Comments on: Rockport Music Unveils Shalin Liu Performance Center with Wheeler premiere, Wagner, Copland http://classical-scene.com/2010/06/12/rockport-music-unveils-shalin-liu-performance-center-with-wheeler-premiere-wagner-copland/ a virtual journal and blog of the classical music scene in Boston Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:49:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lee Eiseman http://classical-scene.com/2010/06/12/rockport-music-unveils-shalin-liu-performance-center-with-wheeler-premiere-wagner-copland/comment-page-1/#comment-2526 Lee Eiseman Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:22:23 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=4001#comment-2526 It was interesting to observe at the post-concert reception the very large number of stake holders in the success of Rockport Music. The program also listed hundreds of contributors and active participants in the realization of the Shalin Liu Performance Center. Methinks this human component is what's lacking in Glenn Knickrehm's plans for Constellation Center in Cambridge. If the 7,500 citoyens of Rockport could raise $16 million in 3 years and successfully get an architectural gem built, then why after 10 years can't 4 million citoyens of greater Boston raise $200 to build the Constellation Center? Is it because Glen has not been able to empower a committed community? It was interesting to observe at the post-concert reception the very large number of stake holders in the success of Rockport Music. The program also listed hundreds of contributors and active participants in the realization of the Shalin Liu Performance Center. Methinks this human component is what’s lacking in Glenn Knickrehm’s plans for Constellation Center in Cambridge. If the 7,500 citoyens of Rockport could raise $16 million in 3 years and successfully get an architectural gem built, then why after 10 years can’t 4 million citoyens of greater Boston raise $200 to build the Constellation Center?

Is it because Glen has not been able to empower a committed community?

]]> By: Bettina A. Norton http://classical-scene.com/2010/06/12/rockport-music-unveils-shalin-liu-performance-center-with-wheeler-premiere-wagner-copland/comment-page-1/#comment-2525 Bettina A. Norton Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:44:06 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=4001#comment-2525 Having been fortunate to have had tickets to this opening performance, and further fortunate to have been asked if I wished to take an empty seat in the front row of the first balcony (which I did) by a very pleasant couple named Byrne, I have subsequently been ruminating on the venue, the superb new Shalin Liu Performance Center. It is a magical venue, not least because of that window wall, with perfect placement of the wooded and granite peninsula, one moored sailboat, and the horizon of ocean...) But what bothered me is what other groups deserve but do not have. The size of Rockport Music's new home is so perfect for so many groups in Boston that constantly struggle with proper sites — Jordan Hall, too large and too expensive for many, or churches, many of which with acoustical or sight-line problems... And I got to thinking about the long-promised Constellation Center, which has promised several halls to accommodate varying sized audiences. As the chair of the board of Rockport Music informed us, the time from the genesis of the idea for the new hall until our hearing and seeing it was only five years. And a perfectly fine Boston-area architectural firm did a perfectly fine job. Yet the Constellation Center is now 10(?) years in the planning, with nothing to show for it yet. This, during a period of drastic economic problems throughout the country that are hurting all cultural institutions, desperate for a performing site that is the right size, acoustically good, and, if doable, attractive to boot. Music groups that use larger halls are not in such dire straits. (Although, as a concert attender who thinks first balcony seats are ideal, I learned with dismay when I first subscribed to Opera Boston that what should be called the first balcony of the Cutler Majestic is the "mezzanine"! I do believe the first balcony should be consigned to all those deserving of the Underworld (no full sight lines, bad acoustics...) So perhaps Opera Boston needs a better venue as well? Wouldn't they be better served by the promised Constellation Center? Having been fortunate to have had tickets to this opening performance, and further fortunate to have been asked if I wished to take an empty seat in the front row of the first balcony (which I did) by a very pleasant couple named Byrne, I have subsequently been ruminating on the venue, the superb new Shalin Liu Performance Center.

It is a magical venue, not least because of that window wall, with perfect placement of the wooded and granite peninsula, one moored sailboat, and the horizon of ocean…) But what bothered me is what other groups deserve but do not have.

The size of Rockport Music’s new home is so perfect for so many groups in Boston that constantly struggle with proper sites — Jordan Hall, too large and too expensive for many, or churches, many of which with acoustical or sight-line problems… And I got to thinking about the long-promised Constellation Center, which has promised several halls to accommodate varying sized audiences.

As the chair of the board of Rockport Music informed us, the time from the genesis of the idea for the new hall until our hearing and seeing it was only five years. And a perfectly fine Boston-area architectural firm did a perfectly fine job.

Yet the Constellation Center is now 10(?) years in the planning, with nothing to show for it yet. This, during a period of drastic economic problems throughout the country that are hurting all cultural institutions, desperate for a performing site that is the right size, acoustically good, and, if doable, attractive to boot.

Music groups that use larger halls are not in such dire straits. (Although, as a concert attender who thinks first balcony seats are ideal, I learned with dismay when I first subscribed to Opera Boston that what should be called the first balcony of the Cutler Majestic is the “mezzanine”! I do believe the first balcony should be consigned to all those deserving of the Underworld (no full sight lines, bad acoustics…) So perhaps Opera Boston needs a better venue as well? Wouldn’t they be better served by the promised Constellation Center?

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