decades ago, when they removed all the orchestra seats and you sat on floor cushions. Then came those ginormous lumps on the wall around the stage, that they installed years ago, which only helped slightly. I’m really looking forward to the new, improved sound and can’t wait for its reopening!

0
Reply
ira kellman
ira kellman
10 months ago

As longtime ticket holders we look forward to hearing our Orchestra once again and in its new space.We missed you live and can’t wait for October.

0
Reply
NotImpressed
NotImpressed
10 months ago

I’ve really been enjoying seeing the Philharmonic at Alice Tully Hall. It’s intimate, the seats are great, and the acoustics are fine.
But I’m so excited to experience the new hall! Can’t wait for subscriptions to go on sale later this month!

0
Reply
Liliane marks
Liliane marks
10 months ago

I am
So proud living across from the philarmonic and this for the last 52 years I will have a chance to attend the opening concert after renovation
Thanks to whom it may concern
Kindly provide the program and opening date so we can buy the tkts on line and/or at the box office
October is around the corner
Gratefully
Liliane’s marks
20 West 64 th str
New York Ny 10023

0
Reply
Lola
Lola
10 months ago

a precious, deep and lively way to describe the changes and renovation of a city that, from beyond the ocean (Milano), is rooted in my heart.

Lola

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

WSR Poetry Corner: ‘North River’
ART

WSR Poetry Corner: ‘North River’

January 28, 2023 | 3:46 PM
Garbage In, Garbage Out — Improvements on Upper Broadway
NEWS

Garbage In, Garbage Out — Improvements on Upper Broadway

January 28, 2023 | 10:12 AM
Previous Post

Owner of Awadh and Baazi Pioneers a New Model for Indian Restaurants

Next Post

You’d Think After 10 Years We Would Have Solved This Real Estate Mystery, But Have We?

this week's events image

Explore Your Favorite Subject

20th precinct 24th precinct american museum of natural history animals art bicycling bulletin central park closings columns community board 7 coronavirus crash crime development dogs events fdny fire food gale brewer helen rosenthal history jcc lincoln center monday bulletin morning bulletin nypd openings pedestrian safety photography photos politics public schools pupper west side real estate restaurants retail riverside park silver stars fitness snow sponsored subway upper west side uws

CITY NEWS

Brick Underground
City Limits
Eater
Gothamist
NY Daily News
NY Post
NY Times

LOCAL RESOURCES

Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group
Central Park Conservancy
CB7
Community Education Council 3
Assembly District 67
The New York Historical Society
Riverside Park
West End Preservation

UWS Blogs

Bloomingdale History Central Park Blogger
North River Notes
Next Post
You’d Think After 10 Years We Would Have Solved This Real Estate Mystery, But Have We?

You’d Think After 10 Years We Would Have Solved This Real Estate Mystery, But Have We?

UWS Resident Charged in Subway Hammer Attack and Duane Reade Robbery on 111th St. – NYPD

UWS Resident Charged in Subway Hammer Attack and Duane Reade Robbery on 111th St. - NYPD

A FREE All-Day Celebration of Short Fiction; Saturday, March 26 at Symphony Space

A FREE All-Day Celebration of Short Fiction; Saturday, March 26 at Symphony Space

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2023 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2023 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.