The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director Eric Jacobsen on opening day of Steinmetz Hall in Orlando, Florida. Photo courtesy of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
In January, a long-awaited day for music-loving Floridians arrived: the opening of Orlando’s Steinmetz Hall, one of three theaters within the $612 million Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (other venues at the Phillips Center opened in 2014). Steinmetz Hall is home to the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and also hosts performances by other groups. At January’s inaugural “Rise and Shine” show, among the Florida ensembles performing were the Philharmonic, Asian Cultural Association, Bach Festival Society, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras, Orlando Choral Society, United Ballet Theatre, and Latin rock band Rico Monaco—with Philharmonic Music Director Eric Jacobsen presiding. The Orlando Philharmonic will perform six classics and five pops concerts in the new hall in the 2022-23 season. The multiform theater can be transformed to accommodate a variety of art disciplines and events, with a maximum seating of 1,650 people. The Phillips Center includes three theaters, smaller performances spaces, rehearsal studios, classrooms, offices, a rooftop terrace, and a public plaza.
