“This is home for all New Yorkers,” Borda said. “We want to invite them.”
Throughout the hall’s history, politicians, architects, musicians, and critics have sometimes declared past renovations to be successful, but acoustic problems soon resurfaced.
Former Juilliard chairman Polisi said it looked different this time, given the momentous decision to downsize the hall. He said that if the Philharmonic finally solves the acoustic problem, the orchestra will be able to focus on other priorities.
“If they are a happy orchestra now and can be comfortable at home, that will be a very psychological factor for the organization,” Polisi said. Principal bassoonist of the Philharmonic Orchestra.
Philharmonic players queued up in the auditorium for rehearsals this week as construction workers put the final touches on the hall, unpacked the furniture and installed metal detectors in the lobby. Early reviews were largely positive. Many people say they can finally hear each other on stage and the sound is warmer.
Borda and Timms said they were confident the Philharmonic would eventually get a hall that matched its capabilities, but said they didn’t want to jinx the reopening. Mr Timms said. you let them speak for themselves.
Borda, who first began work on the hall’s renovation in the 1990s when he was the leader of the Philharmonic Orchestra, said he had images of the atomic explosion ready to send to Timms if the renovation failed. disaster.
“If it’s really that bad,” she joked, looking at Mr. Timms.
Adam Nagany contributed to the report.