| re: HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM QUESTION | |
| Posted by: | Marlo*Manners 12:21 pm EST 01/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM QUESTION - ryhog 11:52 am EST 01/15/14 |
|
| |
| This was formerly Hammerstein's Manhattan Opera House 100 years ago. The main opera stage proscenium area has been gutted so there is a platform and the seats on the orchestra level have been taken out. A platform can be installed for shows. This makes it a multi-purpose space that accomodates tables on the main floor for award shows or conventions or has temporary seats put in for rock concerts or stage shows. Like any European opera house there are rings of balconies above. So the space is convertable. Depending on the height of the stage platform, views of the stage should be good. The balconies should be no problem. It is a much better and larger space than Roseland Ballroom and has been sight lines if properly configured. I had hoped when the late lamented New York City Opera left Lincoln Center they might relocate to the Hammerstein Ballroom and restore it to its original purpose. I saw a taping of "America's Got Talent" there - got to see Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff live! (not as excited about Piers Morgan...). A misguided friend was competing and was 86'ed by the judges. It is a lovely auditorium and can be a good space. Marlo Manners (Lady Barrington) - who was not around 100 years ago when Mary Garden was in residence despite persisten rumors to the contrary... | |
| reply to this message | | |
| Dear Ms. Manners... | |
| Posted by: | DistantDrumming 11:44 pm EST 01/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM QUESTION - Marlo*Manners 12:21 pm EST 01/15/14 |
|
| |
| ... I just realized what your username is in tribute to. I saw that glorious movie musical five or six years ago when I was home with pneumonia. I woke up with a 102 fever and switched on the tv and there was this amazing Mae West film. I thought I might be having a fever dream. | |
| reply to this message | | |
| re: HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM QUESTION | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 01:07 pm EST 01/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM QUESTION - Marlo*Manners 12:21 pm EST 01/15/14 |
|
| |
| That original opera house was built by Oscar I who operated it until the Met bought out "the competition." Ironically, it currently belongs to the Moonies, though you'll find no evidence of that on the premises. Just to clarify, the seats were removed on all levels. And I don't remember the details but someone fairly recently took a swan dive off of the top boxes during a concert. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| Also interesting...Alcindoro, can you help? | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 03:14 pm EST 01/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM QUESTION - ryhog 01:07 pm EST 01/15/14 |
|
| |
| The Hammerstein Ballroom is contained within a building that has for years been called the Manhattan Center, which was the site of several great opera recordings including the legendary LA BOHEME with Victoria de los Angeles as Mimi, Jussie Bjoerling as Rodolfo, Robert Merrill as Marcello, Lucine Amara as Musetta, and Fernando Corena as Alcindoro. I'm not sure if the part of the building that's now the "ballroom" was the specific site of the recordings. Anyone? Maybe ACT's Alcindoro knows? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Also interesting...Alcindoro, can you help? | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 04:19 pm EST 01/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Also interesting...Alcindoro, can you help? - Michael_Portantiere 03:14 pm EST 01/15/14 |
|
| |
| I don't know for sure, but I do know that the studio component of Manhattan Center started functioning in the 80s or later. I assume the recording you are speaking of dates back well before that. That would lead me to believe that the recording was either of a performance in what is now the Hammerstein ballroom, or in the separate ballroom upstairs which has been used for recording purposes. That upstairs room is not of a scale that would support a fully mounted opera, but it was used as a very grand recording studio at one time. It was also used for radio broadcasts in the day. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| From their website | |
| Posted by: | ryhog 04:23 pm EST 01/15/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Also interesting...Alcindoro, can you help? - ryhog 04:19 pm EST 01/15/14 |
|
| |
| What they refer to below as "The Grand" is the upstairs room... "The superb acoustics of The Grand have made this magnificent venue perfect for music recording, whether the project is a full-blown orchestral film score, a classical orchestra recording, or simply an intimate chamber ensemble. The natural reverberation of the room gives any recording a particular sound quality that defies emulation. Artists find the ambience inspiring, allowing them to effortlessly achieve their very best performance. "Academy Award-winning film scores and Oscar-nominated soundtracks are frequently recorded in The Grand. The list of renowned artists who have recorded legendary performances at The Grand reads like a “who’s who” of the greatest performers and conductors of all time. Arturo Toscanini, Leopold Stokowski, Fritz Reiner, Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta, Itzhak Perlman, Pierre Boulez, The New York Philharmonic, James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The Robert Shaw Chorale, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, The New York City Opera, and the list goes on." | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| Thanks! (n/m) | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 04:41 pm EST 01/15/14 |
| In reply to: | From their website - ryhog 04:23 pm EST 01/15/14 |
|
| |
| n/m | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| FOLLIES was recorded somewhere in the bldng (ballroom I think) nm | |
| Posted by: | thtrgoer 07:07 pm EST 01/15/14 |
| In reply to: | Thanks! (n/m) - Michael_Portantiere 04:41 pm EST 01/15/14 |
|
| |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: FOLLIES was recorded somewhere in the bldng (ballroom I think) nm | |
| Posted by: | Michael_Portantiere 11:00 pm EST 01/15/14 |
| In reply to: | FOLLIES was recorded somewhere in the bldng (ballroom I think) nm - thtrgoer 07:07 pm EST 01/15/14 |
|
| |
| YES! Thanks for the reminder about FOLLIES. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
All That Chat is intended for the discussion of
theatre news and opinion
subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms of Service. (Please take all off-topic discussion to private email.)
Please direct technical questions/comments to webmaster@talkinbroadway.com and policy questions to TBAdmin@talkinbroadway.com.
[ Home | On the Rialto | The Siegel Column | Cabaret | Tony Awards | Book Reviews | Great White Wayback Machine ]
[ Broadway Reviews | Barbara and Scott: The Two of Clubs | Sound Advice | Restaurant Revue | Off Broadway | Funding Talkin' Broadway ]
[ Broadway 101 | Spotlight On | Talkin' Broadway | On the Boards | Regional | Talk to Us! | Search Talkin' Broadway ]
Terms of Service
[ © 1997 - 2014 www.TalkinBroadway.com, Inc. ]
Time to render: 0.650579 seconds.