Abravanel Hall should be saved, says man who worked to pass bond to pay for it
Thierry Fischer conducts a rehearsal of the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 25, 2023.
Most Utahns know about this iconic building — know of its classic beauty, its superb acoustics, the elegance of the gold leaf and chandeliers and the grand staircase in its glass-sculpture lobby that looks out of its huge window on our cityscape. And most sense that trying to replace or move this symbol of our commitment to culture and the arts could be a generational mistake.
And the only way such a hall could come about, they had concluded, was for Salt Lake County voters to pass a bond election—essentially to vote to increase their taxes to fund the concert hall. I was instantly drawn to the cause — my wife Linda is violinist and string teacher — but the idea of the outdoor-loving, sports minded hunters and fishermen of Utah voting to tax themselves to build a costly, high-brow concert hall that they might never set foot in seemed to be quite a stretch.
On the other hand, the numbers showed the growth and health of the city and state economies would benefit from a greater arts presence which could attract more business and more jobs, and there seemed to be a perception that no great city should be without some symbol of its commitment to the arts — a commitment that would trickle down to our schools and our families and to every kid taking piano or violin any kind of music lessons.
The bond election passed by the narrowest of margins. I will never forget that election night. The results came in slowly as we all gathered to watch — all those who had worked so hard, from prima ballerinas to trombone players and from sports enthusiasts to parents of kids taking piano. And when the TV stations announced that we had won, everyone was hugging each other, and giving emotional high-fives.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A re-imagined Salt Palace, Abravanel Hall, and Japantown in conversations for downtown sports districtA re-imagined Salt Palace, Abravanel Hall, and Japantown in conversations for downtown sports district.
Read more »
Growing concerns for the future of Abravanel HallFollowing the announcement of an NHL team and plans for a sports and entertainment district, there have been questions about the future of the Salt Lake County owned Abravanel Hall.
Read more »
Fans of Abravanel Hall speak up to preserve Utah Symphony’s homeThe reaction to the possibility of Abravanel Hall being demolished to make room for a new 'entertainment district' has been sharp — with an online petition drawing thousands of signatures, and a preservation group putting the Utah Symphony's home on a list of Utah's 'most endangered' historic sites.
Read more »
Abravanel Hall's future in entertainment district yet to be decided, county saysMore details are being unveiled about Ryan Smith's plan to build an entertainment district surrounding the Delta Center and what it could mean for existing buildings.
Read more »
Salt Lake City plans Abravanel Hall's future within downtown revitalizationSalt Lake City, County, and affiliated partners confirmed a possible rebuild of the historic Abravanel Hall due to plans for a reimagined downtown in three dev
Read more »
Key player in Abravanel Hall's genesis speaks out against possible demolitionIn response to recent ideas of possibly demolishing and rebuilding Salt Lake's Abravanel Hall, the home to the Utah Symphony, a key player in the building's creation speaks out against the notion.
Read more »