Interior of Symphony Hall, home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Photo source: Boston Symphony Hall.
In Monday’s (12/8) WCVB (Boston), Ramen Cromwell reports, “In 1993, Chad Smith, a New England Conservatory student, had a creative way to attend Boston Symphony Orchestra performances, a story he later shared before becoming the BSO’s president and CEO. ‘I had a tuxedo, because I was a music student, and I would sneak in the back door as a caterer,’ Smith said…. Though Smith would not recommend that anyone try such a stunt today, the story reminds us of the power of music and the initial goal of the Boston Symphony Orchestra to bring affordable world-class music to Boston. Smith’s current work [as the BSO’s president and CEO] has contributed to a new installation featuring artists, community leaders and partners who have made the BSO special. Symphony Hall, described in a 1900 news article as ‘Boston’s new temple of music,’ opened to much fanfare despite its less grand exterior…. Architectural details were omitted to prioritize the interior’s acoustics, which are revered as among the best in the world…. Cellist Owen Young, who joined the BSO in 1991, said, ‘This hall’s got the clarity so you can play fast, it’s got the warmth so you can play slow.’ ” The video traces Symphony Hall’s history and its evolving role in Boston’s cultural life.
