Earlier today, Michael Miller posted his thoughts on the new Frank Gehry campus of the New World Center. And we agree, those damn blue and white speckled seats are ugly and look more appropriate for an airport gate seating area than a performance hall. Thing is, though, during a performance those seats will be filled (ideally).
We attended the Grand Opening ceremony last night and can attest that with an almost full house, an orchestra filling the stage, and projections overhead, the word tacky never came to mind. And after growing up in Miami and hearing about this imminent cultural resurgence, it was a moment where it seemed the city had actually accomplished something grand for the arts. This is about more than the fabric on the seats.
Last night, Michael Tilson Thomas and Frank Gehry, among others, talked about the
igloo-like space, which is intimate without feeling claustrophobic
thanks to plenty of blond wood and white walls. The acoustic panels hang
like sturdy sheets or sails puffed out by the swell of orchestra
strings.
A main draw of the new concert hall is the ability to present synched
video projections with classical music performances. Last night, we got a
glimpse of that when the national anthem was played to Colbert Report-type
graphics of eagles and flags. It was a long way from the curated art we
hope to see in the space, but it gave us a glimpse of total immersion
in symphonic sound and large-scale moving images. It just makes the
brain feel good. Looks like they're saving the real sound and light show for the Opening
Concert tonight.
To showcase the hall's grand acoustics, the New World Symphony played
pieces from Gershwin to Debussy. Solo platforms at varying heights in
Gehry's cracked-open interior allowed for a surround-sound effect,
almost mimicking the delineated activity in lobes of a brain.
And as Frank Gehry approached the podium, the cameras behind us began to
rapid-fire. It was clear he was the main attraction of the night,
although the crowd shuffled and murmured when Gloria and Emilio Estefan
took their seats a few rows ahead of us.
After the talks, performances, and video montages of NWS's 20 year
history on Miami Beach -- including shots from now closed Wolfie's, which
inspired some cheers in the audience -- we then headed out to the park,
called Soundscape, designed by West 8.
The video art of Brit Tal Rosner
christened the outdoor, gigantic projection wall.
Guests were given a tatami mat and a picnic dinner to recline on the
park's subtle hills and enjoy the new outdoor space. We imagine Rosner's
curling and twirling's kaleidoscope designs would be almost
transcendent paired with the right music, but when a salsa
band started playing on a nearby stage, the total effect was a little
Miami ridiculous.
Nevertheless, the gigantic projection wall is impressive and the
pod-like, projection stand at the rear of the park, shooting out rays of
light, is wonderfully eerily. We'd like to see local outfits like Borscht
have a chance to screen something on this wall. Or can you imagine
Jillian Mayer's "Scenic Jogging" or Antonia Wright's "Are You Ok?" screened
this large? In the meantime, NWS plans to
broadcast their performances outside. This Friday, stop by to see the Opening Concert from the night before projected.
So the big question: Now that the New World Center has been built, will
the crowds come and fill those awful blue seats? It looks hopeful. The
space now appeals to three distinct audiences: those who love strings
and horns, those who dig architecture, and those who like trip out on
video art. Plus, classical music just might be the art to bring Miami's
disparate communities together. After all, it's better than bilingual.
It's non-lingual.
