The interior of the Kimmel Center with Verizon Hall (middle) and the Perelman Theater (left) in September 2005Interior of Verizon Hall during intermission of the Philadelphia Orchestra matinee concert in May 2015
In 1986, the Philadelphia Orchestra approved a plan to construct a new concert hall to replace the aging Academy of Music. It hoped to complete the new facility in time for its 1991 season.[2] The desire to move the orchestra from its facilities in the Academy of Music emerged as early as 1908, however plans stalled due to the lack of consensus on the project's scope and funding. They were revived again in the 1920s only to be scuttled by the Great Depression. Plans emerged again shortly after World War II when performing arts centers were constructed in other cities such as New York, Washington and Los Angeles. Despite the 1986 commitment, the project languished until 1993 when Sidney Kimmel donated $12 million to the project and in 1995, Orchestra and community leaders met to help revitalize the concert hall and also discussed merging it with a venue to house other area organizations and visiting artists.[3] The two projects were officially merged as the Regional Performing Arts Center in 1996 and construction began in 1998. In 2000, the center was named for Sidney Kimmel in recognition of his gift in 1993 and an additional $3 million donation in 1998. The concert hall was named Verizon Hall to recognize contributions totaling $14.5 million in cash, equipment and services from Verizon and the Verizon Foundation.[4]
The architect of the center was Rafael Viñoly, and the acoustician was Artec Consultants. The Kimmel Center officially opened in an unfinished state on December 16, 2001.[5] This followed a gala preview on December 14 featuring performances by André Watts, Denyce Graves, Frederica von Stade and Sir Elton John and the Philadelphia Orchestra premiere at Verizon Hall on December 15.[6] Numerous cost overruns and construction delays led to the filing of a lawsuit in 2005 by officials of the Kimmel Center against Viñoly. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed sum in 2006.[7]
Performance and other facilitiesedit
A distinctive vaulted glass ceiling encloses the entire structure providing a large common lobby for all the facilities. The center is a popular attraction, keeping its doors open to the public seven days a week. It hosts thousands of visitors annually and offers free tours of the facility regularly.
Verizon Hall, with 2,500 seats, is the main performance auditorium. It contains a pipe organ by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, which is the largest mechanical action pipe organ in an American concert hall. The organ is Dobson's Opus 76 and is named for Fred J. Cooper. It has two consoles with four manuals, 97 ranks and 124 stops.[8]
Perelman Theater, with 650 seats, has a 75-foot (23 m)-diameter turntable stage that permits the space to be used as a recital hall or a proscenium theater with a stage, fly-loft and orchestra pit.
Dorrance H. Hamilton Roof Garden located above the Perelman Theater.
SEI Innovation Studio, a 2,688-square-foot (249.7 m2) black box theater located on the lower levels of the Kimmel Center.[9]
The Kimmel Center offers a variety of other programs besides concerts, specifically in the field of education. The Kimmel Center is home to its own Youth Jazz Orchestra called The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble (KCYJE). This Ensemble includes many youth jazz musicians in the Philadelphia/New Jersey Area. The Ensemble is recognized as a youth version of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.[citation needed]
Additionally, The Kimmel Center holds a Teen Summer Arts Camp annually where it offers ten-day programs in chamber music, choral/vocal music, and jazz.[1]
^"The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Opens on Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts". Kimmel Center. 14 December 2001. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
^Kelly II, Joseph Dennis (16 March 2006). "Viñoly and Kimmel Center Settle Discord". Architectural Record. archrecord.construction.com.
^"The Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ". Dobson Pipe Organ Builders. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
^"SEI Innovation Studio Rentals – Kimmel Center Performance Venues". www.kimmelcenter.org. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
Official website
Philadelphia Orchestra website
April 12, 2024
kimmel, center, performing, arts, 9467, 1656, 9467, 1656, kimmel, centerfor, performing, artsaddresskimmel, cultural, campus300, south, broad, streetphiladelphia, pennsylvania, 19102united, statespublic, transitwalnut, locust, broad, street, line, 12th, 13th, . 39 56 48 N 75 09 56 W 39 9467 N 75 1656 W 39 9467 75 1656 The Kimmel Centerfor the Performing ArtsKimmel Center for the Performing ArtsAddressKimmel Cultural Campus300 South Broad StreetPhiladelphia Pennsylvania 19102United StatesPublic transitWalnut Locust Broad Street Line 12th 13th amp Locust 15th 16th amp Locust PATCO Speedline SEPTA bus 4 27 32OwnerKimmel Cultural CampusTypeconcert hallrecital theaterCapacityVerizon Hall 2 500 seatsPerelman Theater 650 seatsProductionVerizon Hall Philadelphia Youth Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra Peter Nero and the Philly PopsPerelman Theater The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia Opera Philadelphia Philadanco Philadelphia Chamber Music SocietyConstructionOpenedDecember 16 2001ArchitectRafael Vinoly Architects PCWebsitewww wbr kimmelculturalcampus wbr orgThe Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is a large performing arts venue at 300 South Broad Street and the corner of Spruce Street along the stretch known as the Avenue of the Arts in Center City Philadelphia Pennsylvania It is owned and operated by Kimmel Cultural Center which also manages the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and as of November 2016 the Miller Theater The center is named after philanthropist Sidney Kimmel The center is the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra one of America s Big Five symphony orchestras It is also the home venue of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia Philadanco the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and the Kimmel Center Presents performance series which features a variety of jazz classical and world pop performers 1 Contents 1 History 2 Performance and other facilities 3 Other noteworthy programs 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp The interior of the Kimmel Center with Verizon Hall middle and the Perelman Theater left in September 2005 nbsp Interior of Verizon Hall during intermission of the Philadelphia Orchestra matinee concert in May 2015In 1986 the Philadelphia Orchestra approved a plan to construct a new concert hall to replace the aging Academy of Music It hoped to complete the new facility in time for its 1991 season 2 The desire to move the orchestra from its facilities in the Academy of Music emerged as early as 1908 however plans stalled due to the lack of consensus on the project s scope and funding They were revived again in the 1920s only to be scuttled by the Great Depression Plans emerged again shortly after World War II when performing arts centers were constructed in other cities such as New York Washington and Los Angeles Despite the 1986 commitment the project languished until 1993 when Sidney Kimmel donated 12 million to the project and in 1995 Orchestra and community leaders met to help revitalize the concert hall and also discussed merging it with a venue to house other area organizations and visiting artists 3 The two projects were officially merged as the Regional Performing Arts Center in 1996 and construction began in 1998 In 2000 the center was named for Sidney Kimmel in recognition of his gift in 1993 and an additional 3 million donation in 1998 The concert hall was named Verizon Hall to recognize contributions totaling 14 5 million in cash equipment and services from Verizon and the Verizon Foundation 4 The architect of the center was Rafael Vinoly and the acoustician was Artec Consultants The Kimmel Center officially opened in an unfinished state on December 16 2001 5 This followed a gala preview on December 14 featuring performances by Andre Watts Denyce Graves Frederica von Stade and Sir Elton John and the Philadelphia Orchestra premiere at Verizon Hall on December 15 6 Numerous cost overruns and construction delays led to the filing of a lawsuit in 2005 by officials of the Kimmel Center against Vinoly The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed sum in 2006 7 Performance and other facilities editA distinctive vaulted glass ceiling encloses the entire structure providing a large common lobby for all the facilities The center is a popular attraction keeping its doors open to the public seven days a week It hosts thousands of visitors annually and offers free tours of the facility regularly Verizon Hall with 2 500 seats is the main performance auditorium It contains a pipe organ by Dobson Pipe Organ Builders which is the largest mechanical action pipe organ in an American concert hall The organ is Dobson s Opus 76 and is named for Fred J Cooper It has two consoles with four manuals 97 ranks and 124 stops 8 Perelman Theater with 650 seats has a 75 foot 23 m diameter turntable stage that permits the space to be used as a recital hall or a proscenium theater with a stage fly loft and orchestra pit Dorrance H Hamilton Roof Garden located above the Perelman Theater SEI Innovation Studio a 2 688 square foot 249 7 m2 black box theater located on the lower levels of the Kimmel Center 9 Smaller performance spaces and meeting rooms 1 Other noteworthy programs editThe Kimmel Center offers a variety of other programs besides concerts specifically in the field of education The Kimmel Center is home to its own Youth Jazz Orchestra called The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble KCYJE This Ensemble includes many youth jazz musicians in the Philadelphia New Jersey Area The Ensemble is recognized as a youth version of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra citation needed Additionally The Kimmel Center holds a Teen Summer Arts Camp annually where it offers ten day programs in chamber music choral vocal music and jazz 1 See also edit nbsp Philadelphia portalList of concert hallsReferences edit a b c Our Story Kimmelcenter org Retrieved 2013 07 29 Hine Thomas 30 November 1986 Orchestra Hall The Challenges Are Monumental The Philadelphia Inquirer philly com Retrieved 2013 07 29 Dobrin Peter 9 December 2001 A new hall just 93 years in the making The Philadelphia Inquirer Retrieved 2013 07 29 Timeline Kimmelcenter org Retrieved 2013 07 29 By 2001 12 16 Philadelphia celebrates Kimmel Center s opening Baltimore Sun Retrieved 2023 12 19 The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Opens on Philadelphia s Avenue of the Arts Kimmel Center 14 December 2001 Retrieved 2013 07 29 Kelly II Joseph Dennis 16 March 2006 Vinoly and Kimmel Center Settle Discord Architectural Record archrecord construction com The Fred J Cooper Memorial Organ Dobson Pipe Organ Builders Retrieved 2013 07 29 SEI Innovation Studio Rentals Kimmel Center Performance Venues www kimmelcenter org Retrieved 2018 02 05 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Official website Philadelphia Orchestra website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts amp oldid 1213626775, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
