The Detroit Symphony Orchestra was formally founded in 1914, with the first concert being performed at the old Detroit Opera House. Ossip Gabrilowitsch (the DSO's first Music Director) renewed his contract under the condition that a permanent concert hall be constructed for this orchestra. Thus, the city of Detroit constructed Orchestra Hall in a record 4 months and 23 days. The Hall thrived during the 1920’s and 1930’s, yet during the 1940’s, the DSO relocated to Music Hall (partially due to financial difficulties brought on by the Depression). Orchestra Hall was rented by another tenant, and was re-opened as the Paradise Theatre. The Paradise Theatre presented our nation’s greatest jazz artists for over the next 10 years. However, after this era died down, Orchestra Hall was abandoned and fell into disrepair. At the same time, the DSO moved to yet another home, the Ford Auditorium, and remained there for the next 33 years.
In the 1970’s, the city of Detroit decided to tear down Orchestra Hall, yet a group of concerned citizens – led by (now former) DSO bassoonist Paul Ganson – rallied to save the neglected and run-down Orchestra Hall from the wrecking ball. Musicians and community members alike led numerous pickets, protests, and benefit sidewalk performances as part of the “Save Orchestra Hall” campaign. To much satisfaction, these dedicated music lovers and supporters succeeded in saving Orchestra Hall. After 20 years of restoration, and at the expense of $6.8 million and thousands of donated hours, the DSO moved back to its original home in 1989.
Fast forwarding through history a bit, here’s what happened with the DSO in the last decade alone:
· 1996: the DSO announced plans for a 3-phase project – a performing arts, education, and office complex on eight acres of land surrounding Orchestra Hall
· 1997: the DSO announced a record number of new contributions, in excess of $22.1 million. The lead gift was from philanthropist Max M. Fisher; thus, the designation for the new complex was the Max M. Fisher Music Center.
· 1999: the DSO received $6 million from Bernard and Marilyn Pincus. This generous gift was used to support the new Jacob Bernard Pincus Music Education Center (constructed as part of the Max M. Fisher Music Center)
· 2001: the DSO donated land behind Orchestra Hall to the Detroit Public School system for the creation of Detroit School of the Arts. (To note: last month, the DSO and DSA received the first Community Partnership Award, awarded by International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education!) The DSA encompasses the most technologically advanced set-up of any high school in southeastern Michigan, and rivals any other in the nation, both in terms of equipment and opportunities for students to have professional mentors.
So the question that lingers – what do you do with all this new space in and around Orchestra Hall? Fill it up!!! The DSO not only presents concerts in orchestra hall, but they are finding new ways to utilize all of the other spaces available in any way imaginable. Here are a few examples:
· Classical Conversations
· Classical Series
· Detroit Symphony Civic Ensembles
· Jazz Club at the Max
· Jazz Series
· Poetry Slams at the Max
· Pops Series
· Pro Musica
· Special Events (opening night, galas, Day of Music, Thanksgiving Day Parade Fundraiser, Holiday specials)
· Tiny Tots
· Volunteer Council Events
· Young People’s Concerts
· Rentals/non-DSO events (weddings, receptions, vehicle displays, awards/recognition presentations, other concerts, meetings, graduations, recognition banquets/dinners/parties, tours, lectures/seminars, etc.)
In addition, the DSO will be hosting a Donald Thulean Conducting Workshop, utilizing the new performance hall at the DSA.
These next few days are some of my most favorite days in Detroit, simply because there are events in every single space around the Max M. Fisher Music Center, and each event draws a completely different crowd. Just last night alone shows my case in point. There was a rental event in the Music Box, a Poetry Slam in Allesee Rehearsal Hall, and a DSO orchestra concert in Orchestra Hall – all happening simultaneously. The neatest part was seeing the three different and distinct crowds mingling together in the same place at the same time. Some people were looking around in awe and disbelief - they commented that they never knew such a facility existed in Detroit. Others came to the lobby for a drink, yet their curiosity drew them from their primary event over to the doors of Orchestra Hall and the DSO concert. Words can’t express the amusement and satisfaction of having so many people under the same roof enjoying vastly different events in downtown Detroit. Just as orchestras are exploring ways to broaden their scope to reach more individuals, this facility is expanding the scope of this institution. Listed on the registry of historic sites and considered to be one of the nation’s best acoustic settings for orchestral music, Orchestra Hall, in combination with the Max M. Fisher Music Center, has evolved - and continues to evolve - to the beat of a different drum, welcoming every type of audience into its home.
